PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between James Granger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcelo Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Granger has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Granger
vs
Silva

162 cm
23
160 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

170 cm
25
166 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Thrifty Threads
HGH Nutrients Q160-Q158

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, James Granger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcelo Silva!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Daniel Cesar and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva throws the left hand but Granger avoids the punch easily.
Silva lands a jab to Granger's midsection.
Silva looks to land a combination but Granger avoids it well.

Silva drives through and clinches with Granger against the cage.
Silva leaning against his opponent.

Silva pulls guard.
Granger is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Granger has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Granger looking to pass the guard.
Silva being controlled here, momentarily.
Silva is trying to control the position but Granger postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because James Granger just wasn't active enough.

Silva gets caught flat footed, as Granger shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Granger connects with a couple of short punches.
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!
Silva looking for a sweep. Not yet Silva, not yet.
Granger has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Silva being controlled here, momentarily.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Granger working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Silva's head.
Granger engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Granger's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Silva looking to control.
Granger landing some decent shots from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Granger engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of James Granger.

Granger looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Silva!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to improve position but can't.
Granger lands a decent elbow from side control.
You can see the frustration on Silva's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Silva tries to bench press Granger off him but Granger keeps the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva manages to get back to half guard.
Silva wants to get back to full guard but Granger has passed into side control.
Silva is trying to get back to half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Granger's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Granger controlling the position from side mount.
Silva tries to bench press Granger off him but Granger keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Granger landing strikes.
Silva tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Granger wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Granger wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silva keeps working.
Silva is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Silva felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Granger slows the pace down.
Silva tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Granger wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
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.
Granger working away.
Silva takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Granger working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Granger grinds an elbow into Silva's temple.
Granger working away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silva is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Granger is staying active.
Silva is being controlled here.
Granger seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Silva for as long as he can get away with.
Silva is looking to regain half guard here but Granger keeps moving and retains side control.
Granger wants to control but Silva is keeping him busy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Granger tries to advance to mount but Silva denies him.
Silva is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Granger looking to score a takedown here. Silva is defending well but Granger drives through and ends up in Silva's guard.
Granger engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Granger stopping the sweep attempt from Silva.

Silva has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Granger can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Granger slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
James Granger overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Granger from controlling successfully.
Granger stopping the sweep attempt from Silva.
Granger postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Granger is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Silva looking for a sweep. Not yet Silva, not yet.
Silva can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Granger controls the pace.

Granger got a little sloppy there for a moment and Silva has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Granger has managed to get both his arms back between Silva's legs - danger averted.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Granger from controlling successfully.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Granger is proving a slippery customer.

We're going to have a standup here because James Granger wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Silva gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Granger trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Silva looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva looking for a sweep. Not yet Silva, not yet.
Granger sitting in guard here, content to control.
Granger makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Granger slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Granger in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Granger's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Silva trying to control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Granger fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Silva sprawls well initially but Granger persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Silva has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Granger is working away from the top position though.
Granger controlling the pace.
Granger trying to mount his opponent but Silva defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Granger is taking a breather. Silva says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Silva wants to improve his position but Granger is controlling well.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Granger seems to be looking for submissions.
Silva gets back to full guard.
Silva trying to strike off his back.
Granger showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Silva wants to sweep here but Granger controlling him for the moment.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Granger's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva looking to control.
Silva looking for a sweep. Not yet Silva, not yet.
Granger is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Silva looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Granger not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

We're going to have a standup here because James Granger wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Silva shoots in and gets a takedown into Granger's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Granger is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Granger looking for a guillotine here but Silva defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Granger 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!

Silva gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Silva is pulling down on Granger's head. It's preventing any offense from Granger, at least for the moment.
Granger controls from within his opponent's guard.
Silva preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Granger is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The ref stands the fighters back up. James Granger wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Silva fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Granger closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Granger lands in his opponent's guard.

Granger avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Granger stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Granger got a little sloppy there for a moment and Silva has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Granger has managed to get both his arms back between Silva's legs - danger averted.
Granger is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Granger landing some decent shots from guard.
Granger postures up.
Granger preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Granger controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Silva is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Granger regains full guard. Nicely done.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva wants to control from the top but Granger keeps moving.
Silva stops Granger from standing up.
Granger is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Granger looking to hit a scissor sweep but Silva is one step ahead there.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Granger is keeping the position for now.
Granger wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

James Granger has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Silva gets caught flat footed, as Granger shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Silva looking for a sweep. Not yet Silva, not yet.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Granger from controlling successfully.
Silva is trying to keep Granger in close.
Granger throws a big elbow that misses.
Granger trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up because James Granger just wasn't active enough.

Granger bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Granger lands a nice forearm strike.
Silva tries to bench press Granger off him but Granger keeps the position.
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!
Granger is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Silva's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Granger scoring with punches and elbows.
Granger looks up at the clock and then as Silva takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Granger smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Granger content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Granger is looking to take a break and control but Silva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Silva is looking for a sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Granger is staying tight to Silva's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Marcelo Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Granger is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

The ref stands the fighters back up. James Granger wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Granger ducks under a wild hook from Silva.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Granger showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Granger, 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Granger!
James Granger seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
Marcelo Silva spoke after the fight, saying 'Sona ma bishhh!!!!'.