PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Knaan Rusk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carl Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Rusk
vs
Silva

162 cm
23
215 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

192 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

FNF Energy - (Sale!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Knaan Rusk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Carl Silva!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva stuffs the takedown.

Rusk drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rusk trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Rusk pushing down on Silva's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Rusk is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Silva really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rusk. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Silva tries to kick Rusk off but Rusk keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Silva wants to improve his position but Rusk is controlling well.
Rusk seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Silva does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rusk is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Silva is looking to escape.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rusk shoots for a double leg takedown but Silva sprawls well. He's pushed Rusk's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.

Silva shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Silva showed some decent athleticism there.
Rusk gets full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rusk is trying to control the position but Silva postures up.
Silva controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rusk not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rusk is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rusk wants to work for an arm triangle but Silva is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rusk has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Rusk looking for a guillotine from mount but Silva is having none of it.
Rusk prevents Silva from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusk controlling the position easily from mount.
Rusk fails to take his opponent's back.

Rusk working for a submission but Silva is keeping him at bay.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rusk can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Silva is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rusk prevents Silva from getting the reversal.
Rusk trying to control but Silva is having none of it.

Rusk working for a guillotine from mount but Silva is in no mood to give up.
Rusk trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Knaan Rusk dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rusk takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Silva works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Silva moves into the clinch successfully.
Rusk tries to pull guard but Silva won't allow it.

Silva breaks from the clinch.
Rusk slips a jab and a cross from Silva.
Rusk could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Nice cross by Silva.

Silva rushes Rusk and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Silva breaks from the clinch.

Rusk fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Silva sprawls well initially but Rusk persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Rusk is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Silva trying to control from the bottom.
Rusk seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Silva does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusk content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rusk wants to take a breather but Silva is having none of it.
Silva has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rusk is working away from the top position though.

Rusk is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Silva doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rusk.
Silva is refusing to be controlled, as Rusk sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Rusk is working for a submission of some sort.
Rusk is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to get to full guard but Rusk has control of the leg.
Rusk wants to control but Silva is keeping him busy.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Silva can do anything to dispel that myth.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Silva lunges at Rusk with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rusk's hand.

Silva feints and as Rusk raises his hands in defense, Silva changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Silva controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rusk might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rusk controls Silva momentarily but Silva frees himself.
Rusk wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva being controlled here momentarily.
Rusk bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Silva's guard.
Rusk trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Silva has control of Rusk's left arm, preventing Rusk from doing any damage.
Rusk looking to pass the guard.
Rusk trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Silva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rusk gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Silva to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rusk utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Silva wants to stand but Rusk is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rusk is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Knaan Rusk overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Rusk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rusk is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rusk keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rusk had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Silva defends it easily.

Rusk is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Silva defends well.
Rusk is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rusk manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Silva manages to get himself to full guard.
Silva wants to stand and escape but Rusk is having none of it.

Rusk thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Rusk from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rusk drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rusk jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Rusk thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Rusk thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Silva wants to stand and escape but Rusk is having none of it.
Rusk wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Silva smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Silva, as that shot connected.
Silva misses with a body kick.

Silva moves into range and clinches up with Rusk.
Silva works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Rusk fails to pull guard.
Rusk tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Silva pulls guard.
Rusk wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Silva is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rusk is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rusk wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.

Rusk drops back looking for a leg! Silva is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Silva manages to kick Rusk off! Rusk jumps back into Silva's guard.

Rusk drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rusk jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carl Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Silva has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carl Silva!