PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Reuben Da Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reuben Da Silva has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Da Silva
vs
Silva

174 cm
18
141 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight 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, Reuben Da Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Silva!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Daniel Cesar and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Da Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Da Silva closes the distance and pushes Silva back into the cage.
Silva using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Silva.
Da Silva is trying to pull guard but Silva turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Silva lands an elbow that stopped Da Silva in his tracks for a moment.
Da Silva has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Silva after a bit of a struggle.
Come on Silva - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Da Silva takes an elbow to the forehead.
Da Silva is trying to pull guard but Silva has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reuben Da Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Da Silva tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Silva smiles and moves away.
Da Silva 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.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Da Silva swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Silva moves in looking to clinch but Da Silva pushes him off.
Da Silva avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to clinch but Da Silva moves out of range.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Da Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Da Silva shoots in but Silva avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Da Silva instigates a clinch.
Silva gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Knees to the body from Silva.
Silva lands an elbow inside that Da Silva shrugs off.
Da Silva tries to pull guard but Silva forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Silva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Da Silva is breathing heavily.
Silva lands a nice elbow.
Silva lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Silva lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Da Silva jumps guard but Silva stands there with Da Silva around his waist. Da Silva gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Da Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Da Silva's face.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Silva unloads a knee to the mid-section. Da Silva lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Silva creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Da Silva's defenses.
Silva lands a nice elbow.
Silva lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Silva taking a breather.
Da Silva fails to pull guard.
Silva lands an elbow inside.
Silva looking to slow down the pace here.
Silva lands an elbow inside that Da Silva shrugs off.
Silva lands an elbow just above Da Silva 's eye.
Da Silva takes a knee right on the jaw!
Silva lands an elbow that stopped Da Silva in his tracks for a moment.
Knees to the body from Silva.
Silva lands an elbow inside that Da Silva shrugs off.
Silva is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Silva lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Da Silva fails to pull guard.
Silva comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.
Silva gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Silva is looking to control Da Silva's arms but Da Silva gets an underhook and turns him. Now Silva has his back to the cage.
Silva lands a nice knee to the body.
Da Silva takes an elbow to the temple.
Silva unloads a knee to the mid-section. Da Silva lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Silva is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Silva lands a nice knee to the body.
Silva lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Da Silva's face.
Silva comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Da Silva tries to pull guard but Silva forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Silva is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Silva.
Da Silva takes a knee to the side of the body.
Silva comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Silva lands an elbow inside.
Da Silva tries to pull guard but Silva holds him up against the cage and eventually Da Silva drops back down to his feet.
Silva creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Da Silva's defenses.
Silva creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Da Silva's defenses.
Da Silva tries to pull guard but Silva holds him up against the cage and eventually Da Silva drops back down to his feet.
Silva with a knee to the head.
Nice elbow from Silva.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Silva lands an elbow that stopped Da Silva in his tracks for a moment.
Silva stalling in the clinch but Da Silva improves position.
Silva gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Da Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Silva tries to clinch up but Da Silva circles away and keeps his distance.
Da Silva misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Silva looks to clinch
and Da Silva counters with a head kick. That will keep Silva thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Da Silva takes the fight into the clinch.
Silva lands a damaging elbow.
Nice elbow from Silva.
Da Silva goes for a takedown attempt but Silva pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Da Silva throws a head kick that misses.
Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.
Silva tries to clinch there but Da Silva circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.
Silva tries to clinch there but Da Silva circles away.
Silva tries to clinch up.

