PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wanderlei Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and deacon james (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wanderlei Silva is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Silva
vs
james

181 cm
23
210 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

187 cm
23
215 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

UCF Clothing
Gold Standard Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wanderlei Silva!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, deacon james!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Thiago Cunha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
james tries to clinch but Silva is having none of it.

Silva closes the distance and pushes james back into the cage.
james has Silva pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Silva manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
james is trying to break the clinch but Silva is controlling him.

james pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Silva showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from james.
Silva misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
james tries to clinch up
and Silva counters with a one-two to the body.
Silva fails to land with a series of punches.
james gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Silva misses with a low kick.
james tries to clinch there but Silva circles away.
james moves out of range as Silva strikes.

james clinches up with Silva and pushes him back against the cage.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to james's face.

It looks like deacon james has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Silva manages to break the clinch.
A head kick misses from Silva.
james darts in trying to clinch

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
james takes a knee to the side of the body.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
james wants a takedown.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva gets underhooks to prevent james's takedown attempt.
Wanderlei Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of deacon james.
james goes for a takedown attempt but Silva pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
james slips a jab and a cross from Silva.
Silva throws a right and a left that both miss.
Silva throws a nice looking combination but james bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
james swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Silva clinches.

Silva breaks the clinch.
Silva misses with a jab, cross combination.
Wanderlei Silva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
james throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
james looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
james moves in looking to clinch but Silva pushes him off.
james fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
james looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
james keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Silva.
Wanderlei Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
james tries to move into range but Silva moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Silva swinging wilding here.
james tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A combination from Silva does no damage.
Some wild striking there from Silva.
Silva swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Silva will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
james fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Silva avoids it really well and circles away.
Silva misses with the combination.
james throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and james is able to avoid easily.
Silva throws a left and a right that both miss
and james counters with a stiff right hand.
Silva keeps the fight on the outside.
Silva throws a nice looking combination but james bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Silva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
james listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Silva lands with a straight right. james didn't see that one coming.
james tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
james tries to close the distance and clinch up but Silva swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Good work by james as he checks the leg kick.
Silva with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling james to score with a decent uppercut.
james lands a jab to the nose.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Silva gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Silva lands a nice knee to the body.
Silva landing knees to the body.

Silva breaks the clinch.
james moves out of range of the strikes.
Silva circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
james moves out of range of the leg kick from Silva.
james tries to close the distance and clinch but Silva swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
james takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
james looks to clinch
and Silva counters with a nice uppercut.

That has opened up deacon james's cut even more.
Silva scores with a decent looking hook.
A punch combination from Silva misses.
Silva circles away from the clinch attempt
and Silva cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Silva throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and james counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Silva is staying active underneath james, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Silva on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Silva tries to get out of the position.
Silva pushes james off looking to stand but james dives back in and keeps control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
james wants to pass the guard but Silva is defending well.

james is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Silva defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Silva dominated that round.
The cut man is working on deacon james's cut.
That's time! Silva's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Silva has closed the distance and engaged james in a clinch.
james blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
james goes for a takedown attempt but Silva pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
james slips a straight right by Silva.
Silva looks to throw a body kick
and james counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
james throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Silva misses with a head kick.
james doesn't manage to clinch there - Silva circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but james moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Wanderlei Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Silva tries to work over james's front leg with a kick but james checks it.
Silva swinging wilding here.
james throws a series of punches but Silva moves out of range.
james throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
james tries for a takedown but Silva sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
james is breathing heavily.
james looks to clinch
and Silva counters with a series of strikes. james will be more careful next time no doubt.
Silva fails to land with a series of punches.
james wants to clinch

and Silva counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Silva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

james breaks the clinch.
Silva swinging wilding here.
Nice cross by Silva.
Silva fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
james lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by james.
Silva misses with a leg kick.
james wants to clinch but Silva slips to the side
and Silva counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

james forces Silva back against the cage and clinches.

