PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Espiriquidiberto Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Belanger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Espiriquidiberto Silva could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mike Belanger's chin.

Silva
vs
Belanger

166 cm
18
133 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Espiriquidiberto Silva!
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, Mike Belanger!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Daniel Franklin and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A left lands for Belanger.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Belanger swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A shot to de liver by Belanger. Beautiful body shot.
Belanger keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but Belanger shows good takedown defense.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Belanger using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Silva has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva leaning against his opponent.
Belanger with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Belanger with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Belanger is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Silva lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Belanger is trying to escape back to his feet but Silva uses the scramble to pass into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belanger isn't going anywhere.

Silva is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Belanger has escaped the position, nice work there.
Silva wants to control but Belanger is keeping him busy.

That's two 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 throws a strike aimed at the side of Belanger's head but Belanger avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Silva tries to clinch but Belanger is having none of it.
Belanger scores with the left hand. Silva knows he should have avoided that one.
Silva takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Silva tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Belanger swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Espiriquidiberto Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belanger moves out of range of the leg kick from Silva.

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.
Belanger checks a leg kick.
Silva throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Belanger's waist but Belanger gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Silva off to one side.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Silva is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Belanger smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Belanger darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Belanger throws a one two combo.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva misses with a double jab
enabling Belanger to counter with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Espiriquidiberto Silva dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Espiriquidiberto Silva's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Belanger's corner calls for a 1-2. Belanger obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Belanger bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Espiriquidiberto Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Belanger lands with a cross.
Silva tries to clinch up.
Belanger has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Silva takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Silva doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Silva misses with a jab to the body
and Belanger counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Belanger to score with a decent uppercut.
Nice uppercut there from Belanger.
Nice shot by Belanger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva closes this distance looking for a takedown but Belanger circles away.
Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Belanger connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Belanger displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Silva.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Espiriquidiberto Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belanger lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Silva goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Belanger connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Silva fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Belanger avoids it really well and circles away.

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.
Belanger stalks Silva and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Silva's face. Silva staggers backwards, shaken.
Espiriquidiberto Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Belanger keeps the fight on the outside.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Belanger!

Silva looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Silva is trying to control the action in half guard but Belanger is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Belanger is trying to stand up here but Silva is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belanger 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.
Silva wants to take a breather but Belanger is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Belanger is trying to stand.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Silva throws a sloppy head kick and Belanger moves out of range easily.
Belanger's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Belanger duly obliges.
Belanger works the jab nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jab from Belanger.
Belanger connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Belanger showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Espiriquidiberto Silva's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

A jab lands there for Belanger.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but Belanger shows good takedown defense.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Silva on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Belanger scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Belanger lands a jab-cross combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Belanger. No joy for Silva on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Espiriquidiberto Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belanger moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Silva takes one to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belanger lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Belanger.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A cross from Belanger lands.
Belanger connects with a good right hand that stumbles Silva. Silva circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Silva on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Belanger scores with a jab to the head.
Mike Belanger is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Belanger connects with a nice looking jab.
Belanger's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Belanger duly obliges.
A shot to de liver by Belanger. Beautiful body shot.
Belanger scores with a decent looking hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belanger lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Belanger lands a body shot.
Silva pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Belanger punishes Silva's body with a nice straight punch.
Silva shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Belanger defends it nicely.
Belanger's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Belanger duly obliges.
Belanger lands with a nice body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belanger keeps the fight on the outside.
Belanger lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Belanger lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Jab from Belanger.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Belanger!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Silva.
Belanger cracks Silva with a good jab.
Belanger might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Belanger scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

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.
Belanger lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Nice cross by Belanger.
Silva wants to clinch up but Belanger keeps it at a distance.
Horrible takedown by Silva or perhaps it was just good defense by Belanger which made him look bad.
Belanger bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Silva's head backwards.
Silva tries to clinch but Belanger moves out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Belanger scores with a three punch combo!
Danga de danga de dang - Belanger scores with a four punch combination!

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Belanger comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Belanger has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Belanger!