PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Adriano Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rex Ruger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Silva
vs
Ruger

176 cm
27
135 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

169 cm
25
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Adriano Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rex Ruger!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Edson Gomes and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva stuffs the takedown.

Ruger feints and as Silva raises his hands in defense, Ruger changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Silva has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Ruger has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Ruger is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Silva gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Ruger has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Silva clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva trying to get back to his feet but Ruger is in full control for now.
Silva manages to reverse the position and now he's in Ruger's guard. Nice work there by Silva.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ruger wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruger working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Silva.
Ruger 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 stands up from Ruger's guard - Silva perhaps looking for a knockout.
Ruger shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Silva but Silva pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Adriano Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rex Ruger.
Silva throws a sloppy head kick and Ruger moves out of range easily.
Ruger shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Silva defends it nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Silva misses the target.
Ruger looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Silva is fending him off so far but Ruger persists. Nope, Silva circles away and we're back to standing.
Silva throws a combination. Ruger tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Ruger misses.
Ruger shoots in looking for a takedown. Silva tries to sprawl out of it but Ruger 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.
Ruger tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Silva swivels and escapes.
Silva buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ruger has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Silva.
Ruger has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ruger fails with a takedown attempt.
Silva throws a big counter combination but Ruger scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Ruger feints and as Silva raises his hands in defense, Ruger changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Silva is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Ruger presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Silva has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Ruger blocks it.
Silva is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Ruger is looking to take this one to the mat.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.

Ruger has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Silva regains guard immediately.

Silva looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ruger postures up in Silva's guard and throws a big left but Silva blocks it.
Silva working a defensive guard here.
Silva working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ruger.
Ruger trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to stand and escape but Ruger is having none of it.
Ruger wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Silva is adopting a defensive guard.
Ruger connects with a couple of short punches.
Ruger works over Silva with some ground and pound from guard.
Ruger postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Silva can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ruger controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adriano Silva dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Silva throws an overhand right that lands on Ruger's shoulder, as Ruger tries to avoid the shot.
Adriano Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ruger 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.
Adriano Silva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ruger lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Silva looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Ruger with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ruger throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.

Silva manages to escape and get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruger shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Silva pinned against the cage. Silva gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Ruger closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Silva kicks Ruger off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva lands with a thumping leg kick.
Silva fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Silva really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Ruger shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Silva napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Ruger postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Silva takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Silva is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
You can see the frustration on Silva's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Silva sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruger missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Silva works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ruger postures up and lands a big shot to Silva's brow.
Silva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silva avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Silva wants to sweep here but Ruger controlling him for the moment.
Ruger distracts Silva with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ruger is looking to work some ground and pound but Silva has wrist control.
Ruger makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ruger works over Silva with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruger throws an elbow that misses. Silva uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ruger's guard. Nice move by Silva!

Silva is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ruger can do to turn this around?
Silva is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Ruger 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 trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ruger seems keen to control Silva's posture.
Ruger wants to get back to his feet but Silva is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ruger can't keep his opponent in guard - Silva advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ruger has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ruger is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Silva is trying to control the action in half guard but Ruger is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ruger is trying to stand back up but Silva is controlling him
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ruger fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Silva avoids it really well and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adriano Silva dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Silva shoots in but no luck this time.
Ruger scores with a jab to the jaw.
A slow jab from Ruger misses its intended target.
Nice straight punches there by Ruger. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Ruger.
Silva slaps away a takedown attempt from Ruger, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ruger slips a jab and a cross from Silva.
Ruger fails with a takedown attempt.
It looked like Silva wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ruger with a poor takedown
and Silva counters with a nice uppercut.
Adriano Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rex Ruger.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab, jab by Silva - just one landing.
Ruger gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Silva counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ruger shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Silva as he jumps to the side.
Ruger takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Adriano Silva is winning the standup battle so far.
Ruger scores with the left hand. Silva knows he should have avoided that one.
Silva throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ruger.
Silva just misses with a punch to the body.
Ruger takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Silva lands with a hook. Ruger tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Silva is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Ruger fails with the takedown
and Silva counters with a nice uppercut.

Ruger throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Silva was covering up waiting for the punch and Ruger finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Ruger throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruger connects with a couple of short punches.
Ruger stands up over Silva, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silva is adopting a defensive guard.
Silva continues to stall.
Ruger must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ruger looking to sit in guard and control but Silva gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruger is looking to stand back up but Silva counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Ruger.
Ruger tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Ruger preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Ruger is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ruger is trying to control but can't.
Ruger pushes Silva off looking to stand but Silva dives back in and keeps control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Silva slaps away a takedown attempt from Ruger, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Ruger darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Silva makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

And that's the end of the fight!
Adriano Silva showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Silva has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27

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