PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alex Silva (ranked 1659 p4p, 79 weight class) and Bill Hanson (ranked 2247 p4p, 109 weight class). Hanson is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band- Mama's Fried Potatoes. Bill Hanson will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Silva
vs
Hanson

163 cm
28
135 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

178 cm
19
135 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Power Matrix Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alex Silva!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bill Hanson!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Ivan Kurochkin and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.

Silva changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hanson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Silva tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hanson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Silva. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Silva is chipping away with strikes.
Silva cracks Hanson with a big right hand but Hanson just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Silva working the ground and pound but Hanson is defending the strikes.
Silva throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Silva fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Sloppy strikes there by Silva.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hanson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Silva trying to control the position but Hanson is working away.
Silva advances to mount.
Silva has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanson blocking the ground and pound.
Silva sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Silva controlling from the full mount.
Hanson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Silva looking to ground and pound but Hanson is blocking nicely.
Silva controlling the position easily from mount.
Silva throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Hanson tries to lock up and control but Silva gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanson sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Hanson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Silva.
Silva works his way into full mount!
Hanson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hanson is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Silva with good strikes from the mount here!
Silva with shots to the head and body - Hanson looks very uncomfortable down there.
Silva tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Silva trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Silva sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Silva has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Hanson is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Silva locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Hanson is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Alex Silva!
Alex Silva retains his bantamweight title!