PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kenji Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rusty Griswold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Griswold's choice of entrance music: Hooking Up The Lights. Kenji Silva has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Silva
vs
Griswold

188 cm
30
198 lbs
22 - 9 - 1

180 cm
31
196 lbs
22 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 22 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kenji Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rusty Griswold!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griswold closes the distance and clinches up with Silva, looking for a takedown. Griswold pushes Silva against the cage but Silva circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Griswold fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Silva avoids it really well and circles away.
Silva lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Nice takedown defense from Silva. No joy for Griswold on that attempt.
Kenji Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rusty Griswold.

Griswold drives through with a takedown into Silva's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Griswold with a flurry of punches that miss.
Griswold trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Griswold works over Silva with some ground and pound from guard.
Griswold postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Griswold throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva pulls Griswold in to control the position.
Silva preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Griswold working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Silva's head.
Griswold pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.
Griswold with a flurry of punches that miss.
Silva not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Griswold wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Griswold throwing strikes but missing.
Silva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Griswold is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva looking to control.

We're going to have a standup here because Kenji Silva wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Silva leaves Griswold with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Griswold shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Griswold on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Silva. Silva obviously looking to wear him down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice takedown defense from Silva. No joy for Griswold on that attempt.
Griswold tries to score a power double leg takedown but Silva sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Griswold somewhat.
Silva throws a head kick but Griswold moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griswold takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Silva lands a head kick. Griswold smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Rusty Griswold has been cut.
Griswold misses with a hook to the body
and Silva counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Silva lands a head kick. Griswold smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Griswold is rocked!
Griswold fails with a takedown attempt.
Griswold is still on wobbly legs! Can Silva finish him?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Griswold takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Griswold seems to have recovered his senses.
Silva lands a head kick!
Griswold looks to throw the jab but Silva is out of range.

Griswold shoots in and gets a takedown into Silva's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griswold stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Silva is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Griswold connects with a couple of short punches.
Griswold trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Griswold pushing down on Silva's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Griswold looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Silva wants to control but Griswold is keeping busy.
Silva regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kenji Silva will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rusty Griswold's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Decent striking displayed by Silva there.
Griswold blocks a head kick by Silva.
Griswold fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Silva bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Griswold throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Silva's waist but Silva gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Griswold off to one side.

Silva lands a big head kick that sends Griswold tumbling to the mat! Silva takes a step backwards and waves Griswold back to his feet - he wants the finish!
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!
Griswold shoots for a takedown but Silva saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kenji Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rusty Griswold.
Griswold shoots and misses
letting Silva counter with a right hand.

Griswold drives through with a takedown into Silva's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Griswold throws a big right hand that misses.
Silva controls Griswold momentarily but Griswold frees himself.
Griswold won't allow Silva to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is working hard here to advance position.
Silva wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Griswold is now in half guard.
Silva wants to improve his position but Griswold is controlling well.
Silva keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Griswold wants to take a breather but Silva is having none of it.

Griswold is working for a submission of some sort.
Silva moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva looking to control.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Griswold from controlling successfully.
Rusty Griswold has got the better of the ground game so far.
Griswold is pushing down on Silva's leg trying to pass to half guard. Silva is fighting to maintain full guard but Griswold has managed to sneak the leg through.
Silva blocking the ground and pound attempt from Griswold.
Silva is trying to maintain the position but Griswold is very close to passing his half guard.
Griswold lands with a punch from half guard.
Griswold lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griswold throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Silva blocking the ground and pound attempt from Griswold.
Griswold is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Griswold sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Silva defending well though.
Griswold wants to free his trapped foot but Silva is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nice strikes from Griswold there.
Griswold sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Silva defending well though.
Griswold thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Griswold is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Silva is trying to stand.
Griswold slips a nice elbow through Silva's hands, connecting with Silva's forehead.
Griswold has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griswold throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Griswold is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Silva sees it coming and defends easily.
Silva knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Griswold on the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Griswold lands with a punch from half guard.
Silva wants to get back to full guard.
Griswold lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Griswold is just content to waste time from the top position. Silva takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Griswold trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Griswold is working Silva over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Griswold trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Griswold fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Silva connects with a jab.
Griswold shoots in for a takedown but Silva shows good takedown defense.
Silva keeps Griswold at a distance using the push kick.
Silva throws a nice head kick!
Silva thumps Griswold with a low kick.
Griswold takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Silva throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Griswold shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Silva pinned against the cage. Silva gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kenji Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rusty Griswold.
A nice leg kick lands there from 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!
Griswold gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva lands a high kick!
Nice takedown defense from Silva. No joy for Griswold on that attempt.
Silva is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Griswold shoots for a double leg takedown but Silva sprawls well. He's pushed Griswold's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Griswold takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Griswold with a lazy takedown attempt
and Silva counters with a good, hard body kick but Griswold shrugs it off.
Griswold misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Silva. Griswold shrugs it off though.
Silva connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Silva throws a nice outside leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Donk. Silva catches Griswold right on the button with a cross.

That has opened up Rusty Griswold's cut even more.
Silva with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Silva lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
A solid leg kick lands there for Silva.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva connects with the punch.
Griswold steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Silva. That one must have hurt.
Griswold takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Silva drops a shoulder and throws an uppercut that cracks Griswold right on the button. Griswold goes down! Silva follows him to the mat and finishes the job with more strikes! Silva gets the win via TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kenji Silva!
Kenji Silva took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Conviction for their support in the buildup to the fight.