PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Keith Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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?

Smith
vs
Silva

183 cm
22
193 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
19
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Keith Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Alexander Silva!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Glass and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Smith duly obliges.
Smith connects with a right hand. Silva shakes it off.

Smith has closed the distance and engaged Silva in a clinch.

Smith manages to break the clinch.

Silva drives through with a takedown into guard.
Silva is stalling in the full guard.
Smith wants to stand and escape but Silva is having none of it.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva looking to sit in guard and control but Smith gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Silva looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Smith passes into half guard.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silva keeps working.
Silva trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Smith content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith wants to take a breather but Silva is having none of it.
Smith controlling the pace.
Smith 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.
Smith prevents Silva from improving his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Silva pushes him off.
No joy there for Smith, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Silva looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Smith keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A right-left combo lands from Smith.
Silva looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Keith Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva throws a nice looking combination but Smith bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Silva shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Silva showed some decent athleticism there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Silva stops Smith from getting back to his feet.
Silva is keen to just control but Smith is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Keith Smith will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Silva misses with a combination

and Smith counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Silva tries to strike from the bottom.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Silva looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.
Smith looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith controls from within his opponent's guard.
Silva throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Silva is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Silva is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith postures up.
Smith sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Silva thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Silva has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smith manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Silva not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Silva is one step ahead there.
Silva throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smith works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Smith dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Silva scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Smith moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Silva is working Smith over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Silva's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Smith is trying to keep Silva in close.
Smith is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Silva is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Silva stands and throws Smith's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Silva throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Smith tries to bench press Silva off him but Silva keeps the position.

Silva looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Smith is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Smith is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Silva asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Smith tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Silva wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Smith is looking to get back to his feet here but Silva is keeping cool and he's managed to take Smith's back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Smith.
Smith is keeping busy.
Silva throwing sloppy strikes.
Smith looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Silva missing with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Silva patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Silva avoiding Smith 's attempts to control his hands.
Smith trying to get back to his feet but Silva is in full control for now.
Alexander Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Keith Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Smith.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Smith 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keith Smith!