PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rauno Viittala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rauno Viittala told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Silva
vs
Viittala

185 cm
23
175 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

190 cm
19
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anderson Silva!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rauno Viittala!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Mauricio Rocha and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Viittala misses with a few strikes there.
Viittala throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rauno Viittala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva slips a jab from Viittala.
Silva has a takedown stuffed.
Viittala looks to land a combination but Silva avoids it well.
Nice takedown defense from Viittala. No joy for Silva on that attempt.
Viittala tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Silva just misses with a punch to the body.
Silva takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt - Viittala sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Viittala misses with a straight left.
Viittala throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Viittala swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Viittala. No joy for Silva on that attempt.
A big right from Viittala misses.
Silva slips a jab and a cross from Viittala.
Silva will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Silva slips a jab and a cross from Viittala.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Viittala throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A combination from Viittala does no damage.
Viittala throws a right hand that Silva ducks under and follows up with a left that Silva also avoids with ease.
A combination from Viittala does no damage.
Viittala looks gassed!
Viittala throws out a loose jab but Silva uses good head movement to avoid it.
Viittala throws a head kick that misses.
Viittala throws out a loose jab but Silva uses good head movement to avoid it.
Viittala will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Viittala misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Viittala as he avoids it easily.

Silva closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Viittala is pushing Silva's head away, looking to escape. Silva manages to hold on to the position though.
Viittala stops Silva from passing to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Viittala parries the strikes from Silva easily there. Silva is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Viittala to escape.

Viittala throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Viittala misses with a two punch combination.
Silva ducks under a wild hook from Viittala.
Viittala lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Silva circles away quickly and effectively.
Silva misses with a wild combination.
Silva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Viittala scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Viittala throws a head kick that misses.
Viittala jabs at Silva's body.
Viittala is looking to land body kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Viittala tries to avoid it but Silva manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Viittala to the ground. Viittala escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Viittala misses the jab.
Viittala throws a right and a left that Silva avoids nicely.
Viittala swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Silva has a takedown stuffed.
Viittala throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Silva misses the shot to the body.
Silva slips a straight right by Viittala.
Silva sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Viittala throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Viittala connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Jab, jab by Viittala - just one landing.
Viittala misses with a head kick.
A combination from Viittala does no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva dodges the punch combination from Viittala.
Viittala throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Silva counters with a nice double leg into side control. Viittala won't be happy with that.
Viittala wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Viittala is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Viittala wants to get back to his feet but Silva drags him back down.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Viittala wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rauno Viittala dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Viittala with a jab.
Viittala keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Viittala misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Viittala throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Silva.
Silva showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Viittala.
Silva ducks under a wild hook from Viittala.
Viittala looks to throw the jab but Silva is out of range.
Silva shoots in for a double leg but Viittala sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Anderson Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Viittala works Silva's body with a nice hook.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Viittala fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The crowd cheers as Viittala lands an impressive looking overhand right. Silva doesn't seem phased though.
Silva takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Viittala throws a series of punches but Silva moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Viittala punishes Silva's body with a nice straight punch.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Viittala throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Viittala lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Viittala throws a head kick but Silva moves out of range.
Viittala ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Silva moves away.
Viittala connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Viittala misses with a double jab.
Silva takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Viittala misses with a straight right.
Rauno Viittala is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Silva ducks under a wild hook from Viittala.

Silva scores a takedown into full mount!
Viittala tries to buck Silva off but he can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Viittala tries to hold on but Silva pushes him away.
Viittala is desperately trying to improve his position but Silva has a good base and remains in mount.
Viittala is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Viittala is trying to reverse the position but instead Silva has taken his back - oops!
Viittala is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Viittala surviving as best he can, preventing damage.
Viittala really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Silva. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Silva struggling to land strikes to the head as Viittala covers up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Viittala is trying to stand back up.
Silva is trying to stick to Viittala's back but Viittala is turning into Silva. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Silva's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Viittala.
Viittala wants to stand but Silva is controlling his posture from full guard.

Viittala gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Viittala misses with a double jab

and Silva decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Viittala's guard.
Viittala throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Viittala has his feet on Silva's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Viittala scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Some wild striking there from Viittala.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Viittala tries to avoid it but Silva manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Viittala to the ground. Viittala escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Viittala misses with a double jab.
Silva fails with the takedown.
Viittala missing with a left hand there. Silva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Silva uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Viittala.
A lazy left from Viittala finds it's target.
Nice body kick there by Viittala.
Viittala scores with a shot to the body.
Viittala throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Silva on the side of the head.
Viittala misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A combination from Viittala does no damage.
Nice sprawl there from Viittala as Silva shoots in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rauno Viittala showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Viittala misses with a jab, cross combination.
Viittala thows a body shot but no joy.
Silva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Viittala but Viittala pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Silva takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Silva has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Viittala finds it's way round the side to connect with Silva's head.
Viittala stalks Silva and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Silva's face. Silva staggers backwards, shaken.
Silva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Viittala, as that shot connected.
Viittala misses with a jab, cross combination.
Viittala fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rauno Viittala seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt - Viittala sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Viittala misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Viittala scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Silva doesn't seem bothered though.
Viittala throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Silva fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Viittala looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Viittala misses with a combination

so Silva counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Viittala is keeping the position.

