PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rennon Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bubba Alston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bubba Alston struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 156.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Silva
vs
Alston

170 cm
23
155 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

185 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rennon Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bubba Alston!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Mauricio Rocha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silva takes the fight into the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Alston jumps guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Silva accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Silva prevents Alston from getting back to his feet.
Alston is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Alston preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Silva throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Silva accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Silva drops back looking for a leg! Alston is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Alston manages to kick Silva off! Silva jumps back into Alston's guard.
Alston has control of Silva's left arm, preventing Silva from doing any damage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Silva tries to clinch but Alston moves out of range.
Silva tries to score a power double leg takedown but Alston sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Silva somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alston shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Silva but Silva pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Alston circles away from the clinch attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Alston is defended easily by Silva.

Silva looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Alston is adopting a defensive guard.

Alston 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.
Alston trying to keep a closed guard but Silva is proving a slippery customer.
Alston looks gassed!
Silva postures up in Alston's guard and throws a big left but Alston blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Silva postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Silva throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Alston works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Silva throwing strikes from guard but Alston blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Silva tries to clinch but Alston is having none of it.
Silva with a lazy takedown attempt

and Alston counters with a takedown into side control.
Silva pushes Alston away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Alston gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Silva prevents Alston from improving position.
Silva is trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Alston grinds an elbow into Silva's temple.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Alston shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Alston was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Alston controlling his opponent.
Silva is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Alston 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alston seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Silva is holding on tight.
Alston looking to control but Silva is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Silva might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Alston scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Silva?
Silva tries to buck Alston off but he can't manage it.
Alston working the ground and pound effectively.
Alston landing strikes, looking to finish!
Alston in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Silva wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Alston landing strikes, looking to finish!
Silva is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Alston has taken his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Alston throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Silva's waist but Silva gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Alston off to one side.
Silva clinches but Alston breaks the clinch

and Alston counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Silva!
Silva wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Alston trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Silva has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Silva is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Alston fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Alston pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Alston has Silva flattened out and is raining down punches.
Alston misses with punches from the back.
Silva is trying to get back to his feet but Alston has full control of the position and if anything, Silva has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Alston looking for the choke but no joy.
I would not like to be Silva right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Alston lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Silva controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Alston is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Alston gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Alston gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Alston apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Silva looks to clinch

and Alston holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Silva looking for a takedown.
Silva tries for a takedown. No joy.
Alston softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Alston pulls guard successfully.
Silva throwing strikes from guard but Alston blocks nicely.
Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Alston is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Silva is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Alston is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Alston has escaped and now he's on top!
Alston slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Silva is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Alston stands up and waves to Silva to follow him.
Alston closes the distance and clinches up with Silva, looking for a takedown. Alston pushes Silva against the cage but Silva circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Silva doesn't manage to clinch there - Alston circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to clinch.
Silva tries to clinch but Alston moves away

and Alston counters with a shoot takedown. Silva fights it but they end up in guard.
Alston passes Silva's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Silva is trying to stand.
Alston stalling.
Alston 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.
Bubba Alston has got the better of the ground game so far.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.
Alston is pressing down on Silva's thigh, looking to free his foot. Silva is holding on for now.
Alston prevents Silva from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bubba Alston showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Silva fails with the takedown
and Alston counters with a big head kick but Silva shrugs it off.
Alston closes this distance looking for a takedown but Silva circles away.
Alston rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Silva moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Silva darts in trying to clinch

and Alston counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Silva!
Silva is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Alston content just to control the position here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Alston forces the positional change into back control.
What can Silva do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Alston connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Silva to escape the position.

Silva is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.

Alston gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Alston gets underhooks to prevent Silva's takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alston gets underhooks to prevent Silva's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rennon Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Alston breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Silva clinches but Alston breaks the clinch

and Alston holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Silva has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Alston avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Silva has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Alston avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Alston manages to pull guard.
Alston preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Silva throws and elbow that misses. Alston uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Silva's guard. Nice move by Alston!
Alston prevents Silva from getting back to his feet.
Alston stands up over Silva, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Alston wants to stand but Silva is controlling his posture from full guard.
Alston with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alston wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Silva wants to get back to his feet but Alston is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

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

Silva fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Alston, pushing him back against the cage.

Alston pulls guard effortlessly.
Silva preventing the sweep.
Alston wants to get back to his feet but Silva is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Silva 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.
Silva stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alston swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Silva is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Alston is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Alston has escaped and now he's on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva wriggles free and stands up.
Silva with a lazy takedown attempt

and Alston decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Silva's guard.
Silva is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Alston dives into side control.

Silva explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Alston counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alston prevents Silva from standing back up.
Rennon Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bubba Alston is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Alston frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bubba Alston comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Alston winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bubba Alston!