PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Paul Denton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renan Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva has chosen Guerreiro as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Renan Silva told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Denton
vs
Silva

162 cm
19
140 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

170 cm
22
145 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paul Denton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Renan Silva!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Alexandre Firmino and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silva is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Denton's half guard.
Denton trying to hold on to Silva's head to control him but Silva postures up.
Denton is looking to improve his position.

Silva seems to be looking for submissions.
Denton gets full guard.
Silva stopping the sweep attempt from Denton.

Silva has gone for a leg lock! Denton slips out almost immediately though and dives into Silva's guard.
Denton is stalling in the full guard.
Denton wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.
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.
Denton passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Denton tries to advance to mount but can't.

Denton is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Silva is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee asks Denton politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Denton prefers to stall for the moment though.
Denton has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Silva!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denton trying to control but Silva is having none of it.
Denton takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Denton tries to get the hooks in deep but Silva pushed the leg off.

Denton is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Silva defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Denton's arms.
Silva manages to reverse the position and now he's in Denton's guard. Nice work there by Silva.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Denton dives on top into guard.
Denton trying to move into half guard but instead Silva has managed to sweep!

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva is desperately trying to improve his position but Denton has a good base and remains in mount.
Silva wants to control but Denton is having none of it.
Denton fails to advance to Silva's back.
Denton controlling his opponent.
Silva is controlling an arm, preventing Denton from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Silva regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Denton dominated that round.
That's time! Denton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Silva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Denton gets a takedown into half guard.
Denton controlling the pace.

Silva is defending against the submission attempts here by Denton.
Denton has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Denton tries to control but Silva wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denton wants to take Silva's back here but Silva is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Silva has given up his back.
Silva staying busy and making it hard for Denton to control.
Denton not allowing Silva to control his hands.
Denton is riding his opponent, not letting Silva buck him off.
Silva is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Denton off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Silva is having to fend off submission attempts from Denton, who is looking to sink in the choke. Denton doesn't have the hooks in though and Silva manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.

Denton escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Silva gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Denton is trying to get an arm triangle but Silva is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Denton goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Silva has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Denton but great work by Silva.
Denton manages to get back to half guard.
Silva is pressing down on Denton's thigh, looking to free his foot. Denton is holding on for now.
Denton is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Silva's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Silva's back!
Silva wants to escape the position.
Silva trying to control the position but Denton manages to sink in the hooks.
Denton has the hooks in. Silva is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva is breathing heavily.

Denton is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Silva defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Silva trying to control the position but Denton manages to sink in the hooks.
Silva tries to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Denton dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A leg kick checked by Silva.
Denton throws a body kick that misses.
Denton does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Denton throws the kick towards the body but Silva avoids it.

Silva scores a takedown into full mount!

Silva looking to secure an arm triangle but Denton defends it well.

Silva is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Denton has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Denton!
Silva is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Denton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Silva bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Denton's guard.
Silva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Denton had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Silva defends it easily.
Denton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Silva is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Denton is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Denton has escaped and now he's on top!

Denton is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Silva is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Silva has escaped and now he's on top!

Denton working for a triangle but Silva defends it easily.
Paul Denton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silvais looking to pass into half guard but Denton pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Denton is in guard.
Silva has Denton pulled in close to control his posture.
Denton is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Paul Denton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Denton tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denton trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Denton wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.
Denton is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Paul Denton has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Silva is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Denton's half guard.
Denton wants to improve his position but Silva is controlling well.
Denton desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Silva is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva trying to work for an americana but Denton has managed to regain full guard.
Silva being controlled here momentarily.
Denton's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Denton is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Renan Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Silva looking to pass the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Paul Denton.
Well Denton 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Denton!