PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Howard Vernon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anderson Silva has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Silva
vs
Vernon

187 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 Rio de Janeiro, Anderson Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Howard Vernon!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Leandro Rodrigues and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva lands a really nice looking cross but Vernon seems unphased.
Silva throws a head kick that misses.

Nice combo by Silva! Oh, that's hurt him - Vernon falls to the canvas and Silva follows him into side control.

Vernon is rocked!

It looks like Howard Vernon has been cut.
Vernon tries to improve position but can't.
Vernon is still in real trouble! Can Silva finish him?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vernon is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Vernon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Vernon seems to have recovered his senses.
Vernon is trying to improve his position.
Vernon pushes Silva away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Silva gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Vernon tries to improve position but can't.
Vernon is trying to get back to his feet.
Vernon is looking to regain half guard here but Silva keeps moving and retains side control.
I wouldn't like to be where Vernon is right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to score with some ground and pound. Vernon controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Vernon is looking for a sweep.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Vernon can do anything to dispel that myth.
Vernon takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Silva in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Vernon sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Vernon wants to improve his position but Silva is controlling well.
Vernon is refusing to be controlled, as Silva sits in half guard.
Silva thows a huge punch but Vernon dodges it nicely.
Vernon is looking for a sweep. Silva is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vernon avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Silva.
Vernon is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vernon is positioning himself well to prevent Silva advancing to mount.
Silva tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Vernon is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Horrible takedown by Silva or perhaps it was just good defense by Vernon which made him look bad.
Silva is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vernon closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Silva did well to prevent Vernon getting side control.
Silva is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Vernon scores with a couple of nice shots.
Silva wants to control but Vernon is keeping busy.

Vernon is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Silva is just riding it out for now. Vernon eventually gives up the hold.
Silva on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Vernon is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Vernon landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Vernon is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Vernon missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vernon stops Silva from getting back to his feet.
Vernon not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.
Vernon scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Silva has hold of Vernon's hands but Vernon slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Vernon looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Vernon lands a nice short elbow.
Vernon working over Silva with some ground and pound. Silva looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Vernon sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Silva defending well though.
Silva gets full guard.
Vernon working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Vernon working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Silva's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vernon landing with the ground and pound.
Vernon lands a couple of elbows.
Vernon lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Silva manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Silva dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Howard Vernon's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Silva gets caught flat footed, as Vernon shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Vernon is proving a slippery customer.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Vernon throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.
Silva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vernon is one step ahead there.
Vernon with a nice head shot there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vernon is one step ahead there.
Vernon with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vernon decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Silva, up you get!

Silva tries to sprawl but Vernon drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Vernon seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Vernon connects with a nice short shot to Silva's temple.
Silva tries to kick Vernon off but Vernon keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Vernon working over Silva with some ground and pound. Silva looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Silva tries to roll over but Vernon keeps him under control.
Vernon slips a nice elbow through Silva's hands, connecting with Silva's forehead.
Silva has hold of Vernon's hands but Vernon slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Silva taking some punishment here, with Vernon in his half guard.
Nice strikes from Vernon there.
Silva is looking to control Vernon's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Silva avoid being mounted?
Vernon scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Vernon lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vernon missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Howard Vernon has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vernon lands with a punch from half guard.
Silva missing with punches from the bottom.
Silva is trying to stand.
Silva on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Vernon scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Vernon lands a nice short elbow.
Vernon winds up and cracks Silva with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Silva wants to control but Vernon is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Vernon looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Vernon lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Vernon lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vernon stops Silva from getting back to his feet.

Vernon seems to be looking for submissions.
Vernon sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Silva defending well though.
Vernon not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Silva is pressing down on Vernon's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Silva has a closed guard, preventing Vernon from standing up.
Vernon works over Silva with some ground and pound from guard.
Vernon makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Vernon scoring with punches to the head and body.
Silva is trying to control the position but Vernon postures up.
Silva looking for a sweep. Not yet Silva, not yet.
Silva wants to stand and escape but Vernon is having none of it.

That's four 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.
Vernon keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Silva's head.
Vernon working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Silva's head.
Vernon working some strikes from top position.
Vernon wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.
Vernon prevents Silva from getting back to his feet.
Silva controls Vernon momentarily but Vernon frees himself.
Silva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vernon is one step ahead there.
Vernon scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Vernon working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Vernon postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Silva has momentary wrist control but Vernon slips an elbow through the middle.
Vernon thows a big elbow that misses.
Silva trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Howard Vernon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Howard Vernon's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Vernon feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Vernon keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Silva's head.
Vernon content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Silva not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Vernon content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Vernon must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Vernon won't allow Silva to get back to his feet.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Vernon is proving a slippery customer.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Vernon with a nice head shot there.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Vernon's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Vernon trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Vernon working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Silva's head.
Silva working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vernon.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva controls Vernon momentarily but Vernon frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vernon lands a couple of digs.

Vernon drops back looking for a leg! Silva is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Silva manages to kick Vernon off! Vernon jumps back into Silva's guard.
Silva working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vernon.
Silva looking to control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Vernon lands a couple of elbows.
Vernon wanted to stand there but Silva had control of the position.
Silva wants to stand but Vernon is controlling the position.
Silva is trying to control the position but Vernon postures up.

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.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Vernon's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Vernon is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Vernon won't allow Silva to sweep him here.
Vernon connects with a couple of short punches.

Silva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vernon doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vernon manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Silva is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Vernon is controlling him.
Silva has momentary wrist control but Vernon slips an elbow through the middle.
Silva is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Vernon postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Vernon with a nice head shot there.
Vernon works over Silva with some ground and pound from guard.
Vernon content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vernon throws a big right hand that misses.
Vernon working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Vernon missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Silva looking for a sweep. Not yet Silva, not yet.
Vernon thows a big elbow that misses.
Silva lands a decent shot there.
Vernon scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Silva preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Silva avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Vernon trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Silva throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Silva trying to control the position.
Vernon is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

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.
Vernon throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Silva works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Silva is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Vernon postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Vernon trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Vernon throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.
Silva manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Vernon manages to get himself to full guard.
Silva throwing strikes from guard but Vernon blocks nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva wants to stand and escape but instead Vernon has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Howard Vernon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Vernon has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Howard Vernon!