PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Demian Rocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Silva
vs
Rocha

188 cm
20
184 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

183 cm
19
196 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 5 - 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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Demian Rocha!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Paulo Santos and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rocha misses with a two punch combination.
Rocha swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
Rocha shoots for a takedown but Silva saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Silva checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Rocha shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Silva pinned against the cage. Silva gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Rocha drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rocha moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Silva defending against the ground and pound.
Rocha scores with a couple of short elbows.
Silva prevents Rocha from moving into mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha slows the pace down.
Silva is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Rocha goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Silva has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Rocha but great work by Silva.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva wants to stand but Rocha is controlling his arm.
Rocha is trying to improve his position.
Silva wants to stand but Rocha has his arm trapped.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Rocha is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rocha tries to bench press Silva off him but Silva keeps the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Silva closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Rocha will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Anderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Demian Rocha.
Silva tries to clinch up but Rocha circles away and keeps his distance.
Silva is looking to clinch but Rocha is avoiding it.
Jab from Silva.
Rocha shoots in and drives through. Silva sprawls well.
Rocha is trying hard to land a takedown here. Silva sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rocha looks gassed!
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.

Rocha scores a takedown into full mount!
Silva holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Rocha tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocha looking to control and managing it successfully.
Silva is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Silva is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Rocha takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Silva is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Rocha moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Silva has worked his arm free - good work by Silva!
Silva stops Rocha from passing to mount.
You can see the frustration on Silva's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva is trying to get back to his feet.
Silva knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rocha on the ground.
Rocha working the ground and pound but Silva is defending the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Demian Rocha will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Silva tries to clinch up but Rocha circles away and keeps his distance.
Silva defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rocha.
Silva defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rocha.
Rocha shoots in for a double leg but Silva sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Anderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Demian Rocha.
Silva stalks Rocha and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rocha's face. Rocha staggers backwards, shaken.
Silva stuffs the takedown attempt from Rocha. Rocha gets slowly back to his feet.
Silva throws a head kick but Rocha moves out of range.
Silva looks to land a combination but Rocha avoids it well.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rocha shoots for a double leg takedown but Silva sprawls well. He's pushed Rocha's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Silva throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Silva is looking to clinch but Rocha is avoiding it.
Silva scores with a jab.
Rocha is breathing heavily.
Rocha misses with a double jab.
Rocha lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Silva circles away quickly and effectively.
Silva lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rocha backs up against the cage.
Silva stalks Rocha and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rocha's face. Rocha staggers backwards, shaken.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva darts in and clinches Rocha up against the cage.
Rocha on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Silva is looking to break free of the clinch but Rocha has double underhooks.
Rocha is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Silva is looking to break free of the clinch but Rocha has double underhooks.
Silva has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Silva escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Silva tries to clinch there but Rocha circles away.
Silva lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rocha backs up against the cage.
Silva displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rocha.
A combination from Silva does no damage.
Silva displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Silva instigates a clinch.
Silva is trying to break the clinch but Rocha has him pressed against the cage.
Rocha drops down looking for an ankle pick but Silva pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rocha sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva is looking to clinch but Rocha is avoiding it.
Silva throws a right and a left that Rocha avoids nicely.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Silva drives through and clinches with Rocha against the cage.
Silva wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

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

Silva closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rocha tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Silva wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Silva is trying to break the clinch but Rocha is controlling him.
Silva is looking to break free of the clinch but Rocha has double underhooks.

Rocha is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Silva can't fight it off and eventually Rocha manages to take the fight to the floor. Silva looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rocha drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Silva dives on top into guard.
Rocha wants to sweep here but Silva controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocha is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Silva has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Rocha to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Silva is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Rocha pulls down on the head and he's put Silva to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Demian Rocha!