PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean Knott (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Anderson Silva has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Silva
vs
Knott

190 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

Olympic wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 Amsterdam, Anderson Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sean Knott!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Albert Achterberg and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva throws a nice head kick!
Silva tries to clinch up but Knott circles away and keeps his distance.
Knott stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Knott wants it to stay on the feet.
Silva lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Silva doesn't manage to clinch there - Knott circles away.
A solid leg kick lands there for Silva.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Knott swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Silva shoots for a takedown but Knott saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Silva throws a sloppy head kick and Knott moves out of range easily.
Anderson Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Silva closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Knott has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Silva is trying to keep an underhook but Knott manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Silva trying to control here.
Knott controlling the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Silva throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Knott trying to control the pace.

Sean Knott has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Silva pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Knott shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Knott showed some decent athleticism there.
Knott tries to pass the half guard into mount. Silva knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Knott is thwarting Silva's attempts to control the position.

Knott gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Knott shoots in and gets a takedown into Silva's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knott with a flurry of punches that miss.

Knott got a little sloppy there for a moment and Silva has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Knott has managed to get both his arms back between Silva's legs - danger averted.

Silva throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Knott escapes and throws Silva's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Silva is breathing heavily.
The referee asks Knott politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Knott prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Silva's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Sean Knott hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Silva tries to sprawl but Knott drives through with a takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Knott looks for a takedown but Silva sprawls well.
Nice sprawl there from Silva as Knott shoots in.

Knott gets the takedown into side control.
Knott controls the position.
Silva is looking to reverse the position.
Knott content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Sean Knott hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Silva shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Knott defends it nicely.
Silva just misses with a punch to the body.
Knott throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Silva tries to clinch up but Knott circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
Silva is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knott thows a left - swing and a miss!
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice takedown defense from Knott. No joy for Silva on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knott avoids the head kick by Silva.
Silva throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Knott shoots in for a double leg but Silva sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Knott looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Knott lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Knott looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Silva trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knott missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Knott takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Sean Knott.
Silva lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Knott throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Silva was covering up waiting for the punch and Knott finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Knott gets to his feet - Silva follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Knott drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Silva is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Knott's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Knott takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Knott showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Knott paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Silva tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Knott counters with a single leg into guard. Silva didn't expect that.
Knott's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Knott trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Knott stops Silva from standing up.
Knott seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Sean Knott.
Silva tries to clinch up

and Knott counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Silva on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Silva tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knott moves nicely into side control.
Knott is staying tight to Silva's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Silva is trying to control Knott's posture but Knott avoids it.
A lull in the action here.
Silva is pushing Knott's head away, looking to escape. Knott manages to hold on to the position though.
Sean Knott is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Sean Knott has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but Knott shows good takedown defense.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Knott shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Silva as he avoids it easily.

Knott gets a double leg takedown into Silva's guard.
Knott seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knott tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.
Silva wants to stand up but Knott is controlling him.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Sean Knott wasn't active enough on the ground.
Silva lands a head kick. Knott smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Knott changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Silva looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Knott is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Silva's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knott 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 is trying to control Knott's posture but Knott avoids it.
Silva is pushing Knott's head away, looking to escape. Knott manages to hold on to the position though.
Knott happy to just control the position for now.
Silva is trying to buck Knott off.
Anderson Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sean Knott has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Knott closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sean Knott comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Knott winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sean Knott!