PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ben Groove (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timo Silakka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Ben Groove has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Groove
vs
Silakka

185 cm
18
175 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

181 cm
20
181 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ben Groove!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Timo Silakka!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Winston Howard and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silakka changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Groove looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Groove wants to control but Silakka postures up.
Silakka tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Groove can't do much from the bottom here.
Silakka lands a decent elbow from side control.
Groove is trying to control Silakka's posture but Silakka avoids it.
Groove is not content to let Silakka control the position.
Groove is trying to control Silakka's posture but Silakka avoids it.
Silakka has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Silakka trying to control the action but Groove is working from the bottom.
Silakka scores with punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groove defending against the ground and pound.
Silakka tries to advance to mount but can't.
Silakka looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Groove is avoiding damage well.
Silakka throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Groove works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Silakka wants to control but Groove is keeping him busy.
Silakka is stalling here. Groove is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Silakka seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Groove has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Silakka tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Silakka is pushing Groove's head away, looking to escape. Groove manages to hold on to the position though.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Groove misses with a takedown
and Silakka counters with a thumping low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Groove ducks under a wild hook from Silakka.
Groove misses with a two punch combination.

Silakka scores with a takedown into Groove's guard.
Silakka working some strikes from top position.
Silakka with a flurry of punches that miss.
Silakka wants to pass the guard but Groove is keeping the position.
Silakka looks gassed!
Silakka throws and elbow that misses. Groove uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Silakka's guard. Nice move by Groove!
Groove trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Silakka keeping full guard, as Groove tries to pass.
Silakka trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Silakka escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Groove gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Silakka is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Groove is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Silakka's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Silakka's back!
Groove controlling well, preventing Silakka from escaping the position.
Groove is trying to stick to Silakka's back but Silakka is turning into Groove. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Groove's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Silakka.
Silakka is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Silakka forces his way into half guard.
Silakka is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Silakka is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Silakka stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silakka wants to pass the guard but Groove is defending well.
Silakka missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Silakka wants to take a breather but Groove is having none of it.
Groove regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Silakka.
Silakka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Groove is keeping the position for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silakka with a flurry of punches that miss.
Silakka forces his way into half guard.
Silakka wants to take a breather but Groove is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timo Silakka dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Groove with a lazy takedown attempt

and Silakka holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Silakka has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Groove regains guard immediately.
Silakka connects with a couple of short punches.

Groove throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Silakka throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Silakka won't allow Groove to sweep him here.
Silakka trying to control the position from guard on top but Groove is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Groove preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Silakka connects with a couple of short punches.
Silakka working some strikes from top position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silakka tries to free his leg and advance position but Groove is retaining full guard.
Silakka is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groove is trying to control the position but Silakka postures up.
Silakka passes Groove's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Groove is trying to stand up here but Silakka is controlling him well.
Groove is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Groove is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Silakka's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Silakka's back!
Will Groove go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Groove is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Silakka has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Groove working for a choke but Silakka is defending well.
Silakka prevents Groove from getting a body triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Silakka right now.
Silakka prevents Groove from getting a body triangle.
Groove is punishing Silakka with strikes - can he finish him?!
Silakka is trying to stand back up.

Groove patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Groove is hanging on to Silakka's back as he tries to escape.
Silakka looking very determined here, making life difficult for Groove.
Groove is trying to stick to Silakka's back but Silakka is turning into Groove. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Groove's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Silakka.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Groove keeping moving, preventing Silakka from controlling successfully.
Silakka might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Groove kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Silakka thows a big elbow that misses.
Silakka stopping the sweep attempt from Groove.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Groove wants to clinch but Silakka slips to the side
and Silakka counters with a solid body kick.
Groove throws a head kick that misses
and Silakka counters with a nice uppercut.
Groove uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Silakka.
Ben Groove is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Groove closes the distance looking to clinch

and Silakka counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Silakka.

Silakka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Groove closes the distance but Silakka moves to the side

and Silakka counters with a single leg into guard. Groove didn't expect that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silakka passes Groove's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Silakka working Groove over with strikes.
Timo Silakka has got the better of the ground game so far.
Silakka trying to pass the guard but Groove defending well.

Silakka is working for a kimura but Groove is defending it quite comfortably.
Silakka thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Silakka stops Groove from getting back to his feet.
Silakka sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Groove defending well though.
Silakka trying to control from half guard but Groove is working away.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Silakka in particular looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timo Silakka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Groove fails with the takedown
and Silakka counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Groove throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Silakka looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Groove!
Silakka has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Groove's face.
Silakka lands a big elbow.
Silakka connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Silakka can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Groove is looking to escape.
Silakka thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silakka can't control as he wanted to and Groove manages to get the fight back to his half guard.

Silakka is looking for a kimura here.
Silakka takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silakka takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Silakka is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Silakka decides to stand up.
A lazy left from Silakka finds it's target.
Silakka darts in trying to clinch

so Groove counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Groove not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Silakka tries to strike from the bottom.
Silakka tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Groove wants to pass the guard but Silakka is keeping the position.
Groove stopping the sweep attempt from Silakka.
Groove wants to pass the guard but Silakka is keeping the position.
Silakka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Silakka has a closed guard, preventing Groove from standing up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Groove scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Groove has his takedown stuffed

and Silakka counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Groove!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silakka landing punches.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Silakka cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Groove is rocked!
Silakka lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Groove hang on?
Oh Groove is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silakka pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Silakka putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Silakka working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Silakka is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Groove is surviving well by controlling Silakka's body position as best he can.

Silakka goes for an armbar but Groove turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Groove.
Silakka trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Silakka is on top in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Silakka with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silakka drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Silakka jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Silakka lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Silakka drops back, looking for a kneebar! Groove looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Groove looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Groove!
Silakka gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Silakka is staying active underneath Groove, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Silakka connecting with a few gentle strikes.
Silakka tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Groove seems to have got his legs back now.
Silakka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Silakka is pressing down on Groove's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Silakka trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Groove gets to his feet. Silakka looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Ben Groove has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Silakka has Groove up against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Timo Silakka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Silakka has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Timo Silakka!