PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vasily Zaytsev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rejinaldo Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zaytsev comes into the arena with Katyusha blaring out of the sound system. Silva has chosen Roy Jones - Can't be touched as his entrance music. Vasily Zaytsev is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Zaytsev
vs
Silva

184 cm
23
190 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

188 cm
22
200 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vasily Zaytsev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Rejinaldo Silva!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Paul Tew and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Zaytsev misses with a left hand
and Silva counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Silva misses with a body shot.
Silva avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
We've been told by Zaytsev's head coaches at The Pit that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Silva misses with a kick to the body.
We've been informed that Silva has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Silva throws a hook but Zaytsev blocks it.
Zaytsev misses with a low kick.
Silva scores with a nice strike.
Zaytsev takes a swing at Silva's ribcage but misses.
Zaytsev takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Zaytsev gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Silva.
Silva misses with a body punch

and Zaytsev moves into the clinch.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Zaytsev throws a punch but it's blocked by Silva.
Zaytsev wants to get back to striking at distance but Silva won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva gets through Zaytsev's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Silva makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Silva misses with the head strike.
A short left from Silva.
Silva throws a head punch that misses.
Zaytsev swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Zaytsev wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Zaytsev is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Silva blocks a body shot from Zaytsev.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Zaytsev.
Silva tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zaytsev misses with a short punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Zaytsev scores with a nice short uppercut.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Zaytsev creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Silva throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva prevents a body shot from Zaytsev.
Zaytsev lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Silva tries to work over Zaytsev's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Silva landing some nice looking knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zaytsev tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Silva's elbow.
Zaytsev has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Silva using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Silva.
Zaytsev lands a body shot in the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Knees to the body from Silva.
Zaytsev misses with a body punch.
Silva keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zaytsev's efforts to push away.
Zaytsev prevents a body shot from Silva.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaytsev avoiding damage as Silva throws knees to the body.
Silva gets through Zaytsev's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Zaytsev stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Zaytsev pushes Silva back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Zaytsev blocks it.
Zaytsev lands a left hand that snaps the head of Silva backwards.
Zaytsev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zaytsev works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Silva tries to throw a body punch but Zaytsev avoids it by throwing Silva back against the cage.

Zaytsev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Silva misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zaytsev.
Silva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Silva moves out of range as Zaytsev strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zaytsev has taken the fight to the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zaytsev misses with some punches.

Zaytsev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Silva throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zaytsev uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Silva.

Zaytsev closes the distance and clinches.
Zaytsev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zaytsev misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zaytsev misses with a hook from the clinch.
Silva has Zaytsev pressed against the cage, preventing Zaytsev from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A right handed body shot lands from Zaytsev.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Zaytsev wants to break the clinch but can't.
Silva tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zaytsev's elbow.
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 Vasily Zaytsev will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Silva slips under a jab from Zaytsev.
Zaytsev tried to score with a low kick but Silva checks it.
Zaytsev feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Silva's calf.
The fighters circling - Zaytsev throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zaytsev throws a looping overhand right but Silva ducks down to avoid it.
Silva thows a left - swing and a miss!
Silva waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zaytsev.
Zaytsev takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Silva misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zaytsev.
Zaytsev moves out of range as Silva strikes.
Rejinaldo Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva throws a right hand that Zaytsev ducks under and follows up with a left that Zaytsev also avoids with ease.
Silva tries to clinch but Zaytsev moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva scores with a body shot.
Zaytsev throws a hook to the side of Silva's head but Silva sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Silva throws a leg kick but Zaytsev checks it.
Silva takes one on the button.
Good leg kick by Silva there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Zaytsev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Silva.
Silva throws a leg kick that misses.
Silva connects with a body shot that sends Zaytsev's belly button to the back.
A leg kick checked by Silva.
Zaytsev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Silva moves away.
A shot to the body from Zaytsev misses
and Silva counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Silva swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaytsev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Silva.
Silva cracks a nice hook into Zaytsev's ribs.
Silva misses with a few strikes there.
Silva connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Silva jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Silva uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zaytsev.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zaytsev looks to land a left hand but Silva moved out of range nicely.
Silva takes a swing at Zaytsev's ribcage but misses.
Silva throws a lazy right hand but Zaytsev sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Silva misses the shot to the body.
Rejinaldo Silva seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Silva throws a lazy uppercut
and Zaytsev counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Silva thinking.
Silva throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Zaytsev counters with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva swings for the body but Zaytsev moves out of range.
Zaytsev ducks under a wild hook from Silva.
Zaytsev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zaytsev throws an overhand right that lands on Silva's shoulder, as Silva tries to avoid the shot.
Silva connects with a single shot there.
Silva takes a swing at Zaytsev's ribcage but misses.
Zaytsev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Silva.
Silva takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
The fighters circling - Zaytsev throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Silva showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zaytsev.
Silva connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Zaytsev misses with a jab, cross combination.
A big left from Zaytsev misses.
Zaytsev fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Silva looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Silva tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zaytsev was well out of range. Poor timing from Silva.
Zaytsev is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Zaytsev tries a head kick but it misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Zaytsev gets a clinch.
Silva blocks a body shot from Zaytsev.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rejinaldo Silva will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Silva with a jab.
Silva cracks the inside of Zaytsev's front leg.
Silva connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Zaytsev's hands.
Zaytsev has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Zaytsev there as he acknowledges the shot.
Silva with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Silva throws a shot from downtown. Zaytsev moves away and avoids it.
Silva scores with a shot to the body.
Zaytsev lands with a cross.
Zaytsev bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Zaytsev moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Silva uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Zaytsev has time to react.
Silva uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zaytsev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaytsev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Zaytsev takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Zaytsev takes the fight into the clinch.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nice body punch from Silva.
A left hand lands to the body for Zaytsev.
Zaytsev tries a body shot but Silva blocks it.
Zaytsev tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Silva's elbow.
Silva blocks an uppercut.
Zaytsev works on Silva's body with a couple of short punches.
Zaytsev lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Silva.
Silva tries to land knees in the clinch but Zaytsev avoids the damage to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zaytsev tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Silva's elbow.
Silva lands a nice uppercut.
Zaytsev lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Silva.
Silva looking to stall.
Silva's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Zaytsev is trying to break the clinch but Silva has him pressed against the cage.
Zaytsev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zaytsev wants to break free but Silva has control.
Zaytsev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Silva doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zaytsev misses with a punch to the body.
Zaytsev blocks a body shot from Silva.
A nice right hand lands inside from Zaytsev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Zaytsev fails to land.
Silva lands a body shot in the clinch.
Vasily Zaytsev has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Zaytsev tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Silva's elbow.
Silva keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zaytsev's efforts to push away.
Zaytsev avoiding damage as Silva throws knees to the body.

Zaytsev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zaytsev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Silva.
Silva misses with a body shot.
Silva misses with a hook.
Zaytsev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Silva.
Silva looks to throw the jab but Zaytsev is out of range.
A combination from Zaytsev does no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zaytsev sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Silva bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Zaytsev's head backwards.
Zaytsev bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Silva's head.
Zaytsev with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Silva to score with a decent uppercut.
Zaytsev uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Silva.
Silva thows a body shot but no joy.
Zaytsev throws an off balance right hand

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by 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!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Silva.

Zaytsev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Silva misses with a wild body shot.

Zaytsev has Silva up against the cage in a clinch.
Zaytsev doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Vasily Zaytsev.
I think Zaytsev has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Vasily Zaytsev!
A very excited looking Vasily Zaytsev made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.