PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Emerson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and McLucas Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emerson comes to the cage accompanied by Laurent Wolf - No Stress. Silva has chosen SOAD - Soldier Side as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Emerson
vs
Silva

185 cm
28
180 lbs
11 - 6 - 2

176 cm
20
178 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 11 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Emerson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, McLucas Silva!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Alexandre Firmino and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva swings widly with a right hand

and Emerson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Emerson moves nicely into side control.
Silva tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Silva tries to escape but Emerson is in control.
Silva manages to get back to half guard.
Silva is staying active underneath Emerson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Silva is trying to stand back up but Emerson is controlling him
Emerson has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Silva is looking to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emerson seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Silva is holding on tight.
Emerson controlling the position easily from mount.
Emerson throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Emerson looking to control but Silva is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Emerson moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Silva has worked his arm free - good work by Silva!
Silva manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

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

Silva pushes Emerson off and gets back to his feet.
Silva throws a lazy uppercut
and Emerson counters with a left and a right that stings Silva.
A swing and a miss from Emerson.
Silva misses with a left hand
and Emerson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Emerson misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Emerson.
Emerson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Emerson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Emerson fails with the takedown.
Silva throws a shot to the body.
Emerson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Silva sprawls well. Silva wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Emerson gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Emerson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva's jab looks to have found its range, popping Emerson under the eye.
Silva feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Emersons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
McLucas Silva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Silva throws a shot from downtown. Emerson moves away and avoids it.
Nice shot lands for Silva.
Silva throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gabriel Emerson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Silva connects with a body shot that sends Emerson's belly button to the back.
A combination from Emerson does no damage.
Silva lands with a nice body punch.

Emerson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Silva to the ground. Emerson is now in Silva's guard.
Emerson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Silva's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Emerson trying to mount his opponent but Silva defends it.

Emerson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Silva has managed to free his arm - good work.

Emerson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Silva is just riding it out for now. Emerson eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva wants to control but Emerson is keeping busy.
Emerson wants to free his trapped foot but Silva is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Silva trying to control here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Emerson wants to work for an arm triangle but Silva is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Emerson trying to advance position but Silva counters by regaining guard.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Emerson from controlling successfully.

Emerson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Silva dives on top into guard.
Silva wants to stand but Emerson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Emerson working for a triangle but Silva defends it easily.
Silva wants to stand and escape but instead Emerson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Emerson passes Silva's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Emerson seems to be working for a kimura but Silva defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Silva is staying active underneath Emerson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.

Emerson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Silva is not content to let Emerson control the position.
Silva really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Emerson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Emerson wants to free his trapped foot but Silva is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Emerson dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Silva stuffs the takedown.
Gabriel Emerson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Silva scores with a decent looking hook.
Silva throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Silva throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva scores with a sloppy right hand. Emerson should have avoided that one.
Emerson throws a poor cross that misses
and Silva counters with a nice uppercut.
Silva loads up on a big right hand but Emerson slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McLucas Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Emerson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Silva misses with a hook
and Emerson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Silva thinking.
Silva throws a predictable looking body shot
and Emerson counters with a nice uppercut.
Emerson looks to land a combination but Silva avoids it well.
Emerson throws out a loose jab but Silva uses good head movement to avoid it.
Emerson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's two 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.
Emerson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Emerson throws a lazy uppercut
and Silva cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Silva falls off balance throwing a combination
and Emerson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Silva needs to keep his hands up - Emerson had a free shot at his head there.
Silva throws a hook but Emerson avoids it easily.
Silva scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a right hand that misses
and Emerson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Silva throws a poor cross that misses
letting Emerson counter with a right hand.
Emerson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Silva stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Silva wants it to stay on the feet.
Silva throws a lazy uppercut
and Emerson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Silva misses with an uppercut. Emerson saw that one coming.
Emerson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva slips a jab and a cross from Emerson.
Silva rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Emerson counters with a shoot takedown. Silva fights it but they end up in guard.

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

Silva stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Silva misses with a hook
and Emerson counters with a series of strikes. Silva will be more careful next time no doubt.
McLucas Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gabriel Emerson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Emerson slips a jab from Silva.

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 Gabriel Emerson.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Emerson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabriel Emerson!