PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joao De Santo Cristo (ranked 26 p4p, 5 weight class) and Drei Silker (ranked 144 p4p, 18 weight class). De Santo Cristo comes to the cage accompanied by Que país é esse?. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

De Santo Cristo
vs
Silker

174 cm
35
175 lbs
27 - 20 - 1

183 cm
29
178 lbs
17 - 5 - 1

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing
Arcticus University: London

Aspire Clothing

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 27 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joao De Santo Cristo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 5 - 1, fighting out of New York, Drei Silker!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Steven Brown and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silker throws a leg kick which misses De Santo Cristo's front leg but catches the back leg as De Santo Cristo tries to avoid it.
Silker has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as De Santo Cristo is landing a low percentage of strikes.
De Santo Cristo displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
De Santo Cristo misses with a takedown attempt
and De Santo Cristo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A left lands for De Santo Cristo.
Silker lands with a shot to the body.
De Santo Cristo throws a leg kick but Silker checks it.
Silker tries to land a body kick

and De Santo Cristo counters with a shoot takedown. Silker fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
De Santo Cristo trying to control but Silker is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silker avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
De Santo Cristo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silker working a defensive guard here.
De Santo Cristo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
De Santo Cristo postures up.

Silker looking for a guillotine here but De Santo Cristo defends easily.
De Santo Cristo 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.
Silker avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Silker pulls De Santo Cristo in close to his closed guard and prevents De Santo Cristo from doing any damage or advancing position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
De Santo Cristo stopping the sweep attempt from Silker.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
De Santo Cristo is looking to chop away at Silker's legs.
De Santo Cristo bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Silker tries a head kick but it misses.
De Santo Cristo just misses with a punch to the body.
Drei Silker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Silker gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows De Santo Cristo to score an easy takedown into full guard.
De Santo Cristo throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
De Santo Cristo throws an elbow that misses. Silker uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in De Santo Cristo's guard. Nice move by Silker!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silker missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Silker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. De Santo Cristo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
De Santo Cristo pulls Silker in close to prevent any damage.
De Santo Cristo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
De Santo Cristo is trying to keep Silker in close.
De Santo Cristo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
De Santo Cristo has control of Silker's left arm, preventing Silker from doing any damage.
Silker missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

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.
Silker trying to control but De Santo Cristo is working from the bottom.
De Santo Cristo is trying to control the position but Silker postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by De Santo Cristo.
De Santo Cristo tries to clinch up but Silker circles away and keeps his distance.
De Santo Cristo throws a body shot but no joy.
De Santo Cristo takes one on the button.
Silker looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
De Santo Cristo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Silker avoids it really well and circles away.
Good standup being displayed there by Silker as he connects with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao De Santo Cristo dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

De Santo Cristo slips under a jab from Silker.
De Santo Cristo doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Silker counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Jab, jab by De Santo Cristo - just one landing.
Silker scores with a leg kick.
De Santo Cristo shoots in for a takedown but Silker shows good takedown defense.
De Santo Cristo misses with a wild body shot.
De Santo Cristo connects with a nice looking jab.
De Santo Cristo wants to clinch but Silker slips to the side
and Silker counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Silker scores with a crisp jab that stopped De Santo Cristo in his tracks.
Silker fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Nice body kick from Silker.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
De Santo Cristo on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Silker lands with a hook. De Santo Cristo tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Nice jab there from Silker.
De Santo Cristo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
De Santo Cristo closes the distance looking to clinch
and Silker cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Santo Cristo misses with an uppercut
and Silker counters with a nice low kick that buckles De Santo Cristo's knee momentarily.
De Santo Cristo throws a nice outside leg kick.
Silker walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. De Santo Cristo checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Silker throws a body shot but no joy.
Silker scores with a kick to the midsection.
De Santo Cristo tries to clinch up.
Silker throws out a counter right but De Santo Cristo avoids it with no problem.
Silker will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

De Santo Cristo is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Silker's half guard.
Nice strikes from De Santo Cristo there.
Silker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Silker taking some punishment here, with De Santo Cristo in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silker works his way to full guard. Good work.
De Santo Cristo postures up in Silker's guard and throws a big left but Silker blocks it.
De Santo Cristo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silker keeping moving, preventing De Santo Cristo from controlling successfully.
De Santo Cristo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
De Santo Cristo throwing strikes from guard but Silker blocks nicely.
Joao De Santo Cristo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
De Santo Cristo throws a strike but Silker rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

