PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Justin Levens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wanderley Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Levens
vs
Silva

190 cm
23
207 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
197 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Justin Levens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Wanderley Silva!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Reed Andrews and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silva scores with a takedown into Levens's guard.
Silva has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Levens is proving hard to escape from.
Levens trying to control the position here.
Silva postures up in Levens's guard and throws a big left but Levens blocks it.

Levens pushes Silva off and gets back to his feet.
Silva is trying hard to land a takedown here. Levens sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Levens avoids a punch combination nicely.
Silva misses with an uppercut. Levens saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Levens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Levens feints and as Silva raises his hands in defense, Levens changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Levens looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Levens seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Silva for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Justin Levens just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Silva is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Levens's half guard.
Silva looks gassed!
Silva trying to mount his opponent but Levens defends it.
Levens regains full guard. Nicely done.
Silva is looking to stand up but Levens won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva being controlled here momentarily.
Levens's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Silva has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Levens is proving hard to escape from.
Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Levens is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Levens dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Silva is looking to clinch but Levens is avoiding it.
Levens fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Silva clinches but Levens breaks the clinch

and Levens counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Levens from controlling successfully.
Levens looking to pass the guard.
Silva is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Levens is working hard here to advance position.
Levens slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Levens stands up from Silva's guard - Levens perhaps looking for a knockout.

Levens pushes Silva up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Silva gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Silva has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Levens blocks it with crossed arms.
Levens blocks an elbow strike from Silva.
A frustrated look appears on Silva's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Levens 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.
Levens changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Silva fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Silva throws a head kick but Levens moves out of range.
Silva throws a left and a right that both miss

and Levens counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Levens seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Levens dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Levens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Silva closes the distance looking to clinch

so Levens counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Levens stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Silva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Silva misses with a takedown

and Levens counters with a takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Levens stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Silva avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Levens wants to clinch up but Silva keeps it at a distance.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Levens tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Silva swats away the attempt to clinch by Levens.
Justin Levens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Levens looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Silva is fending him off so far but Levens persists. Nope, Silva circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two 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.
Levens is looking to clinch.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Levens swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Levens tries to clinch but Silva moves out of range.
Silva closes the distance looking to clinch

and Levens decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Silva's guard.

Levens stands up and waves to Silva to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Levens fails with an attempt to clinch.

Levens gets the takedown into side control.

Levens decides to stand back up. Levens steps back and let's Silva get back to his feet.
Silva throws a sloppy head kick

and Levens counters with a nice double leg into side control. Silva won't be happy with that.
Silva wants to get back to his feet but Levens drags him back down.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Levens decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Levens circles away from the clinch attempt

and Levens counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Levens is trying to drag Silva to the mat but Silva just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Silva manages to break the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Levens tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin Levens showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Levens, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:26
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:26
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Levens!