PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Silvia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zina Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Silvia
vs
Velasquez

190 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
208 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anderson Silvia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zina Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Daniel Cesar and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Velasquez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Velasquez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Silvia rushes Velasquez and presses him up against the cage.
Velasquez wants a takedown.
Velasquez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Anderson Silvia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zina Velasquez.
Silvia stops a takedown attempt from Velasquez.
Velasquez lands a nice knee to the body.
Velasquez misses with a hook to the ribs.
Silvia throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silvia throws a knee to the head but misses.
Velasquez fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Velasquez breaks from the clinch.
Silvia doesn't manage to clinch there - Velasquez circles away.
Silvia doesn't manage to clinch there - Velasquez circles away.
Velasquez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Silvia swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez is looking to clinch.
Velasquez throws a sloppy head kick and Silvia moves out of range easily.
Silvia tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Velasquez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Velasquez.
Velasquez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silvia just stands there and leans against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Velasquez looks gassed!
Silvia tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Velasquez tries to score a body lock takedown but Silvia shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Velasquez breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Horrible takedown by Velasquez or perhaps it was just good defense by Silvia which made him look bad.
Silvia wants to clinch

and Velasquez moves into the clinch.
Velasquez is trying to stall.
Silvia connects with a knee to the head.
Velasquez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Silvia with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silvia with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silvia throws a knee to the head but misses.
Velasquez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Silvia pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Silvia wants to break free but Velasquez has control.
Velasquez tries for a takedown but Silvia manages to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silvia tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Velasquez landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Velasquez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Silvia pulls his leg out and moves away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Velasquez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Silvia pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Silvia tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Velasquez wants a takedown but no success here.

Velasquez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Silvia clinches but Velasquez breaks the clinch

and Velasquez moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez tries to score a body lock takedown but Silvia shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Velasquez manages to pull guard.
Velasquez pulls Silvia in to control the position.
Silvia is looking to stand up but Velasquez won't let him.

Silvia gets to his feet - Velasquez follows without any prompting.
Velasquez shoots in but no luck this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Zina Velasquez will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Silvia clinches up with Velasquez and pushes him back against the cage.
Velasquez misses with a knee to the head.
Silvia tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Velasquez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Velasquez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Silvia smiles and moves away.
Silvia tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Velasquez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Silvia is trying to maintain the position but Velasquez is very close to passing his half guard.
Silvia moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Velasquez is breathing heavily.
Velasquez is looking to stand up but Silvia won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silvia is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Velasquez is defending against the submission attempts here by Silvia.
Silvia wants to lay and pray for a moment but Velasquez keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Silvia is thwarting Velasquez's attempts to control the position.

Silvia is looking for a kimura here.

Velasquez pushes Silvia off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez moves into range and clinches up with Silvia.
Velasquez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Silvia pulls his leg out and moves away.
Silvia tries to clinch but Velasquez moves away

and Velasquez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Silvia looking to throw knees to the head but Velasquez is blocking nicely.
Velasquez fails to pull guard.
Anderson Silvia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zina Velasquez.
Velasquez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Silvia with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez lands an elbow that stopped Silvia in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Anderson Silvia has been cut.
Velasquez leaning his opponent against the cage.

Velasquez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Velasquez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Silvia circles away.
Velasquez pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Silvia closes the distance but Velasquez moves to the side

and Velasquez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Velasquez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Silvia is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zina Velasquez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Anderson Silvia's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Silvia tries to clinch but Velasquez moves away

and Velasquez counters with a takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silvia wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Velasquez decides to stand back up. Velasquez steps back and let's Silvia get back to his feet.
Silvia is looking to clinch but Velasquez is avoiding it.

Silvia has closed the distance and engaged Velasquez in a clinch.
Silvia using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Velasquez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Velasquez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Silvia looking to throw knees to the head but Velasquez is blocking nicely.
Velasquez stalling in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silvia tries to break the clinch but Velasquez is controlling the position.
Velasquez tries to pull guard but Silvia holds him up against the cage and eventually Velasquez drops back down to his feet.
Silvia misses with a hook from the clinch.
Velasquez scores a nice knee to the body.
Silvia landing knees to the head.
Velasquez lands a knee to the head.
Velasquez wants a takedown but no success here.
Silvia tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Velasquez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silvia just stands there and leans against the cage.
Anderson Silvia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zina Velasquez.
Velasquez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Velasquez breaks the clinch.

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.
Silvia tries to clinch but Velasquez moves out of range.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Velasquez.
Silvia gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Velasquez stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Velasquez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez forces Silvia back against the cage and clinches.
Velasquez has Silvia pressed against the cage.
Velasquez fails to pull guard.
Velasquez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Silvia prevents it.
Velasquez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Silvia is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Silvia just misses with a elbow thrown towards Velasquez's brow.
Silvia throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silvia misses with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Velasquez fails to pull guard.
Silvia tries to score a body lock takedown but Velasquez shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Velasquez gets underhooks to prevent Silvia's takedown attempt.

Velasquez breaks from the clinch.

Silvia looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Silvia stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Velasquez to get to his feet.
Velasquez tries for a takedown but Silvia sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zina Velasquez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Velasquez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zina Velasquez!