PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Maeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Silva
vs
Maeda

188 cm
19
184 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

192 cm
25
184 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anderson Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Akira Maeda!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Luis Engracia and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maeda tries to clinch but Silva is having none of it.
Maeda shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Silva sprawls well. Silva wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Maeda gets slowly back to his feet.

Silva clinches.
Maeda with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Maeda missing with knees to the body.
Maeda looking for a takedown.
Maeda is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Silva pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Anderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Maeda.
Maeda throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Maeda creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Silva manages to break the clinch.

Maeda tries to keep at a distance but Silva has taken the fight into the clinch.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Silva has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Maeda misses with a knee to the head.
Maeda prevents Silva from breaking the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Maeda.
Silva wants to break the clinch but can't.
Silva tries to break the clinch but Maeda is controlling the position.
Maeda lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Silva's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Maeda tries to close the distance and clinch up but Silva swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maeda shoots for a takedown but Silva saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Maeda clinches but Silva breaks the clinch
and Silva counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda closes the distance but Silva moves to the side
and Silva counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Silva closes the distance and clinches.

Maeda ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Maeda no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Maeda is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Maeda throws a knee to the head but misses.

Silva breaks the clinch.
Silva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Maeda closes this distance looking for a takedown but Silva circles away.

Silva moves into range and clinches up with Maeda.
Silva wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Silva lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Akira Maeda has been cut.

Maeda breaks from the clinch.
A left and a right from Silva both land. Nice combination.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Maeda.
Maeda looks gassed!
Silva buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Silva instigates a clinch.
Maeda keeps control of Silva as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Maeda tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Silva avoids it.

Silva breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda closes the distance but Silva moves to the side
and Silva counters with a series of strikes. Maeda will be more careful next time no doubt.
Silva moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Maeda tries to keep at a distance but Silva has taken the fight into the clinch.
Silva is trying to force a seperation but Maeda has the dominant position.

Silva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Maeda misses with a takedown attempt
and Silva counters with a flying knee. Nice.
A jab from Silva does it's job there.

Silva darts in and clinches Maeda up against the cage.
Maeda is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Silva gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Silva stops a takedown attempt from Maeda.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Silva gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Silva tries to break free but Maeda pushes him back against the cage.
Silva lands a good knee to the midsection. Maeda won't want to take too many of those.

Silva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Silva lands with a nice body punch.

Silva takes the fight into the clinch.
Silva tries to circle away but Maeda has him pinned against the cage.
Silva looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Silva lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva can't break the clinch.
Maeda lands a left hand.
Maeda blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Maeda has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Silva is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Maeda has had enough of the clinch but Silva keeps him there for the moment.

Silva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Silva takes the fight into the clinch.

Maeda has clasped his hands together around Silva's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Maeda working away.
Silva keeps Maeda under control for a moment.
Maeda working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maeda decides to stand back up.
Silva jabs Maeda right on the nose. Maeda blinks but takes it well.
Silva moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Maeda tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Silva cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Maeda rushes Silva and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Maeda looking to stall.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Maeda misses with a knee to the head.
Maeda connects with a knee to the head.
Maeda using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Silva has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva takes a knee to the side of the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maeda lands a knee to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maeda keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Silva's efforts to push away.
Maeda throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Silvas head.
Maeda with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Maeda has picked Silva up - he's going for a ride! Maeda dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Silva makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Silva.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Silva dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Akira Maeda's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Silva stalks Maeda and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Maeda's face. Maeda staggers backwards, shaken.
Maeda tries to clinch but Silva is having none of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Silva throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Maeda shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Silva works over Maeda's head and body with a nice combination.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maeda paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Akira Maeda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maeda avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Maeda clinches up with Silva and pushes him back against the cage.
Maeda dodges an elbow strike from Silva.
Maeda tries a knee to the head but Silva blocks it.
Maeda with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Maeda is breathing heavily.
Maeda keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Silva's efforts to push away.
Maeda pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Silva tries to circle away but Maeda has him pinned against the cage.
Maeda misses with a knee strike.
Maeda is working for takedown but Silva is calmly controlling the position for now.
Maeda prevents Silva from breaking the clinch.
Silva blocks an elbow strike from Maeda.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva blocks an elbow strike.

