PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steve Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lebron James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva comes to the cage accompanied by Whoop ya Head boi. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Silva
vs
James

180 cm
25
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Steve Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lebron James!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Chris Saunders and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.
James is looking to clinch.
James tries to clinch up.
James looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Silva is fending him off so far but James persists. Nope, Silva circles away and we're back to standing.
James moves in looking to clinch but Silva pushes him off.
James tries to close the distance and clinch up but Silva swats him away and circles back towards the center.
James misses with a takedown attempt

and Silva counters with a shoot takedown. James fights it but they end up in guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
James preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
James being controlled here, momentarily.
Silva chips away with some ground and pound.
Silva scoring with some ground and pound.
James really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Silva. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Silva is working James over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Silva won't allow James to sweep him here.
Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
James looks winded!
Silva lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Silva controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Silva scoring with some ground and pound.
Silva looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Silva seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down James for as long as he can get away with.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva cracks James with a solid left hand.
Silva stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. James swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Silva showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Steve Silva just wasn't active enough.
James scores with a head kick. Silva tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Silva swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and James counters with a two punch combo.
Lebron James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James tries to clinch but Silva is having none of it.
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva scores with a nice strike.
James tries to close the distance and clinch up but Silva swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Silva misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
James shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Silva pinned against the cage. Silva gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Steve Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lebron James.

Silva shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. James is trying to defend but Silva finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Silva working James over with strikes.
Silva uses his free foot to push down on James's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for James.
Silva lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

James is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Silva connects with a bit shot that sees James covering up! More strikes from Silva and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Silva is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Steve Silva!
In his post fight interview, Steve Silva started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.