Silva breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Silva misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
james will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

james changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Silva looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Silva is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
james tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
james trying to control the position but Silva is working away.
Silva is pushing james's head away, looking to escape. james manages to hold on to the position though.
Silva trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

james stands up.
james wants to clinch
and Silva cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
james wants to clinch.
james fails with an attempt to clinch.
Silva throws an uppercut from half a mile away. james sees it coming and avoids it easily.
james shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Silva sprawls well. Silva wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. james gets slowly back to his feet.
Wanderlei Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of deacon james.
james fails to land with a series of punches.
Silva misses with a double jab
and james counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Silva, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Silva takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
james throws a right and a left that both miss.
Silva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Silva tried to score with a low kick but james checks it.
james wants to clinch but Silva slips to the side
and Silva counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Silva fails to land with a series of punches.
james thuds a left hand into Silva's body.
Wanderlei Silva is winning the standup battle so far.
Crunch! Silva slams his shin into james's torso.
james moves out of range of the strikes.
james avoids the head kick by Silva.
Silva throws a combination that misses

and james holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silva tries a knee to the head but james blocks it.
james has Silva pressed against the cage, preventing Silva from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
james tries for a takedown. No joy.
james fails to pull the fight into his guard.

james breaks from the clinch.
james avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Silva dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on deacon james's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

james closes the distance but Silva moves to the side
and Silva counters with a straight right hand.
james moves in looking to clinch but Silva pushes him off.
james moves out of range of the body kick from Silva.
james fails with an attempt to clinch.
Silva stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Silva wants it to stay on the feet.
Silva moves out of range of the strikes.
james swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Silva counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Silva's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Silva duly obliges.
Silva lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Silva lands a left and a right that send james crashing to the mat, dazed. Silva thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

james is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
james is still on wobbly legs! Can Silva finish him?
Silva circles away from the clinch attempt
and Silva counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

The cut above deacon james's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
james seems to have recovered his senses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
james moves in looking to clinch but Silva pushes him off.
Silva circles away from the clinch attempt
and Silva counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Some wild striking there from james.
A combination from james does no damage.
Silva is looking to land body kicks.
Silva connects with a looping right hand.

deacon james's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

james clinches up with Silva and pushes him back against the cage.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
james 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.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.

Silva escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A punch combination from Silva misses.
james shoots for a double leg takedown but Silva sprawls well. He's pushed james's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Wanderlei Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of deacon james.
Silva dips to his left and cracks james with an uppercut!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva misses with a jab, cross combination.
Silva ducks down and throws a hook to the body but james moves away.
james will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Silva fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The fight stays on the outside here - james looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
james tries to clinch
and Silva counters with a straight right hand.
james fails with the takedown.
Silva throws a combination. james tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
james tries to close the distance and clinch up but Silva swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Silva fails to land with a series of punches.
james shoots in but no luck this time.
james slips under a jab.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts james, as that shot connected.
james tries to clinch but Silva moves out of range.
Silva throws a right hand that james ducks under and follows up with a left that james also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck james on the side of the head.
james is looking to clinch but Silva is avoiding it.
Silva circles away from the clinch attempt.
james ducks under a wild hook from Silva.
Silva throws a series of punches but james moves out of range.
Silva misses with a double jab.
james rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Silva moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Silva misses with a body kick.
james with a lazy takedown attempt
and Silva counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Silva misses with a combination
and james counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Silva misses with a double jab.

james gets a clinch.
james throws an elbow that misses.
Silva misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from james.

james manages to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
james trying to keep a closed guard but Silva is proving a slippery customer.

Silva stands up from guard. Let's bang!
james wants to clinch.
Silva throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

james shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
james is looking to advance position but Silva won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Silva makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Silva tries to clinch but james is having none of it.
A big left from Silva misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Silva clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on deacon james's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Silva falls off balance throwing a combination
and james counters with a left and a right that stings Silva.
Silva lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but james circles away quickly and effectively.
No luck with that takedown attempt from james.
james is trying hard to land a takedown here. Silva sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Silva throws a leg kick but james moved away.
james drops his hands momentarily and Silva takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Silva throws the left hand but james avoids the punch easily.
Silva throws a right and a left that both miss.
james throws a leg kick but Silva checks it.
james tries to clinch up.
Silva throws a leg kick which misses james's front leg but catches the back leg as james tries to avoid it.
james slips a jab and a cross from Silva.
Silva misses with a double jab
and james counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.

james has managed to clinch.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but james blocks with his arms.
Silva dodges an elbow strike from james.
james is stalling here.