Da Silva fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Silva, pushing him back against the cage.
Silva tries to stall but Da Silva uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Da Silva jumps guard but Silva turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reuben Da Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Da Silva is keeping busy.
Silva lands an elbow just above Da Silva 's eye.
Silva lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Silva lands an elbow inside.
Silva comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Da Silva tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Silva walks away with a smile on his face. Da Silva gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Silva wants to clinch but Da Silva slips to the side

and Da Silva counters by moving into the clinch.
Silva comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Silva lands a nice elbow.
Da Silva jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Silva walks away with a smile on his face. Da Silva gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Da Silva shoots in for a double leg but Silva sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva tries to clinch up.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Da Silva swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Reuben Da Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Silva tries to clinch there but Da Silva circles away.
Silva moves in looking to clinch but Da Silva pushes him off.
Silva is looking to clinch but Da Silva is avoiding it.
Silva tries to clinch but Da Silva is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
Silva moves to clinch but Da Silva breaks away

and Da Silva moves into the clinch.
Silva lands a knee to the body.
Silva landing knees to the body.
Da Silva jumps guard but Silva stands there with Da Silva around his waist. Da Silva gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Silva comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Silva lands a nice elbow.
Silva lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Silva unloads a knee to the mid-section. Da Silva lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Da Silva takes an elbow to the temple.
Silva is trying to stall.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva connects with a knee to the head.
Silva lands an elbow that stopped Da Silva in his tracks for a moment.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Knees in the clinch landing for Silva.
Silva lands a damaging elbow.
Silva looking to stall.
Silva lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Da Silva tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silva just stands there and leans against the cage.
Silva lands an elbow that stopped Da Silva in his tracks for a moment.
Silva gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A knee to the head by Silva.
Silva with a knee to the head.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Da Silva's face.
Silva lands a knee to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Silva landing knees to the body.
Da Silva jumps guard but Silva turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Silva is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Silva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Da Silva's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Silva tries to clinch up.
Silva wants to clinch up but Da Silva keeps it at a distance.
Silva closes the distance looking to clinch

and Da Silva counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Da Silva is trying to pull guard but Silva has him pressed against the cage.
Da Silva takes an elbow to the temple.
Silva is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Da Silva is keeping busy.
Da Silva tries to score a body lock takedown but Silva shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
With the fighters up against the cage, Da Silva throws an elbow but misses.
Silva avoids the elbow strike from Da Silva, against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Da Silva pulls guard successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Silva wants to stand and escape but instead Da Silva has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Da Silva throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Da Silva won't allow Silva to get back to his feet.
Da Silva looking to sit in guard and control but Silva gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Da Silva has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Silva off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Da Silva darts in and clinches Silva up against the cage.
Rafael Silva seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva connects with a knee to the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Silva.
Silva lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Da Silva tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reuben Da Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva connects with a knee to the head.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Da Silva's face.
Nice elbow from Silva.

Da Silva is rocked!
Silva lands an elbow just above Da Silva 's eye.
Oh Da Silva is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice glancing elbow lands by Silva.
Silva lands a nice knee to the body.
Silva is pushing Da Silva up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Silva lands a nice elbow.
Nice elbow from Silva.
Silva with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva lands an elbow just above Da Silva 's eye.
Da Silva tries to pull guard but Silva won't allow it.
Silva stalling in the clinch but Da Silva improves position.
Silva gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Silva lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Silva landing knees to the head.
Silva creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Da Silva's defenses.
Silva lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Silva gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Da Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Silva putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Da Silva in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Silva with a knee to the head.
Da Silva takes an elbow to the temple.
Da Silva takes an elbow to the temple.
Da Silva takes an elbow to the temple.
Silva gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Da Silva's defenses.
Silva lands an elbow inside that Da Silva shrugs off.
Da Silva seems to have got his legs back now.
Silva lands a damaging elbow.
Silva lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Da Silva tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Silva using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Silva with a knee to the head.
Da Silva fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Silva lands a damaging elbow.
Da Silva tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silva just stands there and leans against the cage.
Silva gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Silva comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Da Silva takes an elbow to the forehead.
Silva lands a damaging elbow.
Reuben Da Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rafael Silva is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nice elbow from Silva.
Silva tries to stall but Da Silva uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Silva 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

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