PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Emerson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Sydal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emerson Silva has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Silva
vs
Sydal

194 cm
20
190 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

180 cm
26
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Emerson Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matt Sydal!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Seu Braga and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sydal changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Silva looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sydal throws an elbow but Silva slips to the side and avoids it well.
Silva manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Silva is looking to advance position but Sydal won't allow it.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sydal keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Emerson Silva just wasn't active enough.
Sydal keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sydal shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Silva but Silva pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Sydal closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Sydal cracks Silva with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Sydal working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Sydal postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Sydal misses with the ground and pound.
Silva is trying to control Sydal's posture but Sydal avoids it.
Silva tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sydal wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Silva gets back to half guard.
Sydal blocks the strikes from Silva.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sydal lands a nice short elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sydal thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Silva's head.

Silva looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sydal takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Silva makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Silva.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sydal cracks Silva with a solid left hand.

Silva had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sydal defends it easily.

Silva is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sydal throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sydal's guard.
Silva tries to stand but Sydal is controlling from the bottom.
Sydal wants to get back to his feet but Silva is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Silva will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Silva sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Sydal's guard.
Silva throwing shots but Sydal is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva controlling the action here.

Silva decides to stand and escape the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Silva tries to sprawl but Sydal drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sydal is thwarting Silva's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matt Sydal will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Sydal swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sydal keeps the fight on the outside.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sydal paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Emerson Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sydal showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Silva.
Silva misses with an uppercut.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Silva.
Silva shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sydal defends it nicely.

Silva takes the fight into the clinch.
Silva tries to pull guard but Sydal won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Emerson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Silva is looking to clinch.
Sydal tries to score a power double leg takedown but Silva sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sydal somewhat.
Sydal dives in and grabs Silva's left leg, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes down on Sydal's head and hops out.
No luck for Sydal with that takedown attempt.
Sydal showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Silva.
Sydal fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sydal closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sydal lands in his opponent's guard.
Sydal loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sydal scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sydal accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sydal loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sydal throwing strikes but missing.
Silva is trying to control the position but Sydal postures up.
Sydal throws a big elbow that misses.
Silva seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sydal with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Silva looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sydal must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sydal with a flurry of punches that miss.

Silva had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sydal defends it easily.
Sydal makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Sydal throws a sloppy strike and Silva has hooked up an armbar on the loose arm! He's turned and extended fully! Sydal is forced to tap! Great BJJ from Silva!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Emerson Silva!