PBP Commentary

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

Silva
vs
Thai

163 cm
20
144 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

225 cm
25
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Romao Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Muay Thai!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, William Gold and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silva fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Thai sprawls well initially but Silva persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Thai tries to roll over but Silva keeps him under control.
Silva trying to control the action but Thai is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Romao Silva.
Silva misses with a two punch combination.
Thai avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thai fails with a takedown attempt.
Thai shoots for a double leg takedown but Silva sprawls well. He's pushed Thai's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva throws a nice looking combination but Thai bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Thai fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thai tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thai shoots in but Silva avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Romao Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Muay Thai.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Thai is defended easily by Silva.

Thai rushes Silva and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The referee calls for Thai to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thai is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Silva is defending well.
Silva jumps guard but Thai turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Thai is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Silva tries to pull guard but Thai holds him up against the cage and eventually Silva drops back down to his feet.
Silva misses with some punches.
Thai 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. Thai gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Thai is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Silva closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Thai's guard.

Thai has his foot on Silva's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Silva works his way back into a safe position though.
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 Thai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thai controls Silva momentarily but Silva frees himself.
Silva not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Romao Silva has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Thai looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Silva is fending him off so far but Thai persists. Nope, Silva circles away and we're back to standing.

Silva scores with a takedown into Thai's guard.
Thai really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Silva. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Thai wants to stand but Silva is controlling the position.
Silva stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thai swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Silva sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Silva trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Thai manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thai throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Silva works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Thai moves to clinch but Silva breaks away

and Silva counters with a nice double leg into side control. Thai won't be happy with that.
Thai is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Silva asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Thai wants to control but Silva postures up.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Thai is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Thai seems a little lost for a moment, as Silva dominates the positioning.
Silva moves into full mount!
Silva controlling his opponent.
Silva avoids the attempt from Thai to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva wants to control the pace but Thai is squirming around nicely.
Thai is trying desperately to improve position.
Silva tries to control but Thai wriggling away.
Silva controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Romao Silva wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Thai with a lazy takedown attempt

and Silva counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Silva is keen to just control but Thai is a slippery customer.
Thai flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Silva perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Silva wants to take a breather but Thai is having none of it.
Silva not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thai keeps working.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Romao Silva.
Silva tries to clinch but Thai is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thai avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Thai drives through and clinches with Silva against the cage.

Thai escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Silva wants to clinch up but Thai keeps it at a distance.
Romao Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thai misses with a takedown attempt

and Silva counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Silva.
Thai throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Silva is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thai is keeping the position for now.
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 trying to control the position from guard on top but Thai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Romao Silva wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Thai swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Silva fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Thai to the ground. Silva is now in Thai's guard.
Thai is trying to keep Silva in close.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Thai looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Thai is breathing heavily.
Silva looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Romao Silva dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Thai lands a two punch combo.
Nice takedown defense from Silva. No joy for Thai on that attempt.

Silva closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Silva tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Thai just stands there and leans against the cage.
Thai fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Silva is trying to break the clinch but Thai has him pressed against the cage.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.

Thai's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Thai has taken the fight to the clinch.
Silva is trying to pull guard but Thai turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Silva jumps guard but Thai stands there with Silva around his waist. Silva gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Romao Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thai looking for a takedown.
Silva gets underhooks to prevent Thai's takedown attempt.
Thai takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Thai tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Silva being controlled against the cage.
Thai is trying to pull guard but Silva has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to break the clinch but Thai is controlling the position.
Thai wants to break the clinch but can't.
Silva is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Thai to keep the fight standing.
Thai is working for takedown but Silva is calmly controlling the position for now.

Silva gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Silva stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thai swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silva sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Thai's guard.
Silva is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Thai is trying to get back to full guard.
Silva stalling away here and it's allowed Thai to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Silva is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Silva slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thai keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romao Silva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Thai is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Silva asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Thai tries to bench press Silva off him but Silva keeps the position.
Muay Thai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Romao Silva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Romao Silva just wasn't active enough.
Silva chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Thai can pounce on him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Romao 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 James Atkins scores the fight for Romao Silva!
Judge William Gold scores the fight for Romao Silva!
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight for Romao Silva!

Romao Silva wins by unanimous decision!