PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steven Conner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Da Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steven Conner has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Conner
vs
Da Silva

185 cm
22
217 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

191 cm
20
208 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steven Conner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thiago Da Silva!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Summer Carpenter and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Da Silva clinches up with Conner and pushes him back against the cage.
Da Silva misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Conner.

Da Silva has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Conner uses from the top position.
Da Silva can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Conner controls the pace.

Da Silva looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Conner keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Da Silva's head.
Conner wants to control from the top but Da Silva keeps moving.
Conner tries to free his leg and advance position but Da Silva is retaining full guard.
Conner throws a big right hand that misses.

Da Silva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Conner doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Conner manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Conner looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conner won't allow Da Silva to sweep him here.
Conner throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Da Silva throws his legs up looking for a submission but Conner uses it to pass to side control.
Da Silva on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Da Silva manages to work his way to half guard, despite Conner's best efforts.
Conner throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Conner slows the pace down in half guard.
Conner scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva won't allow Conner to pass to mount.
Da Silva is looking for a sweep. Conner is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Conner wants to lay and pray for a moment but Da Silva keeps working.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Conner thows a huge punch but Da Silva dodges it nicely.
Conner trying to control the action but Da Silva is working from the bottom.
Conner throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Da Silva to regain full guard.
Conner postures up in Da Silva's guard and throws a big left but Da Silva blocks it.
Conner chips away with some ground and pound.
Conner sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Conner is working Da Silva over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Conner stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Conner shoots in and drives through. Da Silva sprawls well.
Conner looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
No joy there for Da Silva, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Da Silva misses with a body shot

so Conner counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Da Silva looks gassed!
Conner stops Da Silva from standing up.
Conner is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Da Silva pulls Conner in close to his closed guard and prevents Conner from doing any damage or advancing 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 is looking for a triangle but Conner pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Conner stands up from Da Silva's guard - Conner perhaps looking for a knockout.
Da Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Conner paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Conner misses with a takedown attempt - Da Silva sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Horrible takedown by Conner or perhaps it was just good defense by Da Silva which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Conner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Conner has managed to clinch.
Da Silva prevents the takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Conner dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Conner tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Da Silva swivels and escapes.
Steven Conner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick from Da Silva lands but Conner takes it in his stride.
Da Silva shoots in and drives through. Conner sprawls well.
Conner misses with a jab, cross combination.
Da Silva avoids a punch combination nicely.
Conner keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Conner closes this distance looking for a takedown but Da Silva circles away.
Da Silva connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Da Silva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Da Silva misses with a series of wild punches.

Conner clinches up with Da Silva and pushes him back against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Da Silva wants to get back to striking at distance but Conner won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conner tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Da Silva tries to circle away but Conner has him pinned against the cage.
Da Silva wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Conner has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Da Silva is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Conner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Conner misses with a punch on the inside.
Da Silva is looking to break free of the clinch but Conner has double underhooks.
Conner is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Da Silva is defending well.
Conner keeps control of Da Silva as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Conner drops down looking for an ankle pick but Da Silva pulls his leg out and moves away.
Conner looks to land a body kick but Da Silva moved away.
Conner blocks a head kick by Da Silva.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Conner is defended easily by Da Silva.
Da Silva throws a series of punches but Conner avoids them all with ease.
Da Silva throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Conner's head.
Nice straight punches there by Da Silva. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Da Silva.
Conner closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Da Silva throws a sloppy head kick and Conner moves out of range easily.
Da Silva throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Da Silva lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Conner manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Da Silva on his heels. He'll look to pass Da Silva's guard now, I'm sure.
Conner postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Da Silva is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Conner is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conner is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Da Silva scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Conner shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Da Silva as he avoids it easily.
Da Silva shoots in and drives through. Conner sprawls well.
Horrible takedown by Conner or perhaps it was just good defense by Da Silva which made him look bad.

Da Silva gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Da Silva is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva wants to break free but Conner has control.
Conner tries to score a body lock takedown but Da Silva shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Da Silva breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Da Silva looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Conner is fending him off so far but Da Silva persists. Nope, Conner circles away and we're back to standing.

Conner moves into range and clinches up with Da Silva.
Conner is looking for a takedown.
A short right from Da Silva.
Da Silva has had enough of the clinch but Conner keeps him there for the moment.

Da Silva manages to break the clinch.
Thiago Da Silva seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Conner closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Da Silva's guard.
Da Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Da Silva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Conner gets the takedown into side control.
Da Silva manages to get back to half guard.
Conner prevents Da Silva from standing back up.
Da Silva wants to control but Conner is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Da Silva wants to get back to his feet.
Da Silva trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Conner manages to pass to mount!
Da Silva is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Da Silva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Conner punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conner fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Da Silva tries to lock up and control but Conner gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Da Silva keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Conner controlling the position easily from mount.
Conner with good strikes from the mount here!
Da Silva keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Da Silva in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conner lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Conner with the ground and pound from mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Conner lands a heavy elbow.
Conner scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Da Silva?
Da Silva is squirming around, avoiding Conner's attempts to control the action.
Conner with shots to the head and body - Da Silva looks very uncomfortable down there.

Da Silva is rocked!
Conner lands a big elbow.
Conner is landing with some decent strikes but Da Silva is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Da Silva is still in real trouble! Can Conner finish him?
Conner scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conner scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Conner working the ground and pound effectively.
Conner lands a nice shot to the head.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Conner cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Conner takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Da Silva seems to have recovered his senses.
Conner is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conner looking to control and managing it successfully.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Da Silva wants to control but Conner is having none of it.
Conner lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Conner lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Da Silva hang on?
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Conner scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Conner lands with some strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven Conner showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Conner 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Conner!
After winning the bout, Steven Conner thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.