Silva pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Silva throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Maeda's head.
Silva wants to clinch
and Maeda counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Silva is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Maeda gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Silva holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Anderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Maeda.

Silva breaks from the clinch.
Silva misses with a body kick.
Anderson Silva is winning the standup battle so far.
Maeda darts in trying to clinch
and Silva counters with a good low kick that Maeda was not able to check.
Silva misses with a head kick.
Silva connects with a jab.
Silva is looking to clinch but Maeda is avoiding it.
Silva is looking to clinch.
Maeda looks for a takedown but Silva sprawls well.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda avoids the head kick by Silva.
Silva tries to clinch up but Maeda circles away and keeps his distance.
Maeda looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Silva is fending him off so far but Maeda persists. Nope, Silva circles away and we're back to standing.
Silva throws a right and a left that both miss.
Anderson Silva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Silva has Maeda up against the cage in a clinch.
Silva looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Silva working Maeda over with knees to the body.
Silva looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Silva blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Maeda with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva is trying to break free.
Silva wants to break the clinch but can't.
Maeda trying to control the position but instead, Silva has worked for underhooks and has pushed Maeda into the cage.
Maeda lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Maeda wants to stall.
Silva wants to get back to striking at distance but Maeda won't allow it.
Silva is looking to control Maeda's arms but Maeda gets an underhook and turns him. Now Silva has his back to the cage.

Maeda is trying to trip Silva. He has hold of a leg but Silva is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Maeda persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Silva wants to hit a switch here but Maeda passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Silva there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Maeda there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Silva can't escape the position.
Maeda working the ground and pound effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Silva is in all sorts of trouble here.
Maeda misses with a head shot.
Silva tries to hold on but Maeda pushes him away.
Poor strikes thrown by Maeda there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Silva suckers Maeda into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Silva is now in Maeda's guard!
Silva trying to control but Maeda is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Anderson Silva will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Akira Maeda's cut.
That's time! Silva's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Silva moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Maeda with a lazy takedown attempt
and Silva counters with a nice uppercut.
A nice combination there by Silva.
Silva throws a right and a left that both miss.

Maeda decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Maeda tries to pass the half guard into mount. Silva knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Silva is trying to control but can't.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maeda tries to stand but can't do so whilst Silva controls his leg.

Maeda stands up out of the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Silva avoids it really well and circles away.
Maeda dives in and grabs Silva's left leg, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes down on Maeda's head and hops out.
Anderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Maeda.
Maeda has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A left and a right from Silva both land. Nice combination.
Silva darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Silva moves into range and clinches up with Maeda.
Silva blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Silva is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Silva breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maeda throws a head kick that misses
and Silva counters with a nice uppercut.
Maeda tries to clinch

and Silva holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Silva prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying to break the clinch but Maeda has him pressed against the cage.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Maeda clinches but Silva breaks the clinch
and Silva counters with a left and a right that stings Maeda.

Silva gets a clinch.
Silva is trying to force a seperation but Maeda has the dominant position.
Silva tries to break free but Maeda pushes him back against the cage.
Silva prevents the takedown attempt.
Maeda tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Silva avoids it.
Silva misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Maeda.
Maeda utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Akira Maeda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Silva blocks the elbow strike.
A frustrated look appears on Silva's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A knee to the head by Maeda.
Silva is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Silva manages to break the clinch.

Maeda closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Maeda lands in his opponent's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda wants to stand but Silva has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Silva looking to control.
Anderson Silva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Maeda trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Maeda throws a big right hand that misses.
Silva wants to stand but Maeda is controlling the position.

Maeda stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Maeda throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maeda throws a sloppy head kick

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Silva.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Anderson Silva.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Silva, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Anderson Silva!