Viittala has his feet on Silva's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Silva misses with a telegraphed body shot
letting Viittala counter with a right hand.
Viittala lands a slapping body shot.
Silva with a poor takedown
and Viittala counters with a straight right hand.
Silva shoots in but no luck this time.
Viittala goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A lazy left from Viittala finds it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Viittala tries to bum rush Silva with a series of wild strikes but Silva uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Viittala swings for the body but Silva moves out of range.
Silva fails with the takedown.
Silva uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Viittala.
Viittala misses with a head kick.
Silva doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Silva takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A telegraphed right hand from Viittala misses the target.
Danga de danga de dang - Viittala scores with a four punch combination!
Silva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Viittala lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Viittala moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Silva shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Viittala pinned against the cage. Viittala gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Viittala ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Silva moves away.
Viittala misses with a straight left.
Viittala lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Silva takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Decent striking displayed by Viittala there.
Some wild striking there from Viittala.
Viittala misses the body punch
and Silva counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Silva will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Viittala throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nice uppercut there from Viittala.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Viittala misses with a double jab

and Silva counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Viittala wants to stand and escape but Silva is having none of it.
Silva wants to control from the top but Viittala keeps moving.
Viittala wants to stand up but Silva is controlling him.

Silva thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Viittala wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Viittala wants to get back to his feet but Silva is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rauno Viittala really dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Silva takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Viittala scores with a nice strike.
Viittala scores with a crisp jab that stopped Silva in his tracks.
No joy there for Viittala, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Silva is looking to wear down Viittala with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Viittala throws a head kick that misses

and Silva counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Viittala wants to control but Silva is keeping busy.
Silva stalling.
Silva trying to control from Viittala's half guard. Viittala has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Viittala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Viittala strikes from his own guard.
Viittala tries to strike from the bottom.

Viittala has his feet on Silva's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Viittala lands with a kick to the temple. Silva shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Silva moves out of range as Viittala strikes.
Viittala looks to land a combination but Silva avoids it well.
Silva shoots for a takedown but Viittala saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Silva fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nice shot by Viittala.
Viittala misses with a series of wild punches.
Silva shoots in and drives through. Viittala sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva avoids a punch combination nicely.
Viittala connects with a single shot there.
Silva scores with a shot to the body.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Some wild striking there from Viittala.
A telegraphed right hand from Viittala misses the target.
Silva moves out of range as Viittala strikes.
Silva has his takedown stuffed
and Viittala counters with a nice uppercut.
Silva showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Viittala.
Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Viittala counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Silva throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Viittala's waist but Viittala gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Silva off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Viittala misses with a body shot
and Silva counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Viittala rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Silva moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Viittala throws a hook but Silva blocks it.
Viittala missing with a left hand there. Silva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Silva looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Silva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Viittala but Viittala pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Viittala fails to land with a series of punches.
Viittala lands a nice looking body shot.
Viittala throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Silva slips a jab from Viittala.
Silva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Viittala but Viittala pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Silva steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Viittala.
Viittala slips under a jab.

That's four 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.
Silva uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Viittala.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Silva.
Viittala is not content to let Silva control the position.

Silva wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Viittala, who protects the arm well.
Silva wants to control but Viittala is keeping him busy.

Viittala throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Viittala tries a head kick but it misses.
Viittala closes the distance and lands a one-two.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rauno Viittala dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Silva's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Viittala will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A slow jab from Viittala misses its intended target.
Viittala misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Silva counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Silva looks for a takedown but Viittala sprawls well.
Viittala dips to his left and cracks Silva with an uppercut!
Silva defending well as Viittala loads up on a big left hand.
Viittala misses with a head kick.
Silva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva shoots in but Viittala avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Viittala misses with a double jab.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Viittala throws a jab when Silva was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva has a takedown stuffed.
Silva showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Viittala.
No luck for Silva with that takedown attempt.
Silva takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Viittala misses with a head kick.
Silva shoots in looking for a takedown. Viittala tries to sprawl out of it but Silva keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Viittala manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Silva takes one to the chin there.
A head kick misses from Viittala.
Silva fails to land the takedown.
Viittala tries to bum rush Silva with a series of wild strikes but Silva uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva has his takedown stuffed
and Viittala counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Viittala just misses with a punch to the body.
Viittala lands a really nice looking cross but Silva seems unphased.
Viittala throws a series of punches but Silva avoids them all with ease.
Silva misses with a takedown
and Viittala counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Silva takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Viittala scores with a crisp jab that stopped Silva in his tracks.
Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Viittala counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Silva will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Viittala misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Viittala tests Silva's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nice takedown defense from Viittala. No joy for Silva on that attempt.
Viittala misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Viittala misses with an uppercut.
Viittala misses with the combination.
Nice sprawl there from Viittala as Silva shoots in.
Viittala misses with a few strikes there.
Viittala swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Silva shoots for a takedown but Viittala saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Viittala throws a head kick but Silva moves out of range.
Viittala throws a body punch but Silva moves out of range.
Silva keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
No luck for Silva with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Viittala throws a series of punches but Silva moves out of range.
Viittala throws a series of punches but Silva avoids them all with ease.
Viittala misses with a straight right.
Silva slips a jab and a cross from Viittala.
Viittala swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Silva throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Viittala's waist but Viittala gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Silva off to one side.
Viittala throws a right and a left that Silva avoids nicely.
Silva shoots in looking for a takedown. Viittala tries to sprawl out of it but Silva keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Viittala manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Silva showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Viittala.
Anderson Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Viittala misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Silva misses with a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rauno Viittala comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Viittala winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight for Rauno Viittala!
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight for Rauno Viittala!
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Rauno Viittala!

Rauno Viittala wins by unanimous decision!
Rauno Viittala is the new middleweight champion!