PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Juan Roman Riquelme (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shane Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Roman Riquelme
vs
Silva

193 cm
24
225 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

185 cm
27
205 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Good elbows
Powerful

Pegasus Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Juan Roman Riquelme!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Shane Silva!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Bruno Lombardi and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Riquelme.

Riquelme drives through with a takedown into Silva's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riquelme wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.
Silva wants to stand and escape but Riquelme is having none of it.
Riquelme stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Riquelme passes Silva's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Riquelme 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.
Riquelme trying to control from Silva's half guard. Silva has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Riquelme from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riquelme sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Silva's guard.
Riquelme trying to pass the guard but Silva defending well.
Riquelme wants to control but Silva is keeping him busy.
Silva really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Riquelme. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Silva trying to hold on to Riquelme's head to control him but Riquelme postures up.
Riquelme 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.
Riquelme tries to pass to full mount but Silva defends it.
Silva avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Riquelme.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Riquelme sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Silva gets full guard.
Riquelme pushing down on Silva's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Riquelme in particular looking to stall.
Riquelme trying to control from half guard but Silva is working away.
Riquelme controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riquelme trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.
Riquelme passes to side control.
You can see the frustration on Silva's face as Riquelme controls the position.
Riquelme working away.
Riquelme moves into full mount!

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.

Riquelme has hold of Silva's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Silva manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Riquelme controlling from the full mount.
Riquelme tries to control but Silva wriggling away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Riquelme jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Silva manages to avoid the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Roman Riquelme dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Silva lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Riquelme circles away quickly and effectively.
Silva misses with a wild combination.
Riquelme keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Juan Roman Riquelme is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Riquelme closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Silva is defending against the submission attempts here by Riquelme.
Riquelme not doing much here.
Silva is staying active underneath Riquelme, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riquelme tries to pass to full mount but Silva defends it.
Silva blocking the ground and pound attempt from Riquelme.
Riquelme trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.
Riquelme is really struggling to control Silva but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Riquelme trying to mount his opponent but Silva defends it.
Riquelme stops Silva from getting 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.
Riquelme perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Juan Roman Riquelme wasn't doing enough on the ground.
No joy there for Silva, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Riquelme misses with a two punch combination.
Shane Silva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Riquelme throws a combination. Silva tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Riquelme looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Riquelme has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Riquelme with shots to the head and body - Silva looks very uncomfortable down there.
Riquelme wants to control the pace but Silva is squirming around nicely.
Riquelme is looking to work his way around to Silva's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riquelme trying to control but Silva is having none of it.

Riquelme is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Silva has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Riquelme sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

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.
Silva is wriggling around trying to escape.
Silva is squirming around, avoiding Riquelme's attempts to control the action.
Riquelme controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Roman Riquelme dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Riquelme paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Silva wants to clinch

so Riquelme counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Riquelme trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Riquelme.

Riquelme drops back looking for a leg! Silva is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Silva manages to kick Riquelme off! Riquelme jumps back into Silva's guard.
Juan Roman Riquelme overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Silva can't keep his opponent in guard - Riquelme advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Riquelme wants to take a breather but Silva is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riquelme passes to full mount!

Riquelme working for a submission but Silva is keeping him at bay.
Riquelme prevents Silva from getting the reversal.
Shane Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Silva is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Riquelme moves to back control.
Silva is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Silva looking very determined here, making life difficult for Riquelme.
Riquelme is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Silva is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva covering up well under a barage of strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Riquelme gets his hands free as Silva looks to control.
Riquelme trying to control momentarily.
Riquelme is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

Riquelme has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Silva! Can he survive? No! He's out! Riquelme gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Juan Roman Riquelme!