De Santo Cristo is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Santo Cristo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Silker is working De Santo Cristo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
De Santo Cristo wants to sweep but no luck.
Silker works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Silker is looking to take a break and control but De Santo Cristo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
De Santo Cristo trying to hold on to Silker's head to control him but Silker postures up.
De Santo Cristo has a hand on Silker's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Silker takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
De Santo Cristo wants to hold on but Silker pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silker takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
De Santo Cristo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Silker lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Silker throwing strikes here but De Santo Cristo is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Silker can't control as he wanted to and De Santo Cristo manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Silker stalling.
De Santo Cristo controlling the position well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Drei Silker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

De Santo Cristo doesn't manage to clinch there - Silker circles away.

De Santo Cristo closes the distance and clinches.
Silker misses with a punch on the inside.
De Santo Cristo goes for a takedown attempt but Silker pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

De Santo Cristo closes the distance and pushes Silker back into the cage.
De Santo Cristo struggles to land a body shot inside as Silker controls his hands.
Silker working aggressively here.
Silker is trying to pull guard but De Santo Cristo turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Silker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
De Santo Cristo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Silker misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Santo Cristo misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Silker.
I was talking to De Santo Cristo's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A right hand to the body from Silker.
Silker lands an uppercut.
De Santo Cristo works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
De Santo Cristo has a couple of punches blocked by Silker.
De Santo Cristo is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Santo Cristo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
De Santo Cristo lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Silker tries to pull guard but De Santo Cristo forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
De Santo Cristo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Silker tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Silker misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from De Santo Cristo.
De Santo Cristo gets through Silker's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Silker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with De Santo Cristo's elbow.
A right handed body shot lands from Silker.
De Santo Cristo misses with a hook from the clinch.
De Santo Cristo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Silker lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Silker lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Nice body punch from Silker - that landed with a thud.
Silker lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of De Santo Cristo backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Silker.
De Santo Cristo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Silker softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Silker has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
De Santo Cristo throws a punch but it's blocked by Silker.
Drei Silker seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Silker misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silker blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Silker misses with a punch on the inside.
De Santo Cristo lands with a right to the head.
Silker fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
De Santo Cristo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Silker working some nice short punches in the clinch.
De Santo Cristo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Silker swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Silker blocking some punches.
Silker fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Silker misses with a body punch.
Silker goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
De Santo Cristo scores with a shoulder strike.
Silker takes a shot to the head.
Silker misses with some punches.
Silker misses with a short punch on the inside.
Silker struggles to land a body shot inside as De Santo Cristo controls his hands.
Silker lands a hook that snaps the head of De Santo Cristo backwards.
Silker lands a right hand that snaps the head of De Santo Cristo backwards.
Nice body punch from De Santo Cristo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Santo Cristo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Silker's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
De Santo Cristo tries to throw a body punch but Silker avoids it by throwing De Santo Cristo back against the cage.
Silker makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A short right from De Santo Cristo.
De Santo Cristo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Silker on the inside.
De Santo Cristo can't find room to land a body shot as Silker controls the action.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
De Santo Cristo swings wildly with an uppercut but Silker uses good head movement to avoid it.
De Santo Cristo lands a shoulder strike.
A head punch on the inside from Silker fails to land.
Silker throws a head punch that misses.
De Santo Cristo throws a punch but it's blocked by Silker.
Silker gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from De Santo Cristo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joao De Santo Cristo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
De Santo Cristo throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silker misses with a body punch.
De Santo Cristo lands a body punch.
Silker misses with a short punch on the inside.
Silker misses with some punches.
De Santo Cristo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Silker blocks an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
De Santo Cristo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Silker's elbow.
De Santo Cristo is working Silker over against the cage.
Good body shot from De Santo Cristo.
De Santo Cristo pushes Silker back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Silker working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
De Santo Cristo lands with a light punch inside.
A head punch on the inside from De Santo Cristo fails to land.
Silker blocks a punch to the side of the head.
De Santo Cristo lands with a right to the head.
De Santo Cristo misses with some punches.
Silker goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Silker lands a left hand that snaps the head of De Santo Cristo backwards.
De Santo Cristo misses with a short punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Joao De Santo Cristo.
I think De Santo Cristo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Joao De Santo Cristo!
A relieved looking Joao De Santo Cristo thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.