Silva pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Silva defends well against a solid takedown attempt from james.
Wanderlei Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of deacon james.
james takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A nice leg kick lands there from Silva.
Silva is looking to land body kicks.
james fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Silva tries to bum rush james with a series of wild strikes but james uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
james showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Silva.
james rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Silva moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
james wants to clinch up but Silva keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva thows a body shot but no joy.
james throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
james might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
An inside leg kick lands from Silva.
Silva throws a left and a right that both miss
letting james counter with a right hand.
Silva throws a jab when james was well out of range.
Silva throws an overhand right that lands on james's shoulder, as james tries to avoid the shot.
Silva chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Silva tests james's chin there with a solid looking shot.
james closes the distance looking to clinch

and Silva holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
james tries to stall but Silva uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Silva dodges an elbow strike from james.
james has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
james misses with an elbow strike.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva blocks an elbow strike from james.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
james throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but james blocks it with crossed arms.

james breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
james moves in looking to clinch but Silva pushes him off.
james tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.
james fails in his attempt to clinch.
A right-left combo lands from Silva.
james throws a right hand that Silva ducks under and follows up with a left that Silva also avoids with ease.
Silva throws a leg kick but james sees it coming and moves out of range.
Nice shot by Silva.
james fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
james is looking to clinch but Silva is avoiding it.
Nice straight punches there by Silva. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Silva.
james throws a shot from downtown. Silva moves away and avoids it.
Good leg kick by Silva there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Silva lands with a thumping leg kick.
Silva connects with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva forces james back against the cage and clinches.
Silva misses with a knee strike.

Silva breaks from the clinch.
Silva misses the jab.
james will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Silva comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
james keeps the fight on the outside.
Silva swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and james counters with a three punch combo that has Silva backing up. Silva nods at james to acknowledge the strikes.
Silva turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Silva displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from james.
Silva misses with a combination
and james counters with a nice body shot.
james throws a sloppy head kick and Silva moves out of range easily.
james tries to clinch but Silva moves away

and Silva holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
james lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but james has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
james content to slow the pace in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Silva had his way with deacon james in that round.
The cut man is working on deacon james's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Silva connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Silva misses with a head kick.
james looks to clinch
and Silva counters with a straight right hand.
james tries to clinch
and Silva counters with a nice uppercut.
james tries to clinch
and Silva counters with a slapping leg kick.
james tries to clinch but fails miserably
and james takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

james gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
james keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Silva's efforts to push away.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

james manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
james is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
james wants to sweep here but Silva controlling him for the moment.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Silva trying to stand up but can't free himself from james's guard.

Silva stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
james closes the distance but Silva moves to the side
and Silva counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Silva looking to land some kicks to the body here.
james wants to clinch up but Silva keeps it at a distance.
james shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Silva but Silva pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Silva rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but james moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Silva circles away from the clinch attempt.
Silva throws a combination but it was largely blocked by james.
james moves in looking to clinch but Silva pushes him off.
Silva walks into a straight right hand from james.
james misses with a few strikes there.

Silva gets a clinch.

james is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Silva can't fight it off and eventually james manages to take the fight to the floor. Silva looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva pushes james off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Silva is looking to slow james down with leg kicks.
james shoots in for a takedown but Silva shows good takedown defense.
Silva clobbers james with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A punch combination from Silva misses.
Silva lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Silva.

Silva gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Silva utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
james is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Silva is defending well for now.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

james breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
deacon james has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
james avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Silva will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
james throws a series of punches but Silva moves out of range.
james's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a shot from downtown. james moves away and avoids it.

Silva fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with james, pushing him back against the cage.
james missing with knees to the body.
Silva unloads a knee to the mid-section. james lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
james with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
james keeps control of Silva as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Silva blocks an elbow strike.
Silva blocks an elbow strike from james.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but james is blocking nicely.
james misses with an elbow over the top.
james missing with knees to the body.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but james blocks with his arms.
Silva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. james is defending well for now.
james will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Silva up against the cage.
james is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Silva dodges an elbow strike from james.

Silva escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

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.
james misses with a double jab.
A swing and a miss from james.
Silva avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Left hook, right uppercut from Silva.
A jab from Silva does it's job there.
james dodges the punch combination from Silva.
No luck with that takedown attempt from james.
Wanderlei Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of deacon james.
Silva throws a series of punches but james moves out of range.
james dodges the punch combination from Silva.
james tries to clinch up but Silva circles away and keeps his distance.
james misses with a wild combination.
james tries to bum rush Silva with a series of wild strikes but Silva uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wanderlei Silva showed his dominance in that final round.
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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 50:45
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 50:45
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wanderlei Silva!
Wanderlei Silva retains his light heavyweight title!