PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joey Netherwhick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Silva
vs
Netherwhick

185 cm
21
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Paulo Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joey Netherwhick!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Illya Tyunina and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Netherwhick. No joy for Silva on that attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
No luck for Netherwhick with that takedown attempt.
Silva misses with the combination.
Silva dodges the punch combination from Netherwhick.

Silva gets a takedown into half guard.
Netherwhick is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Silva stands up from half guard.
Netherwhick throws a head kick that misses.
Silva misses with a body kick.

Silva scores a takedown into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Netherwhick wants to hold on but Silva pushes him away.
Poor strikes thrown by Silva there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Netherwhick is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Silva tries to control but Netherwhick wriggling away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Netherwhick tries to hold on but Silva pushes him away.
Silva can't control as he wanted to and Netherwhick manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Netherwhick trying to control here.
Silva looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Netherwhick shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Silva manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Silva wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Netherwhick drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Netherwhick jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Netherwhick won't allow Silva to sweep him here.

Netherwhick has gone for a leg lock! Silva slips out almost immediately though and dives into Netherwhick's guard.
Silva preventing the sweep.
Silva looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Netherwhick uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Silva closes the distance and clinches.
Silva has Netherwhick pressed against the cage, preventing Netherwhick from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Silva managing to block the knees to the body from Netherwhick.
Silva working hard to break the clinch.
Silva changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Netherwhick fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Silva moves into range and clinches up with Netherwhick.
Netherwhick stalling the fight.

Netherwhick gets control of Silva's arms and successfully pulls guard. Netherwhick will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Silva postures up in Netherwhick's guard and throws a big left but Netherwhick blocks it.
Silva is fighting to break Netherwhick's control of his arms but Netherwhick is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Silva missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva is looking to stand up but Netherwhick won't let him.

Netherwhick is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Silva defends well.
Silva trying to control but Netherwhick is working from the bottom.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Netherwhick is keeping the position.

Silva got a little sloppy there for a moment and Netherwhick has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Silva has managed to get both his arms back between Netherwhick's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Paulo Silva will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Silva misses with a takedown attempt

and Netherwhick counters with a single leg into guard. Silva didn't expect that.

Netherwhick is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Netherwhick must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Netherwhick won't allow Silva to sweep him here.
Netherwhick wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Netherwhick trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Netherwhick wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Netherwhick sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Netherwhick changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Silva looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Netherwhick scores with punches from side control.
Netherwhick connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Silva some visible discomfort.

Netherwhick has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Netherwhick scores a takedown into full mount!
BOOM! Netherwhick connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Netherwhick avoids the attempt from Silva to control.
Netherwhick controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying to escape the mount.
Joey Netherwhick has got the better of the ground game so far.
Netherwhick has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Silva's face.
Netherwhick with shots to the head and body - Silva looks very uncomfortable down there.
Netherwhick in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Netherwhick is going olschool here, as he tries to force Silva to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Silva shrugs it off.
Netherwhick scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Silva tries to reverse the position but Netherwhick maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Netherwhick postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Silva looks a forlorn figure.
Silva is in all sorts of trouble here.
Silva is in a horrible position here. Netherwhick smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Netherwhick tries to control but Silva wriggling away.
Silva is wriggling around trying to escape.
Silva is trying to stand.
Netherwhick tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Silva really wants to buck Netherwhick off and get back to his feet.

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.
Netherwhick landing strikes from the mount and Silva is in trouble!
Netherwhick sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Silva is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Netherwhick is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Netherwhick clinches up with Silva and pushes him back against the cage.

Netherwhick jumps guard.

Netherwhick working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Silva doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Silva manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Netherwhick wants to sweep but no luck.

Netherwhick had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Silva is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Netherwhick Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Silva's back instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Netherwhick showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Silva is trying hard to land a takedown here. Netherwhick sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Netherwhick shoots in and bounces Silva off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Silva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Netherwhick is one step ahead there.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Netherwhick is proving a slippery customer.
Netherwhick pushing down on Silva's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Silva on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Netherwhick controlling the action here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Netherwhick trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.
Netherwhick throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Silva avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Netherwhick.
Silva is looking to improve his position.
Netherwhick is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Netherwhick wants to free his trapped foot but Silva is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Silva. No joy for Netherwhick on that attempt.
Paulo Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Silva throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Netherwhick's waist but Netherwhick gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Silva off to one side.
Netherwhick has his takedown stuffed
and Silva counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Netherwhick shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Netherwhick prevents Silva from improving his position.
Silva is trying to maintain the position but Netherwhick is very close to passing his half guard.
Netherwhick is pressing down on Silva's thigh, looking to free his foot. Silva is holding on for now.

Silva is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Netherwhick pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Netherwhick is keen to just control but Silva is a slippery customer.
Silva is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Netherwhick jumps into side control!

Netherwhick decides to stand back up. Netherwhick steps back and let's Silva get back to his feet.
Silva wants to clinch
and Netherwhick counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Silva takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Silva tries to clinch up
and Netherwhick counters with a good low kick that Silva was not able to check.
Silva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Netherwhick tries to close the distance and clinch up but Silva swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Netherwhick shoots in but Silva avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Paulo Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joey Netherwhick.
Silva dives in and grabs Netherwhick's left leg, looking for a takedown. Netherwhick pushes down on Silva's head and hops out.
Netherwhick throws a right and a left that both miss.
A nice combination there by Silva.
Netherwhick doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Silva counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Silva is looking to stand up but Netherwhick won't let him.
Netherwhick is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Netherwhick is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Netherwhick utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joey Netherwhick comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Netherwhick 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joey Netherwhick!