PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Danny OLeary (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

OLeary
vs
Silva

155 cm
24
135 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

175 cm
26
138 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Danny OLeary!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jay Silva!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

OLeary pushes Silva up against the cage in a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Silva's face as he tries to break the clinch.
OLeary tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silva just stands there and leans against the cage.
OLeary tries for a takedown. No joy.
The referee calls for OLeary to work.

OLeary breaks from the clinch.
A left and a right from Silva both land. Nice combination.
Silva throws a right and a left that OLeary avoids nicely.
OLeary shoots in looking for a takedown. Silva tries to sprawl out of it but OLeary keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Silva manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Danny OLeary. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sloppy strikes from Silva. Those never looked like landing.
Silva swings and misses with a hook to the body.

OLeary moves into the clinch successfully.
OLeary taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
OLeary tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Silva avoids it.
Silva is trying to break free.
OLeary with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OLeary manages to break the clinch.
Silva ducks down and throws a hook to the body but OLeary moves away.

Silva clinches up against the cage.
OLeary misses with an elbow strike.
Silva stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Silva avoiding damage as OLeary throws knees to the body.
Silva is trying to break free.
OLeary is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Silva is defending well for now.
OLeary tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silva just stands there and leans against the cage.
Silva is trying to break the clinch but OLeary has him pressed against the cage.
OLeary tries for a takedown. No joy.
Silva is trying to break the clinch but OLeary is controlling him.
OLeary is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Silva gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

OLeary breaks the clinch.
Silva swinging wildly here.
OLeary shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Silva sprawls well. Silva wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. OLeary gets slowly back to his feet.
OLeary has a takedown stuffed.
Jay Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OLeary tries to keep at a distance but Silva has taken the fight into the clinch.
OLeary tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Silva prevents a takedown attempt there.
Silva wants to break free but OLeary has control.
OLeary jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Silva walks away with a smile on his face. OLeary gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
OLeary doesn't manage to clinch there - Silva circles away.

Silva closes the distance and clinches.
Silva goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

OLeary breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Silva fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Silva misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from OLeary.
OLeary tries to clinch up but Silva circles away and keeps his distance.
Silva misses with a combination

and OLeary counters by clinching up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OLeary tries to pull guard but Silva holds him up against the cage and eventually OLeary drops back down to his feet.
A hook to the body from Silva.
Silva is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

OLeary has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Silva is trying to keep an underhook but OLeary manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Silva is trying to maintain the position but OLeary is very close to passing his half guard.
OLeary wants to get back to his feet.
Silva trying to control from the bottom.
OLeary is pressing down on Silva's thigh, looking to free his foot. Silva is holding on for now.
OLeary controlling the action here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Silva is staying active underneath OLeary, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Danny OLeary wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Silva has taken the fight to the clinch.
Silva looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Silva can't break the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on OLeary - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

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

OLeary shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Silva is trying to defend but OLeary finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Silva pushes OLeary off looking to stand but OLeary dives back in and keeps control.
OLeary is looking to take a break and control but Silva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Silva manages to escape and get back to his feet!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jay Silva will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

OLeary shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Silva defends it nicely.
Silva keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Silva throws a series of strikes that have OLeary backpedaling.
OLeary shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Silva defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Danny OLeary. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva throws a body punch but OLeary moves out of range.

OLeary instigates a clinch.
OLeary jumps guard but Silva stands there with OLeary around his waist. OLeary gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
OLeary looking for a takedown.
Silva wants to break the clinch but can't.
Silva is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
OLeary prevents a takedown attempt there.
Silva wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva has had enough of the clinch but OLeary keeps him there for the moment.
OLeary drops down looking for an ankle pick but Silva pulls his leg out and moves away.

OLeary closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
OLeary tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silva just stands there and leans against the cage.

OLeary pulls Silva into guard.
OLeary is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Silva drops back looking for a leg! OLeary is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and OLeary manages to kick Silva off! Silva jumps back into OLeary's guard.
Silva wants to stand but OLeary has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

OLeary pushes Silva off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt

and OLeary counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by OLeary.
OLeary tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Silva smiles and moves away.

OLeary moves into range and clinches up with Silva.

OLeary 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.

OLeary wriggles free and stands up.
OLeary throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Silva's waist but Silva gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing OLeary off to one side.

Silva gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Silva has had enough of the clinch but OLeary keeps him there for the moment.
OLeary is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Silva pulls him back up using the underhooks.
OLeary trying to land knees to the body.
Silva wants to get back to striking at distance but OLeary won't allow it.
OLeary fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Silva misses with a punch to the body.

OLeary's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Danny OLeary is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Silva will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

OLeary closes the distance and clinches.
Silva is trying to stall.
Silva is trying to break the clinch but OLeary has him pressed against the cage.
OLeary jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Silva walks away with a smile on his face. OLeary gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Silva clinches up with OLeary and pushes him back against the cage.
OLeary putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Silva in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Silva lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Silva wants to stall.
Silva tries for a takedown but OLeary manages to get underhooks.

Silva escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

OLeary clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
OLeary looks to throw an elbow but misses.

OLeary breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

OLeary scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Silva has hold of OLeary's hands but OLeary slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Silva trying to control here.
OLeary working over Silva with some ground and pound. Silva looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
OLeary not doing much here.
OLeary wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silva keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva is controlling OLeary's trapped leg to prevent OLeary from advancing to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny OLeary dominated that second round.
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!

OLeary shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Silva sprawls well. Silva wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. OLeary gets slowly back to his feet.
Silva lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
OLeary shoots in but Silva avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Silva misses with a double jab

and OLeary counters with a single leg into guard. Silva didn't expect that.
OLeary stays in close to Silva's body and controls the position.
OLeary throws a big right hand that misses.
OLeary looking to sit in guard and control but Silva gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Silva throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OLeary wants to stand and escape but Silva is having none of it.
Silva postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
OLeary on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if OLeary tries to get out of the position.
Silva scoring with some ground and pound.
Silva wants to control from the top but OLeary keeps moving.
Silva sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed OLeary's guard.
OLeary wants to improve his position but Silva is controlling well.
Silva tries to stand but can't do so whilst OLeary controls his leg.

Silva postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for OLeary to stand up.
Silva throws a right hand that OLeary ducks under and follows up with a left that OLeary also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

OLeary escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

OLeary takes the fight into the clinch.
Silva is pushing OLeary up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

OLeary manages to break the clinch.

OLeary has taken the fight to the clinch.
Silva looking to stall.
Silva can't break the clinch.
Silva wants a takedown.
Silva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
OLeary fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Danny OLeary. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva is looking to control OLeary's arms but OLeary gets an underhook and turns him. Now Silva has his back to the cage.
Silva can't break the clinch.
OLeary jumps guard but Silva stands there with OLeary around his waist. OLeary gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OLeary tries for a takedown. No joy.
Jay Silva seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Silva tries a body shot but OLeary blocks it.
Silva trying to stall but OLeary improves his position.
OLeary tries to pull guard but Silva won't allow it.
Silva is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
OLeary manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A frustrated look appears on Silva's face as he tries to break the clinch.
OLeary tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Silva smiles and moves away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from OLeary.
OLeary fails with a takedown attempt.
OLeary moves in looking to clinch but Silva pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

OLeary manages to break the clinch.

Silva has managed to clinch.
OLeary drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Silva gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Silva dodges an elbow strike from OLeary.
OLeary keeps control of Silva as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
OLeary tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Silva avoids it.
Silva wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Silva wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but OLeary has him pressed against the cage.
Silva looking to stall.
Knees in the clinch landing for OLeary.
Silva looking for a takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jay Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Silva 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jay Silva!