PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Lassiter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rich Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lassiter comes to the cage accompanied by Chumbawamba - Tubthumping. Silva has chosen Sleep When I'm Dead as his entrance music. Paul Lassiter had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Lassiter
vs
Silva

212 cm
22
280 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

193 cm
22
286 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Lassiter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rich Silva!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Anthony Taglia and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lassiter misses with an attempted mid kick.
Lassiter throws a series of punches but Silva avoids them all with ease.
Lassiter throws a right and a left that Silva avoids nicely.
Silva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lassiter but Lassiter pushes him off and we're back to square one.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Silva.

It looks like Paul Lassiter has been cut.
Lassiter lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Good leg kick by Lassiter there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

A big head kick from Lassiter and Silva is sent sprawling to the canvas!

Silva is rocked!
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 throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Silva trying to control the position.
Lassiter has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Silva is proving hard to escape from.
Silva striking off his back but it's not causing Lassiter any problems.
Lassiter wanted to stand there but Silva had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to strike from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lassiter takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Lassiter throws a sloppy head kick and Silva moves out of range easily.

Silva moves into range and clinches up with Lassiter.
Lassiter prevents the takedown attempt.
Lassiter is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Silva gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Lassiter regains guard.
Lassiter is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lassiter is breathing heavily.
Silva loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Silva's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Silva landing some decent shots from guard.
Silva lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva working some strikes from top position.
Silva prevents Lassiter from getting back to his feet.
Lassiter keeping full guard, as Silva tries to pass.
Silva chips away with some ground and pound.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Silva landing with the ground and pound.
Silva throws a big right hand that misses.
Lassiter keeping full guard, as Silva tries to pass.

Silva drops back, looking for a kneebar! Lassiter looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Lassiter looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Lassiter!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lassiter working away.
Silva is looking to reverse the position.
Lassiter will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Lassiter decides to stand back up. Lassiter steps back and let's Silva get back to his feet.
Lassiter fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Silva takes a kick to the side of the head.
Lassiter doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Paul Lassiter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lassiter missing with a left hand there. Silva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lassiter throws a series of punches but Silva avoids them all with ease.
Silva throws a lazy right hand but Lassiter sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Silva misses with a combination
and Lassiter counters with a head kick. That will keep Silva thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
The fight stays on the outside here - Silva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Lassiter.
Lassiter throws a right and a left that Silva avoids nicely.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Silva darts in and clinches Lassiter up against the cage.
Lassiter wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Silva has him pressed against the cage.
Lassiter is trying to break free.

Silva gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Silva throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Lassiter is trying to stand.
Silva working over Lassiter with some ground and pound. Lassiter looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Lassiter is trying to stand up here but Silva is controlling him well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Silva working over Lassiter with some ground and pound. Lassiter looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Silva lands a nice short elbow.
Lassiter is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rich Silva will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Paul Lassiter's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lassiter steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Silva.
A jab lands there for Silva.
Lassiter missing with a left hand there. Silva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Silva avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lassiter throws a head kick that misses

and Silva counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Silva has gone for a leg lock! Lassiter slips out almost immediately though and dives into Silva's guard.
Lassiter knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Silva on the ground.
Lassiter would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Silva had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lassiter defends it easily.
Silva looking for a sweep. Not yet Silva, not yet.
Silva is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva has a closed guard, preventing Lassiter from standing up.

Silva working for a triangle but Lassiter defends it easily.
Silva trying to strike off his back.
Rich Silva has got the better of the ground game so far.
Silva has a closed guard, preventing Lassiter from standing up.
Silva has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Silva looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lassiter is looking to stand up but Silva won't let him.

That's two 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.

Lassiter decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Silva throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Silva misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lassiter misses with a combination
and Silva counters with a stiff right hand.
Silva throws a sloppy head kick and Lassiter moves out of range easily.
Lassiter lands the left hand.
Silva moves in looking to clinch but Lassiter pushes him off.
Paul Lassiter is winning the standup battle so far.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lassiter fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Silva throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lassiter sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lassiter looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lassiter tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lassiter throws a front kick that sends Silva stumbling back into the cage.
Silva on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Lassiter with a nice cross.
Lassiter looks to throw a body kick

and Silva decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Lassiter's guard.

Lassiter scrambles and gets back to his feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lassiter fails to land with a series of punches.
Lassiter tries a head kick but it misses.
Lassiter lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Silva circles away quickly and effectively.
Some wild striking there from Lassiter.

Silva drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Silva distracts Lassiter with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Silva working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lassiter's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a strike but Lassiter rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Silva has a closed guard, preventing Lassiter from standing up.
Lassiter wants to stand and escape but instead Silva has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Silva connects with a couple of short punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Silva drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Silva jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Silva connects with a couple of short punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rich Silva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Paul Lassiter's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Lassiter misses with a few strikes there.
Lassiter lands with a hook. Silva tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Lassiter throws a sloppy head kick and Silva moves out of range easily.
Silva throws a leg kick which misses Lassiter's front leg but catches the back leg as Lassiter tries to avoid it.
Lassiter walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Silva checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Lassiter gets caught flat footed, as Silva shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Lassiter wants to stand up but Silva is controlling him.
Silva stands up over Lassiter, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Silva pushes down on Lassiter's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Silva takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Silva stops Lassiter from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lassiter has hold of Silva's hands but Silva slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Silva working Lassiter over with strikes.
Silva is nestled in close to Lassiter, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lassiter keeps working.
Lassiter wants to get back to his feet.
Lassiter on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Lassiter wants to get back to his feet.
Silva takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Paul Lassiter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rich Silva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lassiter wants to stand back up but Silva manages to pass into side control.
Silva just content to control the position.
Silva's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lassiter is trying to get back to his feet.
Silva moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Despite being in the dominant position, Rich Silva just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lassiter bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Silva closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Lassiter breaks the clinch.
Lassiter throws a lazy right hand but Silva sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Lassiter is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Silva closes the distance and clinches.
Silva lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Lassiter has had enough of the clinch but Silva keeps him there for the moment.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Silva.
Lassiter is looking to break free of the clinch but Silva has double underhooks.
Lassiter looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Silva lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Lassiter wants to break free but Silva has control.
Lassiter throws an elbow that misses.

Lassiter breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Silva looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Silva controlling the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rich Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Silva 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rich Silva!