PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Belcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wanderlei Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva has chosen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJSJdRh_yJQ as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Belcher
vs
Silva

172 cm
19
172 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

190 cm
26
172 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Belcher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wanderlei Silva!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Daniel Cesar and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belcher looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Silva is fending him off so far but Belcher persists. Nope, Silva circles away and we're back to standing.
Silva shoots for a takedown but Belcher saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Belcher closes the distance and clinches up with Silva, looking for a takedown. Belcher pushes Silva against the cage but Silva circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Belcher shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Silva as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Belcher. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Silva. No joy for Belcher on that attempt.

Silva fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Belcher sprawls well initially but Silva persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Silva throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Belcher has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Silva is working away from the top position though.
Silva sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Belcher defending well though.
Belcher is trying to stand back up but Silva is controlling him
Silva prevents Belcher from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Belcher keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Belcher is positioning himself well to prevent Silva advancing to mount.
Belcher is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Silva scores with a couple of nice shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belcher is staying active underneath Silva, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Belcher is looking to control Silva's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Belcher avoid being mounted?
Belcher is trying to escape back to his feet but Silva uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Belcher struggling a bit here.
Silva works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Belcher some visible discomfort.

Silva tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Silva tries for a kimura but Belcher is defending well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silva connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Belcher some visible discomfort.
Belcher is trying to control Silva's posture but Silva avoids it.
Belcher is not content to let Silva control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva lands a few punches from side control.
Belcher might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Belcher tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Silva wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Belcher knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Silva on the ground.
Silva working the head and body with strikes.
Belcher sneaks back into half guard.
Belcher wants to control but Silva is keeping busy.
Silva drops an elbow to the side of Belcher's head.
Silva passes the guard and advances to mount!
Belcher keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belcher is working hard here to advance position.
Belcher is breathing heavily.

Silva looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva tries to control but Belcher wriggling away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Silva jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Belcher is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Belcher and Silva has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Silva throws an elbow but Belcher slips to the side and avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Belcher 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 Belcher off to one side.
Belcher shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Belcher shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Silva as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Belcher. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Silva tries for a takedown but Belcher sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Silva fails with the takedown

and Belcher counters with a shoot takedown. Silva fights it but they end up in guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Silva is on top in guard.
Belcher keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Belcher tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Belcher keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belcher not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Belcher is keeping the position for now.
Belcher being controlled here, momentarily.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Wanderlei Silva was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Silva stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Silva wants it to stay on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Belcher fails with a takedown attempt.

Silva throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Belcher was covering up waiting for the punch and Silva finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Silva scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Belcher looking for a guillotine here but Silva defends easily.
Silva trying to control but Belcher is working from the bottom.
Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Silva postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Silva is in close to Belcher's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Silva looking to pass the guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Belcher is trying to keep Silva in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belcher has momentary wrist control but Silva slips an elbow through the middle.
Belcher controls Silva momentarily but Silva frees himself.
Belcher utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Belcher looking to control.
Wanderlei Silva has got the better of the ground game so far.
Silva wants to control from the top but Belcher keeps moving.
Belcher preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Belcher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Belcher shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Silva pinned against the cage. Silva gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Silva shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Belcher counters with a takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silva wants to get back to his feet but Belcher drags him back down.
Silva bucks up and tries to throw Belcher off but instead Belcher has got his back!
Belcher trying to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Belcher has good solid back control here.
Will Belcher go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Wanderlei Silva will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Silva stuffs the takedown.
Silva fails with the takedown.
Belcher tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Silva swivels and escapes.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt - Belcher sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Belcher gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Silva counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Silva.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Belcher. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva looking to sit in guard and control but Belcher gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Silva wants to stand and escape but Belcher is having none of it.
Belcher trying to stand up but can't free himself from Silva's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva wriggles free and stands up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva lands with a cross.

Silva feints and as Belcher raises his hands in defense, Silva changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Silva looking to pass the guard.
Silva postures up.
Silva postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Belcher keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva postures up.
Silva has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Silva passes Belcher's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Silva missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Belcher is trying to get back to full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Silva scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Belcher is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Silva is looking for a kimura but Belcher is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Silva to get the leverage.
Silva thows a huge punch but Belcher dodges it nicely.
Belcher trying to hold on to Silva's head to control him but Silva postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belcher tries to roll over but Silva keeps him under control.
Silva wants to take a breather but Belcher is having none of it.
Belcher trying to control but Silva postures up.

Silva is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Silva passes the guard and advances to mount!
Belcher tries to lock up and control but Silva gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Belcher hang on?
BOOM! Silva connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Silva lands a nice shot to the head.
Belcher is looking to improve his position but Silva isn't that keen on the idea.
Silva scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Belcher?
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!
Silva tries to control but Belcher wriggling away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Silva is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Belcher has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Michael Belcher has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wanderlei Silva is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Belcher swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wanderlei Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Silva 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wanderlei Silva!