PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between James Riley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Soa Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for James Riley has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Riley
vs
Silva

175 cm
22
158 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

177 cm
27
157 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James Riley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Soa Silva!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riley staying out of range there.
Silva wants to clinch but Riley slips to the side
and Riley counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Riley looks to land a left hand but Silva moved out of range nicely.
Silva looks to land a right hand but Riley moved out of range.
Riley tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Silva was well out of range. Poor timing from Riley.
Silva slips under a jab from Riley.
Silva throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Riley to counter with a crisp jab.
Silva misses with an uppercut
and Riley counters with a three punch combo that has Silva backing up. Silva nods at Riley to acknowledge the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riley falls off balance throwing a combination
and Silva counters with a stiff right hand.
Nice defenses there by Silva.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley ducks under a wild hook from Silva.
Riley blocks a jab.
Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.
Soa Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Riley misses.
Silva throws a right hand that misses
enabling Riley to counter with a crisp jab.
Silva has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Silva there as he acknowledges the shot.
Silva closes the distance but Riley moves to the side
and Riley counters with a straight right hand.
Silva throws a combination that misses
and Riley counters with a three punch combo that has Silva backing up. Silva nods at Riley to acknowledge the strikes.
Silva takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva has closed the distance and engaged Riley in a clinch.
Silva doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Riley blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Silva tries a body shot but Riley blocks it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silva lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Riley backwards.
Silva prevents Riley from breaking the clinch.
Riley is looking to break free of the clinch but Silva has double underhooks.
Riley blocking some punches.
Riley blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Silva misses with a hook to the ribs.
Silva misses with the head strike.
Riley blocking some punches.
Riley blocking some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Riley uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Silva.
Silva listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Riley is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Silva can do to turn this around?
Silva throws a lazy uppercut
and Riley counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A looping hook to the body misses from Riley. Silva does a little dance to reset his feet.

Silva instigates a clinch.
Riley blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Riley prevents a body shot from Silva.
A head punch on the inside from Silva fails to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riley blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Riley breaks from the clinch.
Riley moves into range and connects with a jab.
Silva misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva has Riley up against the ropes in a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Riley.
Riley definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Riley has had enough of the clinch but Silva keeps him there for the moment.
Silva fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Riley blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Silva misses with a short punch on the inside.
Riley blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Riley blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Silva tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Riley blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Riley wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Silva has him pressed against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riley can't break the clinch.
Silva lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Riley backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Silva fails to land.
Riley wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Silva misses with the head strike.
Silva misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Silva lands a left hand.
Silva goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Silva lands a right hand that snaps the head of Riley backwards.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Riley's efforts to push away.
Silva misses with a short punch on the inside.
Riley working hard to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Soa Silva 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!

Silva misses with a hook
and Riley counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Silva throws a right and a left that both miss.
Riley throws out a loose jab but Silva uses good head movement to avoid it.
Silva misses with a left hand
and Riley counters with a series of strikes. Silva will be more careful next time no doubt.
Riley slips under a jab.
Silva throws a right hand that misses
and Riley counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Silva throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Riley counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riley scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A big left from Silva misses.

Silva has Riley up against the ropes in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Silva can't find room to land a body shot as Riley controls the action.
Riley blocking some punches.
Silva has a couple of punches blocked by Riley.
Silva fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Silva misses with a punch on the inside.
Silva scores with a shoulder strike.
Silva misses with a hook from the clinch.

Riley breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Silva takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Silva looks to clinch
and Riley counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a shot from downtown. Riley moves away and avoids it.
The fighters circling - Silva throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Riley.
Silva swings widly with a right hand
and Riley counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sloppy strikes from Riley. Those never looked like landing.
Riley jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Riley is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Silva lands with a straight right. Riley didn't see that one coming.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Riley staying out of range there.
Riley walks into a left hand.
Riley moves forwards but Silva connects with a nice, crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Riley clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Riley throws a shot to the body.
Silva misses with a hook.
Riley misses with a body shot.

Silva moves into the clinch.
Silva lands with a light punch inside.
Riley is trying to break the clinch but Silva is controlling him.
Riley has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Soa Silva seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Riley wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Riley.
Silva lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Silva makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Riley working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Riley wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Silva working aggressively here.
Riley is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Riley working hard to break the clinch.
Riley working hard to break the clinch.
Silva misses with a punch on the inside.
Silva tries to throw a body punch but Riley avoids it by throwing Silva back against the ropes.
Silva misses with a hook to the ribs.
Silva has a couple of punches blocked by Riley.
Silva swings wildly with an uppercut but Riley uses good head movement to avoid it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Riley is trying to break free.

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.
Riley blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Silva misses with a hook to the ribs.
Silva fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Silva swings wildly with an uppercut but Riley uses good head movement to avoid it.
Riley blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Silva misses with a hook from the clinch.
Riley blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Silva lands with a light punch inside.
Silva keeps control of Riley as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Riley tries to break the clinch but Silva is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Soa Silva dominated that fourth round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Riley lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Silva throws an off balance right hand
and Riley counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Riley steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Silva.
Silva throws a right hand that misses
enabling Riley to counter with a crisp jab.

Silva fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Riley, pushing him back against the ropes.
Silva misses with the head strike.
Silva misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Riley wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Silva throws a punch but it's blocked by Riley.
Silva softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Silva misses with some punches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Riley wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Silva lands an uppercut.
Silva fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Silva swings wildly with an uppercut but Riley uses good head movement to avoid it.
Riley blocking some punches.
Riley blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Riley blocks an uppercut.
Silva fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Riley blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a head punch that misses.

Riley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Silva throws a lazy uppercut
and Riley counters with a straight right hand.
Silva has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Silva throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Riley counters with a straight right hand.
Silva darts in trying to clinch
and Riley connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Silva slips under a jab.
Silva waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Riley.
Riley misses with a straight right.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Soa Silva.
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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 48:48
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 47:48
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Soa Silva!
After the fight, Soa Silva was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.