PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ben Riley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Riley
vs
Silva

187 cm
20
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Prefers standup

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ben Riley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anderson Silva!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Daniel Cesar and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riley checks a low kick from Silva.
Riley ducks right into an uppercut from Silva.
Riley fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Riley tries a head kick but it misses.
It seemed like Silva was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Silva thuds a left hand into Riley's body.
Silva moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Silva lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Silva connects with a solid leg kick.
Silva lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Riley circles away from the clinch attempt.
Silva slips under a jab.

Riley throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Silva tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Riley is in Silva's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Riley showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Silva 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.
Riley controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva working for a triangle but Riley defends it easily.
Riley slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Silva is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Riley passes into half guard.
Riley not doing much here.

That's two 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.
Riley is looking to advance position but Silva won't allow it.

Silva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Silva is looking to control Riley's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Silva avoid being mounted?
Riley controlling the action here.
Riley has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Riley decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Silva will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Riley attempts a counter takedown but Silva avoids it well and moves away.
Silva scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Riley looks to land a combination but Silva avoids it well.
Riley shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Silva as he jumps to the side.
Danga de danga de dang - Silva scores with a four punch combination!

Riley shoots in and gets a takedown into Silva's guard.
Silva working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Silva is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Silva is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Riley 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.
Riley'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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva keeping full guard, as Riley tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Silva dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Silva moves out of range of the body kick from Riley.
A head kick by Silva misses

and Riley counters with a takedown into side control.
Riley advances to full mount.
Riley lands a heavy elbow.
Riley controlling the position easily from mount.
Silva tries to lock up and control but Riley gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva working to try and regain half guard.
Riley lands a big elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is trying to escape the mount.
Riley controlling the position easily from mount.
Silva is trying desperately to improve position.
Silva wants to hold on but Riley pushes him away.

Riley goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Silva is on top in guard.
Silva wants to control from the top but Riley keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Silva postures up in Riley's guard and throws a big left but Riley blocks it.
Silva postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Riley wants to sweep here but Silva controlling him for the moment.
Riley has Silva pulled in close to control his posture.
Silva working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Silva accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Silva throws a big elbow that misses.
Riley keeping full guard, as Silva tries to pass.
Silva trying to control but Riley is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Riley's calf.
Riley fails to land with a series of punches.
Silva buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Riley throws a right hand that Silva ducks under and follows up with a left that Silva also avoids with ease.
Silva appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

Riley scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Riley decides to return to a standing position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Riley looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Silva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Silva, right into the meat.
Silva feints and then cracks Riley's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Riley down.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Silva enables Riley to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Silva manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

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

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Riley from controlling successfully.
Riley advances position into side control!
Silva is trying to get back to half guard.
Riley works to advance to full mount. Silva defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Silva is in all sorts of trouble here.
Riley takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Riley is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Silva has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Silva!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Riley dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Silva keeps Riley at a distance using the push kick.
Riley swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Silva counters with a nice low kick that buckles Riley's knee momentarily.
A good leg kick by Silva.
Riley takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Silva lands a jab to Riley's midsection.
Riley pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A good leg kick by Silva.
Riley shoots in for a takedown but Silva shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Silva is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Silva connects with a solid leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva connects with an inside leg kick.
Donk. Silva catches Riley right on the button with a cross.
Silva scores with a three punch combo!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Riley.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva lands a body shot.
Riley has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Silva.
Riley avoids the head kick by Silva.
Silva delivers a nice body kick.
Riley circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice straight punches there by Silva. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Silva.
Silva misses with a few strikes there.
Silva has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Riley throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Silva connects with a leg kick. Riley looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A jab from Silva finds it's way through Riley's defenses.
Anderson Silva seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Silva lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Riley tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Silva swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Riley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva throws a series of strikes that have Riley backpedaling.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silva lands with a slapping head kick.
Riley on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva doesn't manage to clinch there - Riley circles away.
A good leg kick by Silva.
Riley pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ben Riley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A solid leg kick lands there for Silva.
Good shot there by Silva.
Silva lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
A good leg kick by Silva.
Riley is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Silva scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Riley goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Silva pushes Riley away with a front kick.
Anderson Silva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Riley takes one on the chin but seems OK.
That kick from Silva tenderised Riley's leg. Riley is trying to keep his angry face on.
Riley takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Riley on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a nice outside leg kick.
Riley tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Silva tries to clinch but Riley is having none of it.
Silva lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Silva connects with a body shot.
Silva throws a sloppy head kick and Riley moves out of range easily.
Silva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Silva lands with a thumping leg kick.
Silva keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Silva throws a sloppy head kick and Riley moves out of range easily.
Riley throws a series of punches but Silva moves out of range.
Silva looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Riley needs to keep his hands up - Silva had a free shot at his head there.
Riley on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Riley takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Silva turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Silva lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Riley tries to land a front kick but Silva steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Riley backing away here, and Silva unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Silva throws a quick inside leg kick.
Silva scores with a spinning back kick!
Silva throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Riley.
Silva thuds a left hand into Riley's body.
Silva lands a nice shot that snaps Riley's head back.
Silva lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Riley looks to land a combination but Silva avoids it well.
Silva looks like he wants to counter punch here.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silva lands a head kick. Riley smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Silva throws a sloppy head kick and Riley moves out of range easily.
Riley fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Silva manages to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anderson Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Silva 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anderson Silva!