PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between JP Sopa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joaquim Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sopa
vs
Silva

169 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

175 cm
18
148 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, JP Sopa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joaquim Silva!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sopa 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.

Silva is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sopa defends well.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Sopa from controlling successfully.
Silva is wriggling around but Sopa manages to pass to half guard.
Silva is looking for a sweep. Sopa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sopa working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Silva's thigh. Silva counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Sopa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Sopa avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sopa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sopa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sopa trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Silva tries for a takedown but Sopa circles away easily

and Sopa counters with a single leg into guard. Silva didn't expect that.
Sopa looking to pass the 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.
Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sopa wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Sopa is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Sopa 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 keeping moving, preventing Sopa from controlling successfully.
Silva keeping full guard, as Sopa tries to pass.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Silva is looking to clinch but Sopa is avoiding it.

Silva drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Silva working away.
Sopa is trying to improve his position.

Silva stands up and beckons Sopa to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sopa shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Silva napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Silva tries to buck Sopa off but Sopa is having none of it.

Sopa is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Silva knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sopa is breathing heavily.

Sopa decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt

so Sopa counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sopa throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JP Sopa dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sopa tries to clinch but Silva moves out of range.

Sopa shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Sopa trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.
Silva moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Silva is trying to control the position from the bottom.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Sopa here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Sopa wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Sopa escapes and throws Silva's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Silva wants to control but Sopa postures up.
Sopa advances to full mount.

Sopa is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Silva has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Sopa looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

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.

Sopa goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Silva turns into him and now he's in Sopa's guard.
Sopa keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Silva passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Silva wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sopa, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to control the position but Sopa is working away.
Sopa prevents Silva from improving position.

Silva is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sopa has escaped the position, nice work there.

Silva tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Silva has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

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

Silva tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sopa manages to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sopa misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Sopa wants to control but Silva is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that JP Sopa will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Silva with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sopa counters with a nice double leg into side control. Silva won't be happy with that.
Silva is letting Sopa control him for a moment.
You can see the frustration on Silva's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sopa throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The strikes coming from Sopa are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Sopa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silva keeps working.
Silva is trying to escape the position but Sopa is controlling the position.
Sopa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silva keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sopa creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Silva sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Sopa moves into range and clinches up with Silva.
Silva has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Silva wants a takedown but no success here.

Sopa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Silva misses with a takedown

so Sopa counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
JP Sopa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joaquim Silva.
Silva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sopa 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.

Sopa postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Silva is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Sopa, into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sopa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Sopa is retaining full guard.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Sopa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
JP Sopa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Silva looking to pass the guard.
Silva prevents Sopa from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Sopa is keeping the position.
Silva wants to control from the top but Sopa keeps moving.

Silva is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Sopa is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Sopa has escaped and now he's on top!
Silva has his hands on Sopa's head, controlling the position.

That's four 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.
Sopa trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Silva controlling Sopa's posture.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
JP Sopa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sopa has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JP Sopa!