PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Samy Diabate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Diabate
vs
Silva

210 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Samy Diabate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anderson Silva!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Chris Downing and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diabate shoots in for a double leg but Silva sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Silva swats away the attempt to clinch by Diabate.
Diabate tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Silva swivels and escapes.
Silva tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Diabate counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Diabate has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Silva drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Diabate wants to break the clinch but can't.
Silva drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Diabate gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Silva looking for a takedown.
Samy Diabate has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anderson Silva.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A knee to the head by Silva.

It looks like Samy Diabate has been cut.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Silva as Diabate tries to tie him up.
Silva can't get the takedown.
Silva prevents Diabate from breaking the clinch.

Silva manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diabate fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Silva avoids it really well and circles away.
Silva with a lazy takedown attempt

and Diabate counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Silva looks gassed!
Silva is trying to keep Diabate in close.
Silva has a closed guard, preventing Diabate from standing up.
Diabate knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Silva on the ground.
Diabate passes Silva's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Diabate throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Diabate is trying to control. Silva wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Diabate really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diabate looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Diabate trying to mount his opponent but Silva defends it.
Silva is not content to let Diabate control the position.
Diabate is just content to waste time from the top position. Silva takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Silva is working an open guard so Diabate takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva misses with a low kick as Diabate jumps back.
Diabate gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Silva counters with a single leg into guard. Diabate didn't expect that.
Diabate controls Silva momentarily but Silva frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Diabate keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Diabate is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to control but Diabate is working from the bottom.
Silva postures up.
Diabate wants to stand but Silva is controlling the position.
Silva trying to control but Diabate 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 has his takedown stuffed

and Diabate counters by moving into the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Diabate - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Silva with a knee to the head.
Diabate digs a right hand into Silva's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Silva's gas tank.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samy Diabate dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Samy Diabate's cut.
That's time! Diabate's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Diabate darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Diabate thows a huge punch but Silva dodges it nicely.
Diabate is pressing down on Silva's thigh, looking to free his foot. Silva is holding on for now.
Diabate trying to control from Silva's half guard. Silva has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Diabate trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diabate won't allow Silva to get back to his feet.

Silva looking for a guillotine here but Diabate defends easily.
Diabate trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diabate controls from within his opponent's guard.

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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Diabate lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Silva takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Diabate scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Anderson Silva has been cut.
Diabate tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Diabate pushes Silva up against the cage in a clinch.
Diabate trying to land knees to the body.
Silva has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Diabate is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Diabate stalling.
Diabate is trying to break free.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Silva as Diabate tries to tie him up.
Diabate can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries for a takedown but Diabate manages to get underhooks.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Silva tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Diabate just stands there and leans against the cage.
Samy Diabate has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anderson Silva.
Diabate looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Diabate missing with knees to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Diabate creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Diabate escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Samy Diabate is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Silva misses with a takedown

and Diabate counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Diabate.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Diabate takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Silva prevents Diabate from breaking the clinch.
Diabate lands a body shot in the clinch.
Silva wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Diabate breaks the clinch.
Diabate fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Samy Diabate seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diabate misses with a takedown attempt

and Silva counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Diabate's guard now.
Diabate trying to keep a closed guard but Silva is proving a slippery customer.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Silva's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Silva passes into half guard.
Diabate has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Silva is working away from the top position though.
Silva trying to control from half guard but Diabate is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samy Diabate dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Diabate looks to land a combination but Silva avoids it well.

Diabate fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Silva, pushing him back against the cage.
Silva changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Diabate fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Diabate lands a nice looking body kick.
Diabate with a poor takedown

and Silva counters with a takedown into side control.
Diabate wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Silva looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diabate holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Diabate wants to get back to his feet.
Diabate looks to move to half guard but instead Silva has passed into mount! Damn!
A nice elbow there by Silva.

Silva is working for a guillotine from mount but Diabate frees his head quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Silva wants to control the pace but Diabate is squirming around nicely.
Silva with good strikes from the mount here!
Silva wants to control but instead Diabate manages to regain half guard.
Diabate punching from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diabate is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Silva is trying to work for a kimura but Diabate is defending well.

Silva is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Diabate has managed to free his arm - good work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Diabate throws a sloppy head kick and Silva moves out of range easily.

Diabate drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diabate wants to get up but he can't break Silva's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Silva throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Diabate tries to stand but Silva is controlling from the bottom.
Diabate not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Silva trying to control the position.
Diabate wants to stand but Silva has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Anderson Silva.
I think Diabate has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Samy Diabate!
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight for Samy Diabate!
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight for Samy Diabate!

Samy Diabate wins by unanimous decision!