PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leonardo Borges (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Silva
vs
Borges

190 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

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 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Leonardo Borges!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Leandro Rodrigues and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Borges throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Borges misses with a head kick.
Silva steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Borges.
Borges throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Silva's waist but Silva gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Borges off to one side.
Silva moves out of range of the strikes.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
Borges throws a series of punches but Silva moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Borges.
Borges trying to control the position but Silva is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Borges is controlling him well.
Silva parries the strikes from Borges easily there. Borges is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Silva to escape.
Borges wants to control but Silva is keeping him busy.
Borges throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Borges sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Silva is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Borges decides to stand back up.
Borges lands with a good body shot.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Borges uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Silva.
Silva tries a head kick but it misses.
Leonardo Borges seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Borges shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Silva's 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!
Borges is stalling in the full guard.
Borges pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Silva looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Silva will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Borges trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borges is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Borges must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Borges pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.
Borges 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.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Borges drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Borges jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Borges throwing strikes but missing.
Borges tries to stand but Silva is controlling from the bottom.
Borges tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Borges trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Borges controlling from the top position.
Borges stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Leonardo Borges wasn't active enough on the ground.

Borges fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Silva, pushing him back against the cage.

Borges pulls guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonardo Borges dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Borges fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Silva, pushing him back against the cage.

Borges gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Borges sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Silva's guard.
Silva avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Borges.
Borges has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva has given up his back. Will we see Borges going for some submissions?
Silva manages to reverse the position and now he's in Borges's guard. Nice work there by Silva.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Borges controlling Silva's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borges is trying to keep Silva in close.
Borges wants to hit a switch here but Silva passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Borges there!
Borges tries to hold on but Silva pushes him away.

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 thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Borges wants to hold on but Silva pushes him away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Borges can do anything to dispel that myth.
Borges really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Borges is squirming around, avoiding Silva's attempts to control the action.
Borges wants to hold on but Silva pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borges regains half guard.
Borges is trying to get back to full guard.
Borges has a hand on Silva's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Silva takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Borges is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Borges swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Silva takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Borges keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Borges tries to hold on but Silva postures up.
Silva is landing with some decent strikes but Borges is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonardo Borges showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Borges wants to slow Silva down by chopping away at his legs.
Borges takes a swing at Silva's ribcage but misses.

Borges scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Borges looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Borges throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Borges wants to take a breather but Silva is having none of it.
Borges not doing much here.
Borges seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Silva does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Borges trying to mount his opponent but Silva defends it.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Leonardo Borges wasn't active enough on the ground.
Borges walks into a stiff left hand from Silva.
Silva avoids the body shot from Borges.
The fight stays on the outside here - Borges looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Borges attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Borges swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Borges lands a nice looking body shot.
Anderson Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Borges circles away from the clinch attempt.
Borges changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Silva tries to avoid it but Borges manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Silva to the ground. Silva escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

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 on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Silva moves out of range of the body kick from Borges.
Borges looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Silva is fending him off so far but Borges persists. Nope, Silva circles away and we're back to standing.
A head kick misses from Silva.
Borges shoots and misses
and Silva counters with a nice uppercut.
Anderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leonardo Borges.
Borges bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Borges looks to score with a jab to the body but Silva is just out of range.
Silva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Borges shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Silva as he jumps to the side.

Borges closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Silva quickly recovers to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borges not doing much here.
Borges passes to side control.
Silva avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Borges.
Sloppy strikes there by Borges.

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.
Borges wants to control but Silva is keeping him busy.
Borges working the ground and pound but Silva is defending the strikes.
Silva wants to get back to his feet but Borges drags him back down.
Borges throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Leonardo Borges is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Borges is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Borges tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leonardo Borges comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Borges has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonardo Borges!