PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Fabricio Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manny Silva told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Costa
vs
Silva

182 cm
26
191 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
170 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Knockout power

Outkast Clothing Line

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, Fabricio Costa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Manny Silva!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Leandro Rodrigues and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Costa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Costa looks to score with a jab to the body but Silva is just out of range.
Costa thows a body shot but no joy.

Silva closes the distance and clinches.
The referee calls for Silva to work.

Silva turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Silva manages to end up in side control.

Silva is trying to get an arm triangle but Costa is defending well.
Costa is not content to let Silva control the position.
Costa is looking for a sweep.
Check out the look on Silva's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Silva tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Costa wants to get back to his feet but Silva drags him back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa stops Silva from passing to mount.
Silva trying to control the action but Costa is working from the bottom.
The strikes coming from Silva are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Silva goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Costa rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Silva's guard! Nice work there by Costa!
Costa wanted to stand there but Silva had control of the position.
Costa trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Costa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa slips nicely into half guard.

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

Costa is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Silva sees it coming and defends easily.
Costa passes into side control, despite Silva's attempt to control the position.
Costa laying and praying for a moment but Silva takes advantage and regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to control from the bottom.

Costa looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Silva moves into full guard.
Costa trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costa 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.
Costa won't allow Silva to sweep him here.

Silva is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Costa is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Costa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Costa controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Manny Silva will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Silva uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Costa.
Costa scores with a jab.
Costa looks to throw the jab but Silva is out of range.
The fighters circling - Costa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Silva is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Costa's half guard.
Costa preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Costa is looking for a sweep. Silva is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Silva controlling the action here.
Silva is pressing down on Costa's thigh, looking to free his foot. Costa is holding on for now.
Silva not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva trying to control from half guard but Costa is working away.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Costa is looking to control Silva's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Costa avoid being mounted?

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Costa moves out of range of the body kick from Silva.
Costa tries to clinch there but Silva circles away.
Costa takes a swing at Silva's ribcage but misses.
Costa walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Silva checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Silva shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Costa wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva stalling away here and it's allowed Costa to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Manny Silva has got the better of the ground game so far.
Silva won't allow Costa to sweep him here.
Silva must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Silva stands and throws Costa's legs to the side, diving into side control.
You can see the frustration on Costa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Costa is trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Costa sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Costa tries to get to full guard but Silva has control of the leg.
Silva trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva looks to land a strike but Costa avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Silva stops Costa from standing up.
Costa looking for a sweep. Not yet Costa, not yet.
Costa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Costa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Silva is controlling him.
Silva trying to control but Costa is working from the bottom.
Silva postures up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Fabricio Costa wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Costa pushes Silva up against the cage in a clinch.
Costa landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costa throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva can't break the clinch.
Costa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Costa avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Costa blocks the elbow strike.
Costa misses with a knee to the head.
Costa gets underhooks to prevent Silva's takedown attempt.
Costa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Silva gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Costa wants to sweep here but Silva controlling him for the moment.
Silva postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Costa looking for a guillotine here but Silva defends easily.
Costa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Fabricio Costa will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Costa gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Silva to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Costa has his foot on Silva's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Silva works his way back into a safe position though.
Silva throws a big elbow that misses.
Costa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Silva throws a big elbow that misses.
Costa is trying to keep Silva in close.
Silva is looking to work some ground and pound but Costa has wrist control.
Costa wants to get back to his feet but Silva is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Costa looking for a sweep. Not yet Costa, not yet.
Costa is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva wants to control from the top but Costa keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Silva changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Costa looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Costa wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Costa stops Silva from passing to mount.
Costa is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Silva's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Silva is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to control from half guard but Costa is working away.
Costa blocking the ground and pound attempt from Silva.
Costa trying to control but Silva postures up.

Costa manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Silva dives in and scores a takedown into Costa's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Costa wants to stand up but Silva is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Costa is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Costa has escaped and now he's on top!
Costa passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Silva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Silva tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Costa wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Silva can't do much from the bottom here.

Costa tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Silva. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Silva throws Costa to one side and escapes!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costa misses with a body kick.
Silva shoots in looking for a takedown but Costa manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Silva's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Costa looks to throw the jab but Silva is out of range.
Silva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Costa but Costa pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Costa doesn't manage to clinch there - Silva circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Costa fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
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!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Costa, right into the meat.
Fabricio Costa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Silva clinches up against the cage.
Costa stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Manny Silva.
I think Silva has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Manny Silva!