PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Richard Silva (ranked 2428 p4p, 228 weight class) and Tomomi Tsuruta (ranked 4785 p4p, 399 weight class). Silva comes to the cage accompanied by Architects-Doomsday. Richard Silva could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Tomomi Tsuruta's chin.

Silva
vs
Tsuruta

193 cm
32
227 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

192 cm
32
255 lbs
19 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Richard Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tomomi Tsuruta!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Radbod Blank and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tsuruta wants to clinch.
Tsuruta defending well as Silva loads up on a big left hand.
Silva misses with a wild combination.
Tsuruta showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Silva.
Tsuruta throws a jab but it's blocked by Silva.
Tsuruta ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tsuruta misses with a straight right.
Tsuruta stuns Silva with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Tsuruta's coach down at Grounders Foundation was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Tsuruta's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Tsuruta closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Silva to the mat! Silva manages to get full guard.
Tsuruta's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tsuruta doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tsuruta manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Silva working a defensive guard but Tsuruta manages to pass into side control anyway.
Silva gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Tsuruta wants to pass to mount but Silva is defending the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tsuruta uses his free foot to push down on Silva's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Silva.
Silva tries to hold on but Tsuruta postures up.
Silva 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.
Tsuruta wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silva keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva works his way to full guard. Good work.
Silva can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Tsuruta controls the pace.
Tsuruta stopping the sweep attempt from Silva.
Tsuruta scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Silva wants to sweep here but Tsuruta controlling him for the moment.
Tsuruta slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Silva controls Tsuruta momentarily but Tsuruta frees himself.

Silva is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tsuruta is aware though and is defending well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tsuruta works over Silva with some ground and pound from guard.
Tsuruta lands a couple of digs.
Tsuruta makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Tsuruta is in close to Silva's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Tsuruta from controlling successfully.
Tsuruta stays in close to Silva's body and controls the position.
Tsuruta lands a couple of digs.
Tsuruta controlling from the top position.

Silva working for a triangle but Tsuruta defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva keeping full guard, as Tsuruta tries to pass.
Tsuruta is in close to Silva's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Tsuruta wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.

Silva is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tsuruta defends well.
Tsuruta content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tsuruta sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Silva's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomomi Tsuruta dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tsuruta blocks a head kick by Silva.
Tsuruta looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Silva moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

It looks like Richard Silva has been cut.
A big right from Tsuruta misses.
Good work by Tsuruta as he checks the leg kick.
Silva tries a head kick but it misses.
Silva takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Tsuruta cracks Silva with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Tsuruta keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tsuruta tries to counter with a clinch but Silva shakes him off and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tsuruta steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Silva.
Tsuruta stuffs the takedown.
Tsuruta takes one to the chin there.
Tsuruta throws a right hand that misses
and Silva counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tsuruta scores with a jab.
Tsuruta lunges at Silva with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Silva's hand.
Tomomi Tsuruta seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Silva lands a nice hook to Tsuruta's body. Tsuruta takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Tsuruta misses with a wild body shot.
Tsuruta connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Tsuruta uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Silva.
Tsuruta with the counter takedown but Silva avoids it easily.

Tsuruta cracks Silva with a big right hand and Silva goes down!

Silva is rocked!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Silva controls Tsuruta momentarily but Tsuruta frees himself.
Oh Silva is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Tsuruta sitting in guard here, content to control.
Silva seems to have got his legs back now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tsuruta trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tsuruta showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Tsuruta passes Silva's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Silva is staying active underneath Tsuruta, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Silva taking some punishment here, with Tsuruta in his half guard.
Silva gets full guard.
Silva working a defensive guard but Tsuruta passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva has his hands clasped together around Tsuruta's back. He's all about the action.
Tsuruta is looking to take a break and control but Silva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Tsuruta is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Silva is trying to get back to full guard.
Tsuruta wants to pass the guard but Silva is defending well.
Tsuruta is thwarting Silva's attempts to control the position.
Silva is staying active underneath Tsuruta, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Silva won't allow Tsuruta to pass to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tsuruta lands strikes from half guard.
Tsuruta passes the guard and advances to mount!
Silva tries to hold on but Tsuruta postures up.
Tsuruta landing punches.
Tsuruta punishing his opponent with strikes.

Richard Silva's cut is getting worse.
Silva is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Tsuruta cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Tsuruta trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Tsuruta lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Silva sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomomi Tsuruta showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Richard Silva's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Tsuruta lands a nice looking body shot.
Tsuruta connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Richard Silva's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Tsuruta throws a monster overhand right that drops Silva! Tsuruta follows up with more strikes from mount and the fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tomomi Tsuruta!
A relieved looking Tomomi Tsuruta thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.