PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Acelino Popo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Acelino Popo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Silva
vs
Popo

185 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Juggernaut Fuel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anderson Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Acelino Popo!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Emerson Jorge and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Popo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Popo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Silva. No joy for Popo on that attempt.
Silva darts in trying to clinch

and Popo counters by moving into the clinch.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Popo is blocking nicely.
Silva lands a nice knee to the body.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva missing with knees to the body.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva prevents Popo from breaking the clinch.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Popo working aggressively here.
Knees to the body from Silva.
A knee to the head by Silva.

It looks like Acelino Popo has been cut.
Popo trying to stall but Silva improves his position.
Popo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Popo looks gassed!
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Popo's face.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva is pressed up against the cage. Popo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Silva down to the mat. Silva avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Popo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Silva but Silva pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Anderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Acelino Popo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva clinches but Popo breaks the clinch

and Popo counters by clinching up.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Popo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Silva using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Silva using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Popo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Silva landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Silva gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Popo.
A knee to the head by Silva.
Popo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Silva obliges.
Silva lands a knee to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Popo.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Popo blocks it.
Popo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva connects with a knee to the head.
Silva crunches a lovely knee into Popo's ribcage.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Popo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Popo is trying to maintain a safe position but Silva gets an underhook and turns Popo into the cage.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Popo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Popo leaning against his opponent.
A right handed body shot lands from Popo.
Popo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Silva has him pressed against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Silva obliges.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Popo's face.
Silva crunches a lovely knee into Popo's ribcage.
Popo is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Popo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Silva gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Popo blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva misses with a knee strike.

Popo lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Popo slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Popo connects with a nice short shot to Silva's temple.
Silva blocking the ground and pound attempt from Popo.
Popo prevents Silva from standing back up.

Popo stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Silva to get to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Popo tries to clinch but Silva moves away

and Silva counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Popo lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Silva landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Popo jumps into guard, dragging Silva to the mat.
Popo has a closed guard, preventing Silva from standing up.

Popo wriggles free and stands up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Popo moves in looking to clinch but Silva pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Silva dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Acelino Popo's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Popo closes the distance and clinches up with Silva, looking for a takedown. Popo pushes Silva against the cage but Silva circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Silva tries to clinch up but Popo circles away and keeps his distance.

Popo scores with a takedown into Silva's guard.
Silva keeping full guard, as Popo tries to pass.
Popo won't allow Silva to get back to his feet.
Popo trying to move into half guard but instead Silva has managed to sweep!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to stand but Popo is controlling from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Popo working a defensive guard but Silva manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Popo is trying to control Silva's posture but Silva avoids it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Popo looks to throw the jab but Silva is out of range.
Silva tries to clinch but Popo is having none of it.
Silva tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Popo counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Popo.
A knee to the head by Silva.
Silva landing knees to the head.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Popo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Still in the clinch, Popo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Silva misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popo goes for a takedown attempt but Silva pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Anderson Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Popo fails with a takedown attempt.
Anderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Acelino Popo.

Popo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Silva!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Popo throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popo wants to control the pace but Silva is squirming around nicely.
Popo throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Popo looking to ground and pound but Silva is blocking nicely.
Silva really wants to buck Popo off and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Acelino Popo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Acelino Popo's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

No luck for Popo with that takedown attempt.

Popo moves into the clinch.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Popo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Popo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Silva is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Anderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Acelino Popo.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Silva obliges.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Silva working Popo over with knees to the body.
Silva prevents a takedown attempt there.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Popo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Popo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Popo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Popo's face.
Popo misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva lands a knee to the head.
Popo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Popo blocks with his arms.
Popo throws a head punch that misses.
Knees in the clinch landing for Silva.
Silva prevents a takedown attempt there.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Knees in the clinch landing for Silva.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Popo misses with a body punch.
Anderson Silva has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Silva with a knee to the head.
Silva missing with knees to the body.
Silva prevents the takedown attempt.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Popo.
Silva connects with a knee to the head.
Silva landing knees to the head.

Popo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Popo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Silva avoids it really well and circles away.
Popo thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's two 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 wants to clinch but Popo slips to the side
and Popo counters with a stiff right hand.
A head kick by Popo misses

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch.
Popo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Popo blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva with a knee to the head.
Popo pressing his opponent against the cage.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Popo is working for takedown but Silva is calmly controlling the position for now.
Popo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Silva.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Popo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Popo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Popo can't break the clinch.
Popo tries to break the clinch but Silva is controlling the position.
Silva unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Silva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Popo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Knees in the clinch landing for Silva.
Popo tries to pull guard but Silva holds him up against the cage and eventually Popo drops back down to his feet.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Silva utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Popo is looking to break free of the clinch but Silva has double underhooks.

Popo gets control of Silva's arms and successfully pulls guard. Popo will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Popo controls Silva momentarily but Silva frees himself.
Silva wants to stand but Popo is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Popo is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Popo blocks it with crossed arms.
Still in the clinch, Popo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Popo jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Silva walks away with a smile on his face. Popo gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Silva gets a clinch.
A knee to the head by Silva.
Popo is trying to break the clinch but Silva has him pressed against the cage.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Popo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anderson Silva showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Silva 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28

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