PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Luis Da Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niko Sikaniska (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sikaniska has chosen Medeia - Cold Embrace as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Da Silva
vs
Sikaniska

180 cm
19
175 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

174 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite 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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Luis Da Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niko Sikaniska!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sikaniska feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Sikaniska landing some decent shots from guard.
Sikaniska stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Silva wants to hit a switch here but Sikaniska passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Silva there!
Silva is desperately trying to improve his position but Sikaniska has a good base and remains in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to hold on but Sikaniska postures up.
Sikaniska connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Sikaniska controlling from mount.
The referee warns Silva that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The referee warns Silva that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sikaniska 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.
Sikaniska controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sikaniska working the ground and pound effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sikaniska lands a big elbow.
Sikaniska lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Silva wants to hold on but Sikaniska pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silva takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Sikaniska takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Sikaniska dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sikaniska looks for a takedown but Silva sprawls well.
Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.
Silva looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Silva misses with the combination.
Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Sikaniska counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Silva!
Silva is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sikaniska landing strikes from the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sikaniska sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Sikaniska landing shots from mount.
Sikaniska sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

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.
Let's hope that Sikaniska has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is squirming around, avoiding Sikaniska's attempts to control the action.

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 wants to hold on but Sikaniska pushes him away.
Poor strikes thrown by Sikaniska there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Sikaniska really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Silva. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sikaniska thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Sikaniska showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Silva's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Silva changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sikaniska looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sikaniska sneaks back into half guard.

Silva wants to work for an arm triangle but Sikaniska is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Sikaniska is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sikaniska trying to control here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sikaniska controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Silva is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Sikaniska!

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.
Sikaniska keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sikaniska throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

Silva working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Sikaniska looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Silva! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Luis Da Silva!