PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Aj Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hacran Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Smith
vs
Silva

188 cm
28
145 lbs
10 - 14 - 1

170 cm
22
153 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aj Smith!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hacran Silva!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Chris Downing and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva looks for a takedown but Smith sprawls well.
Silva slaps away a takedown attempt from Smith, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Smith looks for a takedown but Silva sprawls well.
Smith really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Silva looks to clinch

and Smith decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Silva's guard.
Smith not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Aj Smith wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Silva sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aj Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Silva.
Silva lands with a short shot to the head.
Silva prevents a takedown attempt there.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Aj Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Smith if he has to take too many more of those.
Smith shoots in but Silva avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Silva sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
Silva tries to clinch up

and Smith counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Silva wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.

Silva throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Smith trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Silva avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Smith trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Silva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.

Aj Smith has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Nice sprawl there from Silva as Smith shoots in.

Silva moves into the clinch.
Silva is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Smith has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Silva is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Smith blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Smith drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Silva breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith fails with the takedown.
Silva dives in and grabs Smith's left leg, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes down on Silva's head and hops out.
Silva is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Silva tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Smith manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Silva defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Smith.
Nice takedown defense from Silva. No joy for Smith on that attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aj Smith dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Silva stuffs the takedown attempt from Smith. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Silva as he avoids it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aj Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith fails to land the takedown.
Smith shoots in but Silva avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Silva keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Silva wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Silva avoids it really well and circles away.
Silva will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Smith uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Silva.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Silva sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smith swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Smith throws a lazy uppercut

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Silva.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to drag Silva to the mat but Silva just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Silva scores with a nice hook to the head.
Silva scores with a shot to the side of Smith's head.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Silva shows good takedown defense.
Smith fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Silva avoids it really well and circles away.
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Silva sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Smith doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Silva counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Smith looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva is working for a submission of some sort.
Aj Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Silva is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Silva tries to pass the half guard into mount. Smith knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Smith wants to improve his position but Silva is controlling well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Smith is refusing to be controlled, as Silva sits in half guard.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Smith is not content to let Silva control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Smith works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.

Smith escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Silva gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Silva is pushing down on Smith's leg trying to pass to half guard. Smith is fighting to maintain full guard but Silva has managed to sneak the leg through.
Smith makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Smith.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Smith looking for a triangle here. Silva is fighting it but it looks tight! Smith pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Silva is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Aj Smith!
Aj Smith retains his featherweight title!