PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Manuel Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Krystian Cierpka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Silva
vs
Cierpka

156 cm
18
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Manuel Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Krystian Cierpka!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Daniel Cesar and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cierpka misses with a body shot.
Silva defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cierpka.
Cierpka looks to score with a jab to the body but Silva is just out of range.
Silva could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Silva is looking to clinch.

Silva shoots in and bounces Cierpka off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Cierpka looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Silva stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cierpka swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva trying to control but Cierpka is working from the bottom.
Silva stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cierpka swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cierpka keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Silva stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cierpka swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Cierpka had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Silva defends it easily.

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

Cierpka has an active guard here but Silva has managed to pass into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Cierpka is not content to let Silva control the position.
Cierpka is trying to get back to full guard.
Silva wants to take a breather but Cierpka is having none of it.
Silva looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Cierpka makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cierpka.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cierpka is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva looking to pass the guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Cierpka closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Silva quickly recovers to half guard.
Cierpka misses with a head shot. Silva uses the momentum to regain guard.
Cierpka postures up in Silva's guard and throws a big left but Silva blocks it.
Cierpka is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Cierpka from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cierpka content to stall in guard here.
Cierpka throwing strikes but missing.
Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cierpka seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cierpka enables Silva to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cierpka manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
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 Manuel Silva will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cierpka gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cierpka lands with a light punch inside.

Cierpka pulls guard.
Silva slips nicely into half guard.
Silva wants to take a breather but Cierpka is having none of it.
Silva wants to free his trapped foot but Cierpka is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Silva looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva passes the guard and advances to mount!
Cierpka bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cierpka is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Silva is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Silva has escaped and now he's on top!

Cierpka working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Silva doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Silva manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cierpka keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Cierpka is controlling Silva's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Cierpka throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Silva escapes and throws Cierpka's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Cierpka sneaks back into half guard.
Silva wants to take a breather but Cierpka is having none of it.
Cierpka is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Silva's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Silva's back!

Silva defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to control but Cierpka is working from the bottom.
Cierpka controls Silva momentarily but Silva frees himself.
Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Cierpka escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Silva gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cierpka is keeping the position for now.
Silva trying to control but Cierpka is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cierpka is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Silva defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Krystian Cierpka will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Cierpka takes the fight into the clinch.
Cierpka lands an uppercut.
The referee is keeping an eye on Cierpka - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A knee to the head by Cierpka.

It looks like Manuel Silva has been cut.
Silva blocks an elbow strike.
Cierpka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva is looking to take this one to the mat.
Silva has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cierpka avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cierpka ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Cierpka no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Silva slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Cierpka throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Silva escapes and throws Cierpka's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva is trying to get an arm triangle but Cierpka is defending well.
Silva laying and praying for a moment but Cierpka takes advantage and regains half guard.

Silva is looking for a kimura but Cierpka is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Silva to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Cierpka actively working from the bottom here.
Silva wants to free his trapped foot but Cierpka is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Cierpka is looking to improve his position.
Silva is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Cierpka is looking to improve his position but Silva isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Cierpka is in real trouble.

Silva working for a choke but Cierpka reverses nicely into Silva 's guard.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Cierpka is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cierpka drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cierpka jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Cierpka slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Cierpka slips nicely into half guard.
Cierpka is looking to stall here but Silva recovers full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cierpka 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 Cierpka, into his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Krystian Cierpka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cierpka has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Krystian Cierpka!
During a confident post fight interview, Krystian Cierpka thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.