PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jim Mack (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rickson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mack comes to the cage accompanied by DMX (Ruff Ryders Anthem). 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.

Mack
vs
Silva

178 cm
22
214 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
218 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

ZSTAR

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jim Mack!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rickson Silva!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Winston Howard and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Silva tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mack takes one to the side of the head.
Mack fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Silva swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Mack counters with a one-two to the body.
Silva is looking to land body kicks.
Silva misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Silva throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Silva swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Silva scores with a leg kick.
Silva throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A big right from Silva misses.
Silva looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Mack shoots in and drives through. Silva sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva lands a high kick!
Mack looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Silva is fending him off so far but Mack persists. Nope, Silva circles away and we're back to standing.

Mack clinches with his opponent.
Mack is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Silva gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jim Mack. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Silva tries to break the clinch but Mack is controlling the position.
Silva wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mack has him pressed against the cage.
Mack lands with a light punch inside.
Silva gets underhooks to prevent Mack's takedown attempt.
Mack drops down looking for an ankle pick but Silva pulls his leg out and moves away.
A solid leg kick lands there for Silva.
Mack is breathing heavily.
A punch combination from Silva misses.
Mack throws a left and a right that both miss
and Silva counters with a good low kick that Mack was not able to check.
Silva misses with a wild body shot.
Mack throws a left and a right that both miss
and Silva counters with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Silva - that will leave a mark!
Silva lands with a slapping head kick.
No luck for Mack with that takedown attempt.
Silva throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Mack.
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!
Horrible takedown by Mack or perhaps it was just good defense by Silva which made him look bad.
Silva lands a right hook to the body.
Silva scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Mack closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Silva to the mat! Silva manages to get full guard.

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 throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva working a defensive guard here.

Silva had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Mack is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Silva Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Mack's back instead.
Silva is trying to stick to Mack's back but Mack is turning into Silva. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Silva's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Mack.
Silva preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mack might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Silva looking for a guillotine here but Mack defends easily.
Silva not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Silva misses with a combination

and Mack counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Silva bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mack's guard.
Silva slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Silva wants to control but Mack is keeping him busy.
Silva tries to stand but Mack is controlling his head.
Mack manages to work his way to half guard, despite Silva's best efforts.
Mack on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mack tries to get out of the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silva tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Mack is looking to improve his position.
Mack is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rickson Silva dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Silva throws a one two combo.
Rickson Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mack looks to land a right hand but Silva moved out of range.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mack keeps the fight on the outside.
Silva throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Mack closes the distance and clinches.
Silva is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mack scores with a shoulder strike.
Silva is trying to break free.
Silva gets underhooks to prevent Mack's takedown attempt.
Silva wants to break free but Mack has control.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Mack drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Silva gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Mack has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Silva regains guard immediately.
Silva is looking to stand up but Mack isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Silva has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mack can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Mack pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.
Silva is trying to keep Mack in close.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mack keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Mack with a nice cross.
Mack takes a kick to the side of the head.
Some wild striking there from Silva.
Rickson Silva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Silva fails to land with a series of punches.
Silva throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Silva connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Silva wants to clinch up but Mack keeps it at a distance.
Silva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Silva throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mack.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Mack's head.
Mack keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mack shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Silva as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jim Mack. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mack clinches up against the cage.
Mack tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Silva smiles and moves away.
Silva throws a head kick that misses.
Silva looks to score with a jab to the body but Mack is just out of range.
Silva lands with a kick to the temple. Mack shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mack connects with a nice looking jab.

Mack gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Mack tightens his grip and picks Silva up, before dumping him to the ground. Silva manages to land in guard.
Mack tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.
Silva working a defensive guard here.
Silva is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mack is controlling him.
Mack won't allow Silva to sweep him here.
Mack lands a couple of elbows.
Silva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Silva is trying to control the position from the bottom.
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 Jim Mack will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Silva goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Silva lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Mack is rocked!
Silva throws a head kick but Mack moves out of range.
Silva works over Mack's head and body with a nice combination.
Oh Mack is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Mack scores with a punch to the head.
Silva is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Mack rather than just go for the knockout.
Silva throws a right and a left that both miss.
Silva rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mack moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mack seems to have got his legs back now.
Rickson Silva seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Silva scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Mack misses with a combination
and Silva counters with a big head kick but Mack shrugs it off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mack swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mack takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Silva misses with a body shot.
Silva lands the left hand.
Nice body punch from Silva.
Silva misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Silva swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Mack holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Mack is blocking nicely.

Mack pulls Silva into guard.
Mack bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Silva's guard.
Silva wants to stand and escape but Mack is having none of it.

Silva is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Silva wants to stand and escape but Mack is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mack doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mack manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mack lands a couple of digs.
Silva is looking to stand back up but Mack counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Silva.
Silva wants to control but Mack postures up.
Silva trying to control but Mack flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Mack throwing damaging strikes from the back! Silva could be in trouble here!
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Mack.
Mack lands strikes to the head.
Mack is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Mack gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Mack gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Mack apologises and we restart here on the feet.

Silva is rocked!
Jab from Mack.
Silva is still on wobbly legs! Can Mack finish him?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Mack.

Mack drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Silva trying to control the position.
Silva tries to strike from the bottom.

Silva has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mack can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Silva seems to have recovered his senses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva wants to stand and escape but Mack is having none of it.
Silva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mack passes into half guard.
Silva trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Silva swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Silva takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mack lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Silva misses with a combination

and Mack counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Silva's guard now.
Mack connects with a couple of short punches.
Silva is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Silva decides to stand and escape the position.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Silva. Mack shrugs it off though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva tests Mack's chin there with a solid looking shot.
No joy there for Mack, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jim Mack.
I think Mack has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jim Mack!