PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zina Velasquez (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?

Silva
vs
Velasquez

188 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
209 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zina Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Leandro Rodrigues and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva shoots in and drives through. Velasquez sprawls well.
Silva swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Velasquez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Silva dives in and grabs Velasquez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Velasquez pushes down on Silva's head and hops out.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Velasquez as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Velasquez lands a nice looking body kick.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Silva takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Velasquez tries to clinch up but Silva circles away and keeps his distance.

Velasquez moves into range and clinches up with Silva.
Velasquez with a knee to the head.

It looks like Thiago Silva has been cut.
Silva prevents the takedown attempt.
Velasquez lands a nice knee to the body.

Velasquez ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Velasquez no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Silva stops Velasquez from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Velasquez pushes Silva off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Velasquez has closed the distance and engaged Silva in a clinch.
Velasquez is pressed up against the cage. Silva has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Velasquez down to the mat. Velasquez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Silva swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Silva steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Velasquez. That one must have hurt.
Velasquez wants to clinch up but Silva keeps it at a distance.
Velasquez throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Silva's head.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Velasquez clinches up with Silva and pushes him back against the cage.
Silva takes an elbow to the temple.
Velasquez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Velasquez throws an elbow but it misses.
Velasquez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Silva blocks it with crossed arms.

Silva tightens his grip and picks Velasquez up, before dumping him to the ground. Velasquez manages to land in guard.
Silva missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Velasquez wants to stand and escape but Silva is having none of it.
Silva throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Velasquez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez keeping full guard, as Silva tries to pass.
Silva makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Velasquez is retaining full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Velasquez stuffs the takedown.
Velasquez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Velasquez wants it to stay on the feet.
Silva fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Velasquez avoids it really well and circles away.
Silva throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Silva fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Some wild striking there from Silva.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Velasquez as Silva shoots in.
Silva misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but Velasquez shows good takedown defense.
Velasquez lands a nice looking kick to the body. Silva takes a step back to recover.
Silva swinging wilding here.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
Silva lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Velasquez circles away quickly and effectively.
Silva misses with a few strikes there.
Velasquez tries to clinch but Silva is having none of it.

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.
Silva tries to bum rush Velasquez with a series of wild strikes but Velasquez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Velasquez moves into the clinch.

Silva gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Silva looking to pass the guard.
Velasquez wants to stand and escape but Silva is having none of it.
Silva advances to half guard.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Velasquez is defending well.
Silva is working hard here to advance position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva is looking to pass Velasquez's guard but actually Velasquez recovers to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zina Velasquez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thiago Silva's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Silva closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Velasquez to the mat! Velasquez manages to get full guard.

Velasquez manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Silva will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Silva throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Velasquez.
Velasquez tries to clinch but Silva moves out of range.
Silva shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Velasquez pinned against the cage. Velasquez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Velasquez closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Velasquez landing knees to the head.

Silva wants the takedown. Velasquez is fighting it off but Silva persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Velasquez's guard against the cage.
Silva forces his way into half guard.
Silva throwing shots but Velasquez is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva trying to mount his opponent but Velasquez defends it.

Velasquez kicks off Silva and gets to his feet.
Silva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Velasquez as Silva shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Velasquez slaps away a takedown attempt from Silva, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Horrible takedown by Silva or perhaps it was just good defense by Velasquez which made him look bad.
Silva will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but Velasquez shows good takedown defense.
Silva lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Velasquez circles away quickly and effectively.
Some wild striking there from Silva.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Velasquez is fending him off so far but Silva persists. Nope, Velasquez circles away and we're back to standing.
Velasquez tries to clinch up.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
A slapping body kick lands there for Velasquez.
Silva fails to land with a series of punches.
Velasquez is looking to clinch but Silva is avoiding it.
Thiago Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Silva throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Velasquez throws a nice head kick!
Velasquez avoids a punch combination nicely.
A punch combination from Silva misses.
Silva throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Velasquez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Silva drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Silva drops down looking for an ankle pick but Velasquez pulls his leg out and moves away.
Velasquez wants to clinch up but Silva keeps it at a distance.
A combination from Silva does no damage.
Silva closes the distance and clinches up with Velasquez, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes Velasquez against the cage but Velasquez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Silva misses with the combination.
Silva closes the distance looking to clinch

and Velasquez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Velasquez.
Silva has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Velasquez avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Velasquez pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Velasquez jumps guard and drags Silva to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Velasquez keeping full guard, as Silva tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva stops Velasquez from standing up.
Silva passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Velasquez stops Silva from passing to mount.
Velasquez avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Silva.
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.
Check out the look on Silva's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Zina Velasquez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Thiago Silva's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Silva fails with the takedown.
Silva swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Velasquez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Velasquez connects with a knee to the head.
Velasquez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Silva.

Velasquez decides to pull guard.
Velasquez wants to stand and escape but Silva is having none of it.
Silva passes Velasquez's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Velasquez pushes Silva off and gets back to his feet.
Velasquez slaps away a takedown attempt from Silva, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva misses with a double jab

and Velasquez counters by moving into the clinch.
Silva is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Velasquez gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Velasquez is trying to maintain a safe position but Silva gets an underhook and turns Velasquez into the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva is working for takedown but Velasquez is calmly controlling the position for now.
Knees to the body from Velasquez.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Silva is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Velasquez gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez stops a takedown attempt from Silva.
Velasquez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Silva.
Silva goes for a takedown in the clinch but Velasquez prevents it.
Silva has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Velasquez avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Silva is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Velasquez pulls guard successfully.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Silva stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Velasquez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Silva is working Velasquez over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Velasquez wants to stand up but Silva is controlling him.
Silva loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Silva stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Velasquez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Silva with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Silva throws a left and a right that both miss

and Velasquez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Silva is working for takedown but Velasquez is calmly controlling the position for now.
Velasquez stops a takedown attempt from Silva.
Silva is working for takedown but Velasquez is calmly controlling the position for now.
Silva looking for a takedown.
Velasquez unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Silva gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Silva stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Velasquez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Silva throwing strikes from guard but Velasquez blocks nicely.
Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Silva in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Velasquez is retaining full guard.
Silva is looking to work some ground and pound but Velasquez has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva looking to pass the guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Velasquez moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Silva misses with a double jab.
Silva throws a left and a right that both miss
and Velasquez counters with a big head kick but Silva shrugs it off.

Silva closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Velasquez did well to prevent Silva getting side control.

Velasquez makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Silva with a lazy takedown attempt
and Velasquez counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Velasquez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Silva throws a combination that misses
and Velasquez counters with a head kick.

Velasquez drives through and clinches with Silva against the cage.
Silva wants a takedown.
Velasquez prevents a takedown attempt there.
Velasquez slows down the pace here.
Silva has Velasquez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Velasquez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez lands a nice knee to the body.
Velasquez looking to slow down the pace here.
Silva drops down looking for an ankle pick but Velasquez pulls his leg out and moves away.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Velasquez as he avoids it easily.
Silva swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Velasquez counters with a head kick. That will keep Silva thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Silva misses with a combination

and Velasquez counters by moving into the clinch.
Zina Velasquez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Velasquez unloads a knee to the mid-section. Silva lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Velasquez stalling in the clinch but Silva improves position.
Silva can't get the takedown.
Velasquez prevents a takedown attempt there.
Silva drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Velasquez stops a takedown attempt from Silva.
Thiago Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Velasquez successfully pulls guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Velasquez keeping full guard, as Silva tries to pass.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zina Velasquez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Velasquez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zina Velasquez!