PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Da Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Da Silva kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is No Love - Eminem. Rivera has chosen Your Hand in Mine as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Da Silva
vs
Rivera

190 cm
30
196 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

190 cm
29
197 lbs
23 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Grace Grappling Gear

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 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Rafael Da Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Carlos Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Steven Brown and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Da Silva misses with an uppercut. Rivera saw that one coming.
Rivera wants to clinch.
Rivera slips a jab from Da Silva.
Rivera uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Da Silva.
Rivera uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Da Silva.
Da Silva takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Da Silva tries to keep at a distance but Rivera has taken the fight into the clinch.
Da Silva tries to work over Rivera's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A hook to the body from Rivera.
Da Silva working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Silva misses with the head strike.
Rivera can't find room to land a body shot as Da Silva controls the action.
Rivera looking to slow down the pace here.
Rivera stalls.
Da Silva scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Da Silva blocks a body shot from Rivera.
Da Silva lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Rivera misses with a body punch.
Da Silva lands a hook that snaps the head of Rivera backwards.
Da Silva tries to land knees in the clinch but Rivera avoids the damage to the body.
Da Silva stalls.
Rivera scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Da Silva swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rivera is looking to control Da Silva's arms but Da Silva gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rivera has his back to the cage.
Da Silva tries to work over Rivera's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Da Silva stalling in the clinch but Rivera improves position.
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!
Da Silva misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rivera just leaning against Da Silva, taking a breather.
Rivera takes a shot to the head.
Rivera throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Da Silvas head.
Da Silva misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rivera lands a body punch in the clinch.
Rivera tries a body shot but Da Silva blocks it.
Da Silva can't find room to land a body shot as Rivera controls the action.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Da Silva tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rivera lands with a right to the head.

Da Silva escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Da Silva dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rivera throws a series of punches but Da Silva moves out of range.
Rivera shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Da Silva finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Rivera finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Da Silva has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva just misses with a punch to the body.
Da Silva avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rivera ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Da Silva moves away.
Da Silva thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rivera shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Da Silva as he avoids it easily.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Rivera throws a leg kick that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Da Silva lands a right hook to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rivera takes a shot right to the bread basket.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Carlos Rivera will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rivera throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Da Silva counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rivera's knee momentarily.
Rivera tries to clinch but Da Silva moves out of range.
Da Silva thows a body shot but no joy.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Da Silva sprawls well. Da Silva wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rivera gets slowly back to his feet.
Da Silva circles away from the clinch attempt
and Da Silva counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rivera uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Da Silva.
Da Silva thuds a left hand into Rivera's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera tries to score a power double leg takedown but Da Silva sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rivera somewhat.
Da Silva swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Rivera counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rivera is stalling in the full guard.
Rivera won't allow Da Silva to sweep him here.
Da Silva is trying to control the position but Rivera postures up.
Rivera trying to control but Da Silva is working from the bottom.
Da Silva is trying to control the position but Rivera postures up.
Rivera trying to control but Da Silva is working from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Rafael Da Silva wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Rivera ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Da Silva moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Da Silva throws a combination that misses
and Rivera counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rivera throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Da Silva tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rivera is in Da Silva's guard.
Rivera pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Da Silva is keeping the position for now.
Rivera 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.
Da Silva manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Da Silva controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Da Silva cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Da Silva breaks from Rivera's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Da Silva looking to control but Rivera is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rivera tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Da Silva throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Rivera wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Da Silva.
Da Silva with shots to the head and body - Rivera looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Da Silva trying to control but Rivera is having none of it.
Rivera is looking to improve his position but Da Silva isn't that keen on the idea.
Da Silva punishing his opponent with strikes.
Rivera blocking the ground and pound.
Da Silva looking to ground and pound but Rivera is blocking nicely.
Rivera bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Da Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Da Silva controls Rivera momentarily but Rivera frees himself.
Da Silva wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Da Silva dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Rivera fails with a takedown attempt.
Da Silva misses with a body shot.
Nice defenses there by Rivera.
Jab, jab by Da Silva - just one landing.
Rivera tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Da Silva manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Da Silva throws a head kick but Rivera moves out of range.
Da Silva stuffs the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rivera shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Rivera tries to free his leg and advance position but Da Silva is retaining full guard.
Da Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Da Silva pushes Rivera off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Da Silva looks to throw the jab but Rivera is out of range.
Rivera moves out of range of the body kick from Da Silva.
Da Silva fails to land the takedown.
Rivera shoots in looking for a takedown. Da Silva tries to sprawl out of it but Rivera keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Da Silva manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rafael Da Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlos Rivera.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Nice jab there from Da Silva.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rivera throws a low kick but Da Silva moves out of range easily.
Rivera moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Da Silva throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rivera.

Da Silva gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rivera throwing strikes from guard but Da Silva blocks nicely.
Rivera wants to pass the guard but Da Silva is keeping the position.
Da Silva keeping moving, preventing Rivera from controlling successfully.
Da Silva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rivera is one step ahead there.
Da Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Rivera tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rivera has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Da Silva is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rivera working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Da Silva is trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sloppy strikes there by Rivera.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Carlos Rivera.
I think Rivera 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carlos Rivera!
Carlos Rivera seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.