PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ralph Bunga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stefan Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Stefan Silva enters the cage!

Bunga
vs
Silva

180 cm
30
196 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

186 cm
22
195 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ralph Bunga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Stefan Silva!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Dillan Fox and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva stuffs the takedown attempt from Bunga. Bunga gets slowly back to his feet.
Bunga pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Silva throws a right and a left that Bunga avoids nicely.
Silva swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Bunga looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Bunga thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Silva's head.
Silva missing with punches from the bottom.
Bunga throwing shots but Silva is blocking nicely.

Silva looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bunga missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Silva moves into full guard.

Bunga got a little sloppy there for a moment and Silva has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bunga has managed to get both his arms back between Silva's legs - danger averted.
Bunga is working Silva over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bunga has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Silva wants to sweep here but Bunga controlling him for the moment.
Silva preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Silva trying to control the position.

Silva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bunga doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bunga manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Silva throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Silva has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bunga pushes down on Silva's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Silva keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bunga missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bunga throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Silva blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bunga.
Silva makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Silva.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Silva has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bunga can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Silva has his foot on Bunga's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bunga works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bunga in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Silva trying to strike off his back.
Bunga knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Silva on the ground.

Silva had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bunga defends it easily.
Silva looks winded!
Bunga throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bunga throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Silva works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bunga loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bunga scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Silva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bunga doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bunga manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Silva is trying to control the position but Bunga postures up.
Bunga lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Silva has momentary wrist control but Bunga slips an elbow through the middle.
Bunga with a flurry of punches that miss.

Silva is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bunga is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bunga postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Silva is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bunga defends well.
Bunga is in close to Silva's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bunga cracks Silva with a solid left hand.
Silva avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bunga working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bunga postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Silva wants to sweep but no luck.
Bunga wants to get up but he can't break Silva's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Bunga working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bunga in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bunga scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Silva is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Bunga decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Bunga has Silva up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ralph Bunga dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Silva takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Bunga goes for a double leg but Silva avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Silva continues to drive forward.
Bunga keeps control of Silva as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Bunga lands a hook that snaps the head of Silva backwards.
Silva is looking for a takedown.
Silva working hard to break the clinch.
Silva is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bunga pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Silva is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Silva tries to break the clinch but Bunga is controlling the position.
Bunga keeps control of Silva as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Bunga breaks from the clinch.
Bunga shoots in looking for a takedown. Silva tries to sprawl out of it but Bunga keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Silva manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Silva shoots in looking for a takedown but Bunga manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Silva's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ralph Bunga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stefan Silva.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bunga pushes Silva up against the cage in a clinch.

Bunga manages to break the clinch.
Bunga connects with a leg kick. Silva looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Bunga tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Silva defends well and Bunga ends up having to push Silva into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Silva manages to break the clinch.
Silva throws a jab when Bunga was well out of range.

Bunga gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bunga prevents a takedown attempt there.
Silva can't break the clinch.
Silva tries to break free but Bunga pushes him back against the cage.

Bunga breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ralph Bunga is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bunga shoots in looking for a takedown but Silva manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bunga's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bunga misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Bunga closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva regains half guard.

Silva looking for submissions off his back.
Silva on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Silva slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bunga throws a big right hand that misses.
Our spies down at at Capital Fighting Gym inform us that Silva has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Bunga preventing the sweep.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Silva is looking for a triangle but Bunga pushes his legs off easily.
Silva is breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bunga works over Silva with some ground and pound from guard.
Bunga working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Silva manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bunga manages to get himself to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ralph Bunga dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Bunga decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Silva is pressing down on Bunga's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Silva scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Bunga closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Bunga not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bunga wants to stand but Silva has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Silva looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bunga lands with a punch from half guard.
Silva is looking to improve his position.
Bunga working Silva over with strikes.
Bunga missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Silva is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Bunga scores with a couple of nice shots.

Silva is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bunga pulls his head out easily.
Bunga drops an elbow to the side of Silva's head.
Bunga thows a huge punch but Silva dodges it nicely.
Bunga tries to stand and escape but Silva is controlling the position.
Silva keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bunga looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Silva with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Stefan Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to roll over but Bunga keeps him under control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bunga drops an elbow to the side of Silva's head.
Bunga takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Bunga winds up and cracks Silva with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Bunga missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Silva won't allow Bunga to pass to mount.
Silva is trying to get back to full guard.
Bunga misses with a head shot. Silva uses the momentum to regain guard.
Bunga working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bunga lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Silva is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bunga defends well.
Bunga cracks Silva with a solid left hand.
Bunga is in close to Silva's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Silva working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bunga.
Ralph Bunga overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bunga cracks Silva with a solid left hand.
Silva wants to sweep here but Bunga controlling him for the moment.
Bunga works over Silva with some ground and pound from guard.
Silva wants to sweep but no luck.
Silva working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bunga.

Silva is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Bunga with a nice head shot there.
Bunga lands a couple of digs.
Silva avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bunga is working Silva over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bunga is looking to stand up but Silva won't let him.
Bunga is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bunga stopping the sweep attempt from Silva.
Bunga connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Silva has his foot on Bunga's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bunga works his way back into a safe position though.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bunga's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bunga postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Bunga gets to his feet - Silva follows without any prompting.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ralph Bunga showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bunga has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ralph Bunga!