PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Manolo Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hossam Merenhor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hossam Merenhor will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Silva
vs
Merenhor

198 cm
26
215 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

193 cm
22
200 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Granite 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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Manolo Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hossam Merenhor!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Thiago Cunha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merenhor showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Silva.
Silva throws a head kick that misses.
Silva throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Merenhor stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Merenhor throws a left and a right that both miss
and Silva counters with a leg kick.
Merenhor throws a right hand that Silva ducks under and follows up with a left that Silva also avoids with ease.
Silva swats away the attempt to clinch by Merenhor.
Merenhor clinches but Silva breaks the clinch
and Silva counters with a head kick. That will keep Merenhor thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Merenhor dodges the punch combination from Silva.
Silva lands a two punch combo.
Merenhor throws a left and a right that both miss
and Silva counters with a three punch combo that has Merenhor backing up. Merenhor nods at Silva to acknowledge the strikes.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Silva misses with a two punch combination.
Merenhor looks for a takedown but Silva sprawls well.
Merenhor fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Silva keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Silva lands with a thumping leg kick.
Merenhor closes this distance looking for a takedown but Silva circles away.
Manolo Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hossam Merenhor.
Merenhor stalks Silva and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Silva's face. Silva staggers backwards, shaken.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merenhor misses with a combination
and Silva counters with a three punch combo that has Merenhor backing up. Merenhor nods at Silva to acknowledge the strikes.
Merenhor scores with a three punch combo!
Merenhor falls off balance throwing a combination
and Silva counters with a two punch combo.
A punch combination from Silva misses.
Silva throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Merenhor.
Merenhor throws a left and a right that both miss
and Silva counters with a straight right hand.
Merenhor throws a jab when Silva was well out of range.
Merenhor looks to clinch
and Silva counters with a good low kick that Merenhor was not able to check.
Merenhor misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Merenhor is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Silva.
Merenhor misses with a double jab
and Silva counters with an inside leg kick.
Merenhor looks gassed!
Merenhor lands a jab-cross combination.
Silva throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Merenhor.
Merenhor throws a leg kick that is checked
and Silva counters with a two punch combo.
Merenhor misses with a few strikes there.
Merenhor misses with a double jab
and Silva counters with a nice kick to the body.
Merenhor on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merenhor fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Silva manages to avoid it.
Merenhor throws a combination that misses
and Silva counters with a slapping leg kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Silva scores with a nice right hand.
Merenhor throws a one two combo.
Silva avoids a punch combination nicely.
Merenhor throws a left and a right that both miss
and Silva counters with a nice body kick.
Merenhor avoids the head kick by Silva.
Silva throws a leg kick which misses Merenhor's front leg but catches the back leg as Merenhor tries to avoid it.
Some wild striking there from Silva.
Silva misses with a wild combination.
Merenhor misses with a combination
and Silva counters with a three punch combo that has Merenhor backing up. Merenhor nods at Silva to acknowledge the strikes.
A combination from Merenhor does no damage.
Merenhor tries to clinch but Silva moves away
and Silva cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Silva tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Merenhor throws a chopping leg kick but Silva manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Merenhor showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Silva.
Silva throws a leg kick which misses Merenhor's front leg but catches the back leg as Merenhor tries to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merenhor throws out a loose jab but Silva uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Silva. Merenhor shrugs it off though.
Silva throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Merenhor.
Merenhor throws a left and a right that both miss
and Silva counters with an outside leg kick.
Merenhor throws a left and a right that both miss
and Silva counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Merenhor as he avoids it easily.
Merenhor throws a left and a right that both miss
and Silva counters with a big head kick but Merenhor shrugs it off.
Silva blocks a jab.
Merenhor closes this distance looking for a takedown but Silva circles away.
Merenhor misses with a two punch combination.
Silva is working the combinations to good effect here.
Merenhor shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Silva but Silva pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Silva connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Merenhor momentarily.
Silva swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Silva cracks the inside of Merenhor's front leg.
Silva turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Silva has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Merenhor lands with an uppercut that bounces Silva off the cage and back into rage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merenhor fails to land with a series of punches.
Merenhor fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Silva avoids it really well and circles away.

Silva scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Silva thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Merenhor trying to control from the bottom.
Silva throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Silva wants to stand but Merenhor has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Merenhor throws a combination that misses
and Silva counters with an outside leg kick.
Merenhor swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Silva throws a one two combo.
Silva throws a lazy right hand but Merenhor sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
A punch combination from Silva misses.
Merenhor fails with an attempt to clinch.
Silva has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Merenhor fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Silva avoids it really well and circles away.
Merenhor scores with a jab to the jaw.
Merenhor tries to clinch but Silva is having none of it.
Hossam Merenhor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva throws the left hand but Merenhor avoids the punch easily.
Merenhor will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Merenhor throws a one two combo.

