PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Javier Lopez (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.

Silva
vs
Lopez

181 cm
22
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 London, Thiago Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Javier Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Glass and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silva has closed the distance and engaged Lopez in a clinch.
A short right from Silva on the inside.
Silva is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Lopez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silva just stands there and leans against the cage.
Silva tries a body shot but Lopez blocks it.
Silva wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Lopez stalling.

Silva manages to break the clinch.
Lopez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Lopez rushes Silva and presses him up against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Lopez.
Lopez misses with a punch to the body.
Lopez keeps control of Silva as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Lopez lands a body punch in the clinch.
Silva drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Silva changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lopez fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Silva is looking to clinch.
Good work by Lopez as he checks the leg kick.
Lopez throws a sloppy head kick and Silva moves out of range easily.
Lopez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Silva misses with a straight right.

Silva closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Lopez has a couple of punches blocked by Silva.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Silva is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Thiago Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Javier Lopez.

Lopez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Silva wants to clinch.
Thiago Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Lopez clinches up against the cage.
Lopez lands a nice uppercut.
Lopez lands a shoulder strike.
Silva lands a right hand that snaps the head of Lopez backwards.
Lopez prevents the takedown attempt.
Silva changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lopez fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Lopez swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.

Lopez takes the fight into the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Lopez scores with a nice short uppercut.
Silva throws a head punch that misses.
Lopez lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A short uppercut from Lopez.
Lopez looking to slow down the pace here.
Silva wants to break the clinch but can't.
Silva is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries a body shot but Lopez blocks it.
Lopez will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Silva up against the cage.
Silva wants to get back to striking at distance but Lopez won't allow it.

Lopez breaks the clinch.

Silva gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Silva wants to get back to striking at distance but Lopez won't allow it.

Silva breaks from the clinch.
Silva avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lopez is looking to clinch but Silva is avoiding it.

Silva moves into the clinch successfully.
Silva wants to break free but Lopez has control.
Lopez throws a punch but it's blocked by Silva.

Lopez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Silva keeps the fight on the outside.
Silva tries to clinch but Lopez moves out of range.
Lopez avoids the head kick by Silva.
Lopez throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Silva tries to bum rush Lopez with a series of wild strikes but Lopez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Lopez gets a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lopez swings wildly with an uppercut but Silva uses good head movement to avoid it.
Silva is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez wants to stall.

Lopez breaks the clinch.
Lopez fails in his attempt to clinch.
No luck for Lopez with that takedown attempt.
Silva tries for a takedown but Lopez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Lopez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lopez tries to clinch up.

Lopez rushes Silva and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Lopez fails to land.

Lopez manages to break the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Silva is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Lopez is leaning against Silva and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Lopez is trying to drag Silva to the mat but Silva just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Silva has had enough of the clinch but Lopez keeps him there for the moment.
Lopez is pressed up against the cage. Silva has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Lopez down to the mat. Lopez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva jumps guard but Lopez stands there with Silva around his waist. Silva gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Silva ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Silva no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Lopez advances position into side control!
Silva knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lopez on the ground.

Lopez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Silva has escaped the position, nice work there.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Lopez decides to stand back up. Lopez steps back and let's Silva get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lopez.

Silva scores with a takedown into Lopez's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lopez 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A head kick by Silva misses
and Lopez counters with a good, hard body kick but Silva shrugs it off.
Silva fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Lopez on the side of the head.
Silva ducks under a wild hook from Lopez.
Silva is looking to clinch but Lopez is avoiding it.

Silva has managed to clinch.
Lopez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Silva.

Silva breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lopez shoots in looking for a takedown. Silva tries to sprawl out of it but Lopez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Silva manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Lopez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Silva throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Lopez on the side of the head.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Silva swings wildly with an uppercut but Lopez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lopez wants a takedown but no success here.
Thiago Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Javier Lopez.
Silva fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Silva lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lopez backwards.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lopez backwards.
Silva can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez can't break the clinch.
Lopez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lopez lands a body punch in the clinch.
Lopez throws a head punch that misses.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Silva rushes Lopez and presses him up against the cage.
Lopez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Silva smiles and moves away.
Silva avoids the head kick by Lopez.

