PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wanderlei Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Apollo Creed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Silva
vs
Creed

180 cm
20
199 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

193 cm
21
207 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wanderlei Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Apollo Creed!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Wesley Smith and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick from Silva lands but Creed takes it in his stride.
Silva fails with the takedown.

Creed looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Silva has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Creed is working away from the top position though.

Creed decides to stand up.
Silva looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Creed is fending him off so far but Silva persists. Nope, Creed circles away and we're back to standing.

Creed closes the distance and clinches.
Silva is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Creed throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Creed pulls guard successfully.
Creed pulls Silva in close to his closed guard and prevents Silva from doing any damage or advancing position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Creed keeping full guard, as Silva tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Creed keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Creed bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Silva's guard.
Creed pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.
Silva is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Creed trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Silva is trying to keep Creed in close.
Creed controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Creed's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Creed trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Silva working a defensive guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Creed drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Silva tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Silva is in all sorts of trouble here.
Silva taking shots to the head.
Creed content just to control the position here.
Silva is breathing heavily.

Creed has hold of Silva's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Silva manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Creed won't let Silva get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Silva is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Creed trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Creed controlling the pace for now.
Silva is trying to escape the mount.
Silva in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Creed shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Silva is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Creed's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Creed's back!
Creed rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Silva trying to control from half guard but Creed is working away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Silva prevents Creed from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Creed is staying active underneath Silva, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Creed is trying to get back to full guard.
Creed gets full guard.
Creed controlling the position.
Creed trying to strike off his back.
Creed tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Creed is keeping the position.

Creed has his foot on Silva's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Silva works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Silva slips nicely into half guard.
Creed is refusing to be controlled, as Silva sits in half guard.
Silva is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Creed is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Creed is looking for a sweep. Silva is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Creed is trying to get back to full guard.
Silva is thwarting Creed's attempts to control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Silva fails with the takedown.

Creed shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Silva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Creed thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Creed stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Creed trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Silva is trying to control the position but Creed postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Creed pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apollo Creed 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! This is the final round!

Creed closes this distance looking for a takedown but Silva circles away.

Creed drives through with a takedown into guard.
Silva is trying to control the position but Creed postures up.
Silva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Creed trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva wants to sweep but no luck.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Creed pushing down on Silva's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva trying to hold on to Creed's head to control him but Creed postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Creed shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Creed showed some decent athleticism there.
Creed is trying to control the action in half guard but Silva is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Apollo Creed has got the better of the ground game so far.
Silva makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Silva.

Creed gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Creed counters with a shoot takedown. Silva fights it but they end up in guard.
Silva working a defensive guard here.
Silva can't keep his opponent in guard - Creed advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Silva landing small, sideways elbows.

Creed is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Creed tries to pass to full mount but Silva defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Creed stops Silva from getting back to his feet.

Silva looking for submissions off his back.
Creed seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Creed lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Still in half guard, Creed seems content to control.
Creed is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Silva is looking for a sweep. Creed is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Creed thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Creed is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Silva is defending against the submission attempts here by Creed.

And that's the end of the fight!
Apollo Creed comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Creed 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Apollo Creed!