PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva comes to the cage accompanied by DJ Khaled "All I Do Is Win" feat. Ludacris, Rick Ross, Snoop Dogg & T-Pain. Thiago Alves looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Silva
vs
Alves

185 cm
25
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
23
170 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anderson Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Alves!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Mauricio Rocha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alves throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Silva looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Alves!
Silva mounts Alves! Really nice guard pass there!

Silva gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Silva lands a big head kick that sends Alves tumbling to the mat! Silva takes a step backwards and waves Alves back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Alves is rocked!
Silva throws a head kick but Alves moves out of range.
Alves is still on wobbly legs! Can Silva finish him?

Silva lands a high kick to the side of Alves's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! Silva dives into guard, looking to finish.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Silva stands and steps away. Alves gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Alves misses with a double jab.
Silva tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Alves seems to have recovered his senses.
Silva throws a head kick but Alves moves out of range.
Silva throws a head kick but Alves moves out of range.
Silva takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Alves swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Anderson Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Alves. Alves obviously looking to wear him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Alves paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Silva throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Alves as he jumps to the side.
Alves looks to land a combination but Silva avoids it well.
Alves misses with a jab, cross combination.
Alves throws a sloppy head kick
and Silva counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Alves is lucky that one didn't land flush.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Alves.
Silva takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Silva lands with a kick to the temple. Alves shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
A lazy body kick from Silva
and Alves counters with a left and a right that stings Silva.
Alves misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a combination that misses
letting Alves counter with a right hand.
Alves missing with a left hand there. Silva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Alves will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Silva throws a head kick that misses.
Alves looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Silva wants to clinch up but Alves keeps it at a distance.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alves looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Silva is looking to clinch but Alves is avoiding it.
Alves swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Alves keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Alves both land. Nice combination.
Alves jabs Silva right on the nose. Silva blinks but takes it well.
Silva wants to clinch.
Silva throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Alves.
Alves rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Silva moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Silva is looking to clinch.
Silva looks to clinch
and Alves counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Silva looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Silva clinches.
A knee to the head by Alves.
Alves with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva stalling in the clinch but Alves improves position.
Alves is trying to stall.
Silva is looking to break free of the clinch but Alves has double underhooks.

Silva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alves tries to clinch there but Silva circles away.
Alves throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alves misses with a double jab
and Silva counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Alves misses with a few strikes there.

Silva fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Alves sprawls well initially but Silva persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Silva decides to stand and escape the position.
Silva lands a head kick!
Alves dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Silva dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Alves throws a right and a left that Silva avoids nicely.
Silva closes the distance and clinches up with Alves, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes Alves against the cage but Alves circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Alves as he jumps to the side.
Alves throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Silva.
Silva's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Silva duly obliges.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt
and Alves counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alves swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
Alves misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva tries to clinch up.
Alves circles away from the clinch attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Silva darts in and clinches Alves up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is trying to break free.
Alves tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Alves lands an elbow that stopped Silva in his tracks for a moment.
Silva tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Alves smiles and moves away.
Silva tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Silva tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Alves lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Silva throws a sloppy head kick
and Alves counters with a head kick. That will keep Silva thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

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

Silva decides to stand back up. Silva steps back and let's Alves get back to his feet.
Alves misses with a wild combination.
A head kick by Silva misses
and Alves counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva closes the distance and pushes Alves back into the cage.
Silva takes a knee to the side of the body.
Silva tries to pull guard but Alves holds him up against the cage and eventually Silva drops back down to his feet.
Alves looking to stall.
Alves prevents Silva from breaking the clinch.
Silva has had enough of the clinch but Alves keeps him there for the moment.
Alves looking to slow down the pace here.
Alves landing knees to the body.
Alves has Silva pressed against the cage, preventing Silva from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Alves throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Silvas head.
Silva tries to pull guard but Alves won't allow it.
Silva is trying to break the clinch but Alves is controlling him.
Alves landing knees to the body.
Silva drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Alves gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Alves scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves tries a knee to the head but Silva blocks it.
Silva is looking to break free of the clinch but Alves has double underhooks.

Silva has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Alves uses from the top position.
Silva looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Silva is looking to stand up but Alves isn't so interested in that idea.
Silva working a defensive guard here.
Silva is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Alves is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Alves got a little sloppy there for a moment and Silva has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Alves has managed to get both his arms back between Silva's legs - danger averted.
Alves 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Silva manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Silva stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Silva lands a high kick!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Alves!
Silva throws a head kick that misses
and Alves counters with a two punch combo.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Silva.

Silva takes the fight into the clinch.
Alves misses with a knee strike.
Silva has Alves pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Alves manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Still in the clinch, Alves scores with a nice short uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Silva dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Silva fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Alves fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Silva manages to avoid it.
Alves throws a right and a left that both miss.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Silva.
Silva throws a head kick but Alves moves out of range.
Silva throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Alves's waist but Alves gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Silva off to one side.
Anderson Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Silva throws a head kick that half lands.
Silva uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Alves.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alves keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Silva closes the distance looking to clinch
and Alves counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva shoots for a takedown but Alves saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Silva tries for a takedown but Alves circles away easily
and Alves counters with a thumping low kick.
Silva stalks Alves and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Alves's face. Alves staggers backwards, shaken.
Alves tries to clinch there but Silva circles away.
Alves lands with an overhand left.
Silva misses with a head kick.
Alves ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Silva tries a head kick but it misses.
Silva tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Alves counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's two 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 blocks a head kick by Alves.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Alves as he jumps to the side.
Alves throws a shot from downtown. Silva moves away and avoids it.
Silva fails with the takedown
and Alves cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Silva looks to land a body kick but Alves moved away.
Alves keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Silva doesn't manage to clinch there - Alves circles away.
Silva misses with a series of wild punches.
Silva rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Alves moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves tries to land a front kick but Silva steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Thiago Alves is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A head kick by Silva misses
and Alves counters with a nice low kick that buckles Silva's knee momentarily.
Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Alves counters with a left and a right that stings Silva.
Alves tries to clinch but Silva is having none of it.
Silva avoids a punch combination nicely.
Alves defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Silva.
Alves throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Alves avoids a kick to the body.
Anderson Silva is winning the standup battle so far.
Alves misses the shot to the body.
Alves throws a nice looking combination but Silva bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Silva looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's four 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.

Alves has taken the fight to the clinch.
Silva jumps guard but Alves stands there with Silva around his waist. Silva gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Alves is blocking nicely.
Alves managing to block the knees to the body from Silva.
Alves missing with knees to the body.
Alves is trying to stall.
Alves working Silva over with knees to the body.
Silva is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Alves is struggling to control the position.
Alves is trying to stall.
Alves stalling in the clinch.

Silva has Alves pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Silva pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Alves tumbling to the mat - Silva dives into Alves's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Alves has his feet on Silva's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Thiago Alves has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anderson Silva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Alves is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Silva rather than just go for the knockout.
Silva throws a lazy head kick
and Alves counters with a right hand to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago Alves comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Silva 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28

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