PBP Commentary

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

Silva
vs
WO

173 cm
29
155 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

170 cm
27
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Museum of Monsters & Madmen

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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Silva!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, TW WO!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Daniel Cesar and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

WO closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Silva quickly recovers to half guard.

Silva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Silva is looking to improve his position.

WO is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Silva is just riding it out for now. WO eventually gives up the hold.

Silva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Silva looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

WO is trying to work for a kimura but Silva is defending well.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Silva is defending against the submission attempts here by WO.

Silva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva looking for submissions off his back.

Silva actively working from the bottom here.

Silva is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but WO pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
WO is trying to control. Silva wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
WO is looking to advance position but Silva won't allow it.

Silva looking for submissions off his back.

WO is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

WO is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Silva sees it coming and defends easily.
Silva wants to improve his position but WO is controlling well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Silva manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Silva is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and WO defends well.

WO drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Silva dives on top into guard.

WO looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
WO looks winded!
Silva slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Silva tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. WO knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
WO tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Silva wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
WO sneaks back into half guard.

WO is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Silva pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

WO is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Silva pulls his head out easily.
WO blocking the ground and pound attempt from Silva.

WO looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Silva passes the guard and advances to mount!
Silva connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Silva with the ground and pound from mount.
Silva raining down shots from the mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Silva dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Silva cracks WO with an open hand slap.

Silva tries to sprawl but WO drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Silva looking for submissions off his back.

Silva looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Silva is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but WO pulls his head out easily.

Silva actively working from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

WO is working for a submission of some sort.

WO is working for a submission of some sort.
My spies in Franklin D. Bluth Memorial Supergym inform me that WO has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
WO is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva looking for submissions off his back.
Silva gets full guard.
WO wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.

WO postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Silva is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of WO, into his guard.

Silva forces his way into half guard.

WO with the active half guard here but Silva passes nicely into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva tries for a kimura but WO is defending well.
WO is looking to regain half guard here but Silva keeps moving and retains side control.
Silva working away.

Silva is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, WO has escaped the position, nice work there.
WO is trying to work for a sweep but Silva has mounted him!

Silva swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Rafael Silva!
Rafael Silva retains his featherweight title!
A relieved looking Rafael Silva thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.