PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex van der Val (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). van der Val comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Finntroll--Födosagan kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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
van der Val

195 cm
22
275 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

197 cm
21
260 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Paulo Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alex van der Val!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Patrick Alders and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silva moves into the clinch.
Silva is pressed up against the cage. van der Val has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Silva down to the mat. Silva avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Silva has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from van der Val finds it's way round the side to connect with Silva's head.

van der Val fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Silva sprawls well initially but van der Val persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
van der Val is thwarting Silva's attempts to control the position.
Silva regains full guard. Nicely done.
van der Val postures up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
van der Val trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

van der Val is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Silva is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Silva has escaped and now he's on top!
van der Val looking to hit a scissor sweep but Silva is one step ahead there.
Silva slips nicely into half guard.
Silva is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
van der Val won't allow Silva to pass to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
van der Val tries to get to full guard but Silva has control of the leg.
van der Val is trying to maintain the position but Silva is very close to passing his half guard.

Silva decides to stand up.
Silva tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but van der Val swivels and escapes.
Silva displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from van der Val.
Silva tries a head kick but it misses.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Silva.
van der Val throws a right and a left that Silva avoids nicely.
van der Val stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Silva.
van der Val throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Silva.
van der Val looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
van der Val misses with a series of wild punches.
van der Val stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Silva.

Silva forces van der Val back against the cage and clinches.
A knee to the head by Silva.

It looks like Alex van der Val has been cut.

Silva has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics van der Val uses from the top position.
van der Val pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.

Silva is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. van der Val is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
van der Val in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
van der Val is looking to work some ground and pound but Silva has wrist control.
Silva manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. van der Val manages to get himself to full guard.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but van der Val is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
van der Val can't keep his opponent in guard - Silva advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva working over van der Val with some ground and pound. van der Val looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
van der Val wants to control but Silva is keeping busy and won't allow it.
van der Val is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Silva jumps into side control!
Silva advances nicely into full mount.
van der Val is working to get back to half guard.
van der Val tries to hold on but Silva postures up.
Silva putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Silva is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Silva throws a left and a right that both miss

so van der Val counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Silva working for a triangle but van der Val defends it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Silva looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

van der Val gets to his feet. Silva looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Silva instigates a clinch.
A short right from Silva.
van der Val has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Silva avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Paulo Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex van der Val.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Silva takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Silva with a knee to the head.
van der Val drops down looking for an ankle pick but Silva pulls his leg out and moves away.
Silva fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt van der Val.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
van der Val circles away from the clinch attempt
and van der Val counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Silva thinking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Silva dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alex van der Val's cut.
That's time! Silva's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Silva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Silva throws a sloppy head kick and van der Val moves out of range easily.
van der Val on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
van der Val looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
van der Val lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Silva gets a clinch.
van der Val misses with a shot to the kidneys.
van der Val tries to circle away but Silva has him pinned against the cage.

van der Val is fighting off a takedown attempt but Silva is just too persistent for him and manages to trip van der Val to the mat. van der Val regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

van der Val is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Silva gets to his feet. van der Val looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Paulo Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
van der Val falls off balance throwing a combination
and Silva counters with a big head kick but van der Val shrugs it off.
Silva dodges the punch combination from van der Val.

Silva pushes van der Val up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
van der Val goes for a takedown in the clinch but Silva prevents it.
van der Val drops down looking for an ankle pick but Silva pulls his leg out and moves away.
Paulo Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex van der Val.
Silva pushes van der Val away with a front kick.
Alex van der Val seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Silva instigates a clinch.

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

Silva clinches up against the cage.
Silva lands a body shot in the clinch.
van der Val wants a takedown.

Silva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Silva lands a head kick. van der Val smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
van der Val tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The fighters circling - van der Val throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A decent looking cross lands there for Silva.
Silva lands a front kick.

Silva has taken the fight to the clinch.
van der Val has had enough of the clinch but Silva keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva stalling against the cage.

Silva jumps into guard, dragging van der Val to the mat.

Silva looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Silva keeping full guard, as van der Val tries to pass.
Silva not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
van der Val throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Silva works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Silva trying to control the position.
Silva is really struggling to control van der Val but he's trying to hold on to the position.
van der Val trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A low kick from van der Val is predictable there
and Silva counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
van der Val lands an overhand right.
van der Val moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Silva defends well against a solid takedown attempt from van der Val.
van der Val changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Silva tries to avoid it but van der Val manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Silva to the ground. Silva escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Silva moves into the clinch.
Silva landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Silva landing knees to the head.
Silva misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from van der Val.
Silva jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as van der Val walks away with a smile on his face. Silva gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
van der Val throws a combination. Silva tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

van der Val fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Silva sprawls well initially but van der Val persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
van der Val is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Silva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

van der Val is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Silva is just riding it out for now. van der Val eventually gives up the hold.
Silva is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

van der Val is looking for a kimura here.

van der Val is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Silva desperately trying to maintain half guard.

van der Val is trying to work for a kimura but Silva is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
van der Val tries to pass the half guard into mount. Silva knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Silva dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alex van der Val's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Silva closes the distance and clinches.
Silva lands a knee to the head.
Silva lands a knee to the head.
van der Val is trying to maintain a safe position but Silva gets an underhook and turns van der Val into the cage.
Silva landing knees to the head.
Silva utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
van der Val tries for a takedown. No joy.
van der Val drops down looking for an ankle pick but Silva pulls his leg out and moves away.
van der Val shoots in for a double leg but Silva sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Paulo Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex van der Val.
Silva plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
van der Val throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Silva counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
van der Val is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Silva is controlling him.

van der Val 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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but van der Val is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
van der Val looking to hit a scissor sweep but Silva is one step ahead there.
Silva wants to pass the guard but van der Val is keeping the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Silva accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Silva wants to control from the top but van der Val keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
van der Val moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's two 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.
van der Val misses with a few strikes there.
van der Val fails to land with a series of punches.
van der Val scores with a three punch combo!
van der Val lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Silva circles away quickly and effectively.

Silva clinches up against the cage.

Silva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Silva moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
van der Val stalks Silva and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Silva's face. Silva staggers backwards, shaken.
van der Val takes one on the button.
Paulo Silva is winning the standup battle so far.

Silva gets a clinch.
Silva manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Silva with a knee to the head.
van der Val is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Silva pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Silva tightens his grip and picks van der Val up, before dumping him to the ground. van der Val manages to land in guard.
van der Val looking for a sweep. Not yet van der Val, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva forces his way into half guard.

van der Val looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Silva wants to free his trapped foot but van der Val is holding on for dear life with his legs.
van der Val has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Silva is working away from the top position though.

van der Val looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Silva is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Silva prevents van der Val from getting the reversal.

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.
Silva manages to capitalize on a mistake by van der Val to take his back!
Silva has the hooks in. van der Val is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Alex van der Val has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
van der Val just trying to survive but Silva is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Silva working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but van der Val is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Silva has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! van der Val taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Paulo Silva!