PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jamie Varner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anderson Silva has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Silva
vs
Varner

188 cm
21
185 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

173 cm
20
175 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anderson Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jamie Varner!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Daniel Cesar and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Varner looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A jab from Silva finds it's way through Varner's defenses.
Silva throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Varner counters with a takedown into side control.
Silva is looking to reverse the position.
Silva seems a little lost for a moment, as Varner dominates the positioning.
Check out the look on Varner's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Varner has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Varner happy to just control the position for now.
Silva struggling a bit here.
Varner controls the position.
Varner working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varner is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva wants to get back to his feet but Varner is dominant here and he's now got Silva's back!
Silva's coaches at Animal House have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Varner misses with an elbow to the head.
Varner has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Silva's body.
You can see the frustration on Silva's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Silva covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Varner thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying to stand back up.
I really don't envy Silva right now.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Varner.
Varner is riding his opponent, not letting Silva buck him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varner misses with punches from the back.
Varner just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
It looks like Varner might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The referee is taking a good look at Silva as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Varner!
Silva trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Varner biding his time, looking for the opening.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Silva's corner calls for a 1-2. Silva obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Silva connects with the punch.
Silva fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Varner checks it well.
Varner takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Varner shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Silva's guard.
Varner trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Varner is proving a slippery customer.
Silva preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Varner with a flurry of punches that miss.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Varner is proving a slippery customer.
Varner 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Horrible takedown attempt by Varner or perhaps it was just good defense by Silva, which made it look bad.

Varner scores with a takedown into Silva's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Varner is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Silva pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Silva misses with a double jab

and Varner counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Silva is looking for a sweep.
Silva seems a little lost for a moment, as Varner dominates the positioning.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Varner working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Silva is trying to control Varner's posture but Varner avoids it.
Silva is trying to get back to half guard.
Varner in side control lands a decent elbow.
Silva is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
You can see the frustration on Silva's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Varner advances nicely into full mount.
Varner with shots to the head and body - Silva looks very uncomfortable down there.
Silva can't escape the position.
Silva wants to control but Varner is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Varner controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jamie Varner will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Silva tries to sprawl but Varner drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Silva is trying to control but can't.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Varner in particular looking to stall.
Silva is trying to stand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Varner perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva wants to improve his position but Varner is controlling well.
Varner takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

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

Silva gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Varner to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Varner showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Silva is trying to control the position but Varner postures up.
Anderson Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Varner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Varner avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Silva can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Varner controls the pace.

Silva escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Varner gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Varner is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Silva scores with a hook to the body. Varner takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Varner fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Silva sprawls well initially but Varner persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Silva missing with punches from the bottom.
Silva trying to hold on to Varner's head to control him but Varner postures up.
Varner controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Varner has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Silva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Silva is looking to escape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Varner with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jamie Varner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Varner 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jamie Varner!
An out of breath Jamie Varner thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.