Merenhor darts in and clinches Silva up against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Silva pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Silva showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Merenhor.
Merenhor swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Merenhor instigates a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Merenhor's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Merenhor working hard to break the clinch.
Merenhor wants to get back to striking at distance but Silva won't allow it.
Merenhor can't break the clinch.
Merenhor jumps guard but Silva stands there with Merenhor around his waist. Merenhor gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Silva wants to break the clinch but can't.
Merenhor looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Merenhor wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Silva has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Merenhor's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Merenhor wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Merenhor tries to break the clinch but Silva is controlling the position.
Merenhor tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silva just stands there and leans against the cage.
Manolo Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hossam Merenhor.
A frustrated look appears on Merenhor's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Merenhor tries to break free but Silva pushes him back against the cage.
Merenhor tries to pull guard but Silva holds him up against the cage and eventually Merenhor drops back down to his feet.

Merenhor has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Silva uses from the top position.
Silva loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Silva throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva wanted to stand there but Merenhor had control of the position.
Merenhor is trying to keep Silva in close.
Silva prevents Merenhor from getting back to his feet.

Merenhor has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Silva off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Manolo Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merenhor falls off balance throwing a combination
and Silva counters with a left and a right that stings Merenhor.
A jab from Merenhor misses.
Merenhor lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Silva circles away quickly and effectively.
Merenhor fails to land with a series of punches.
Silva misses with a jab, cross combination.
Silva showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Merenhor.
Merenhor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Silva swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Merenhor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Silva swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Merenhor looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Silva stuffs the takedown attempt from Merenhor. Merenhor gets slowly back to his feet.
Silva cracks the inside of Merenhor's front leg.
Merenhor throws a right hand that Silva ducks under and follows up with a left that Silva also avoids with ease.
Silva staying out of range there.
Merenhor tries to clinch up but Silva circles away and keeps his distance.
Silva throws a right hand that Merenhor ducks under and follows up with a left that Merenhor also avoids with ease.

That's four 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.
Merenhor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Merenhor moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Merenhor looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Merenhor gets a clinch.

Merenhor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Merenhor will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Silva drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Silva throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Silva won't allow Merenhor to get back to his feet.

Silva decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Merenhor, up you get!
Some wild striking there from Merenhor.
Merenhor fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hossam Merenhor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Merenhor dodges the punch combination from Silva.
Silva shoots for a double leg takedown but Merenhor sprawls well. He's pushed Silva's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Merenhor tries to clinch but Silva moves out of range.
Merenhor throws a low kick, looking for Silva's leg but Silva calmly moves out of range.
Merenhor throws a series of punches but Silva avoids them all with ease.
Merenhor tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Silva to counter with a crisp jab.
Some wild striking there from Merenhor.
Merenhor misses with a two punch combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A combination from Merenhor does no damage.
Merenhor wants to clinch but Silva slips to the side
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Merenhor showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Silva.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Merenhor lands a jab-cross combination.
Merenhor dives in and grabs Silva's left leg, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes down on Merenhor's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merenhor throws a series of strikes that have Silva backpedaling.
Merenhor looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A punch combination from Merenhor misses.
Merenhor throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Merenhor swinging wildly here.
Merenhor throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Merenhor throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Silva.
Merenhor tries to bum rush Silva with a series of wild strikes but Silva uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
No joy there for Silva, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Merenhor misses with a double jab
and Silva counters with a left and a right that stings Merenhor.
Silva misses with a few strikes there.
Merenhor smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Merenhor tries to clinch up.
Merenhor misses with a combination
and Silva counters with a two punch combo.
Silva dodges the punch combination from Merenhor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Merenhor looks to clinch
and Silva makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Merenhor wants to clinch but Silva slips to the side
and Silva cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Merenhor cracks Silva with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Merenhor swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Silva counters with a two punch combo.
Merenhor misses with a two punch combination.
Merenhor swinging wildly here.
Merenhor throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Silva counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Silva is working Merenhor over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Merenhor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Silva makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Silva throws and elbow that misses. Merenhor uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Silva's guard. Nice move by Merenhor!
Merenhor is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merenhor cracks Silva with a solid left hand.
Merenhor keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Silva's head.
Merenhor stands up over Silva, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Silva pushes Merenhor off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Manolo Silva is winning the standup battle so far.
Merenhor takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Merenhor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Silva moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Merenhor falls off balance throwing a combination
and Silva counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A good leg kick by Silva.
Merenhor misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Silva takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Silva throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Merenhor throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Merenhor avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva shoots in looking for a takedown. Merenhor tries to sprawl out of it but Silva keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Merenhor manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Merenhor displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Silva fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Merenhor avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manolo Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Merenhor scores with a hook.
A clash of legs there as Silva blocks the low kick.
Merenhor swinging wildly here.
Merenhor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Silva.
Merenhor throws a leg kick
and Silva counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Silva dodges the punch combination from Merenhor.
Merenhor fails to land with a series of punches.
Merenhor jabs Silva right on the nose. Silva blinks but takes it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manolo 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28

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