Silva pushes Lopez up against the cage in a clinch.
Lopez is trying to break free.
Silva is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Lopez gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Silva stops a takedown attempt from Lopez.
Lopez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Lopez gets underhooks to prevent Silva's takedown attempt.
Silva prevents a takedown attempt there.
Lopez prevents a takedown attempt there.
Lopez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lopez decides to pull guard.

Lopez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Silva can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Silva has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Silva connects with a couple of short punches.
Silva postures up.
Silva tries to stand but Lopez is controlling from the bottom.

Lopez wriggles free and stands up.
Lopez shoots and misses

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Silva.
Javier Lopez seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Lopez prevents Silva from breaking the clinch.
Lopez is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Silva is keeping busy.
Silva lands a body punch.
Silva can't break the clinch.
Silva lands a body punch in the clinch.
Silva has had enough of the clinch but Lopez keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva takes a shot to the head.
Lopez effectively controlling the action here.
Lopez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Lopez pulls Silva into guard.
Silva working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Lopez manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Lopez stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Lopez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Silva as Lopez shoots in.
Lopez swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.

Silva clinches up against the cage.
Silva blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Lopez manages to break the clinch.
Lopez tries to clinch

and Silva counters by clinching up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva looking for a takedown.
Lopez lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Lopez lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Silva is looking to control Lopez's arms but Lopez gets an underhook and turns him. Now Silva has his back to the cage.
Silva wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Silva jumps guard but Lopez stands there with Silva around his waist. Silva gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Lopez has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Silva uses from the top position.
Silva throws and elbow that misses. Lopez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Silva's guard. Nice move by Lopez!
Silva on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Silva tries to get out of the position.
Silva wants to sweep but no luck.
Lopez trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lopez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Lopez decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Silva has closed the distance and engaged Lopez in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Thiago Silva will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Silva clinches with his opponent.
Silva tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Silva doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lopez can't find room to land a body shot as Silva controls the action.
Lopez tries to pull guard but Silva won't allow it.
Silva wants to get back to striking at distance but Lopez won't allow it.
Silva trying to stall but Lopez improves his position.
Good body shot from Silva.
Silva tries to pull guard but Lopez won't allow it.
Lopez lands a left hand.
Silva wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Lopez has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Silva is trying to keep an underhook but Lopez manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Silva tries to kick Lopez off but Lopez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Silva is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lopez moves to take his opponent's back.

Lopez is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silva trying to control the hands but Lopez won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to escape the position.

Lopez is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Silva is defending well though. Lopez let's go of the attempt for now.
Silva might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Lopez has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Silva has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Silva looking very determined here, making life difficult for Lopez.

Silva is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez closes the distance but Silva moves to the side

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch.
Lopez lands with a short shot to the head.
Nice body punch from Silva.
Silva tries to stall but Lopez uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Silva tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lopez smiles and moves away.
Silva misses with a double jab.

Lopez has Silva up against the cage in a clinch.

Lopez ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Lopez no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Lopez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Lopez manages to escape and get back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silva tries to clinch up.
Silva misses with a body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lopez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva keeps the fight on the outside.
Silva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lopez misses with the combination.

Silva shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Silva was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Silva punishing his opponent with strikes.
Silva avoids the attempt from Lopez to control.
Lopez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Silva kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Lopez gets back to half guard.
Lopez flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Javier Lopez has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Lopez tries to kick Silva off but Silva keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Silva working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Lopez trying to hold on to Silva's head to control him but Silva postures up.
Silva missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Silva throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Silva is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Silva wants to clinch.
Silva looks to score with a jab to the body but Lopez is just out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Lopez closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Lopez lands in his opponent's guard.
Lopez trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Javier Lopez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lopez 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Javier Lopez!