PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shane Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Qazim Sozi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shane Silva has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Silva
vs
Sozi

185 cm
32
196 lbs
8 - 15 - 0

186 cm
25
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Decent elbows
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 8 - 15 - 0, fighting out of New York, Shane Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Qazim Sozi!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Russell Pearce and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sozi slips under a jab.
Silva tries to clinch but Sozi moves away
enabling Sozi to counter with a crisp jab.
Silva wants to clinch up but Sozi keeps it at a distance.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sozi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Silva.
Sozi scores with a shot to the body.
Sozi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sozi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Silva.
Sozi lands a body shot.
Silva throws a head kick that misses.
Crunch! Silva slams his shin into Sozi's torso.
A solid body kick from Silva.
Sozi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Silva moves in looking to clinch but Sozi pushes him off.

Silva tries to keep at a distance but Sozi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Silva lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Silva escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sozi misses with a hook
and Silva makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Silva lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Sozi is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Silva.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sozi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sozi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Silva.
Shane Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sozi throws a body punch but Silva moves out of range.
Sozi has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Silva finds it's way round the side to connect with Sozi's head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Silva misses with a hook
and Sozi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Silva wants to clinch but Sozi slips to the side
letting Sozi counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sozi shoots in looking for a takedown but Silva manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sozi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Silva wants to clinch but Sozi slips to the side
and Sozi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Silva thinking.
Sozi keeps the fight on the outside.
A slapping body kick lands there for Silva.
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!

Silva fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sozi, pushing him back against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Silva throws an elbow but misses.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sozi.
Sozi slowing the pace effectively.
Sozi managing to block the knees to the body from Silva.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Silva obliges.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sozi digs a right hand into Silva's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Silva's gas tank.
Sozi wants to stall.
Sozi struggles to land a body shot inside as Silva controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva pushes off an throws an elbow but Sozi leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Sozi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Silva's elbow.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva crunches a lovely knee into Sozi's ribcage.

Silva breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sozi blocks a head kick by Silva.
Silva misses with a low kick.
Silva throws a sloppy head kick and Sozi moves out of range easily.

Sozi tries to keep at a distance but Silva has taken the fight into the clinch.
Silva looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sozi avoids the elbow strike from Silva, against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sozi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sozi dodges an elbow strike from Silva.
Sozi goes for a takedown attempt but Silva pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Silva wants to clinch
and Sozi counters with a left to the body.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sozi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Shane Silva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Silva looks for the body kick but Sozi saw that one coming.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sozi works the jab nicely.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sozi is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Silva rather than just go for the knockout.
Silva moves in looking to clinch but Sozi pushes him off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva doesn't manage to clinch there - Sozi circles away.
Silva wants to clinch.
Sozi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Silva.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Sozi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Silva instigates a clinch.
Sozi is looking to control Silva's arms but Silva gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sozi has his back to the cage.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Silva obliges.
Silva misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sozi.
Sozi takes an elbow to the temple.
Silva wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Silva tries to circle away but Sozi has him pinned against the cage.
Silva misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sozi.
Sozi lands a body punch.
Silva unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Silva is trying to break free.
Silva misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to break the clinch but Sozi is controlling the position.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Sozi blocks it.
Silva throws an elbow that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Silva.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Sozi controlling the action here for a moment.
Silva misses with an elbow strike.
Sozi taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sozi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sozi misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sozi blocks it with crossed arms.
A shot in the inside from Sozi.
Silva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sozi is defending well for now.
Silva is trying to push Sozi away but Sozi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
With the fighters up against the cage, Silva throws an elbow but misses.

Silva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sozi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A punch lands to the side of Silva 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Sozi rushes Silva and presses him up against the cage.
Silva missing with knees to the body.
Sozi avoids the elbow strike from Silva, against the cage.
Silva tries to land knees in the clinch but Sozi avoids the damage to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Sozi.
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!
Sozi struggles to land a body shot inside as Silva controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Sozi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Silva lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Silva lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sozi backwards.
Sozi misses with some punches.
Sozi blocks the elbow strike.
Sozi dodges an elbow strike from Silva.
Sozi struggles to land a body shot inside as Silva controls his hands.
Shane Silva has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Silva is trying to break the clinch but Sozi has him pressed against the cage.
Silva has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Silva fails to land.
Silva lands an elbow inside.
Sozi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Silva unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sozi avoids a wild elbow strike from Silva.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Silva just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sozi's brow.
Silva throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A right handed body shot lands from Silva.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silva throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shane Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sozi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Silva tries to clinch but Sozi is having none of it.
Sozi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Silva moves in looking to clinch but Sozi pushes him off.
Silva throws a push kick but Sozi slaps the foot to one side.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva wants to clinch but Sozi slips to the side
and Sozi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Silva tries to clinch up.
Silva closes the distance but Sozi moves to the side
and Sozi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Silva thinking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Silva dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Silva tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sozi counters with a nice uppercut.
Sozi scores with a body shot.
Sozi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Silva.
A nice leg kick lands there from Silva.
Nice shot by Silva.
Sozi throws a body punch but Silva moves out of range.
Sozi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Silva manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sozi takes a swing at Silva's ribcage but misses.
Sozi lands a right hook to the body.
Sozi swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
Silva tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Sozi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Shane Silva is winning the standup battle so far.
Sozi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Silva misses with a series of wild punches.
Sozi tries for a takedown but Silva sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva moves to clinch but Sozi breaks away
and Sozi counters with a right hand to the body.
Silva tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sozi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nice shot lands for Sozi.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sozi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sozi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sozi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Silva is fending him off so far but Sozi persists. Nope, Silva circles away and we're back to standing.

Silva fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sozi, pushing him back against the cage.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Sozi is blocking nicely.
Silva tries to work over Sozi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nice body punch from Silva - that landed with a thud.
Sozi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Silva can't find room to land a body shot as Sozi controls the action.
Sozi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Silva's elbow.
Knees in the clinch landing for Silva.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Silva scores with a head kick.

Sozi darts in and clinches Silva up against the cage.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva misses with an elbow strike.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Silva landing knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Silva.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sozi is defending well for now.
Silva throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Sozi avoids a wild elbow strike from Silva.
Sozi takes an elbow to the temple.
Sozi tries a body shot but Silva blocks it.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sozi's face.
Sozi blocks the elbow strike.
Silva lands a nice uppercut.
Silva tries to land knees in the clinch but Sozi avoids the damage to the body.
Silva is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Sozi tries to work over Silva's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Sozi gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Sozi from controlling successfully.
Qazim Sozi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sozi prevents Silva from getting back to his feet.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Qazim Sozi was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Silva closes the distance looking to clinch
and Sozi counters with a left to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shane Silva showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Silva, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shane Silva!