PBP Commentary

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

Gracie
vs
Silva

178 cm
24
166 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Benji Silva!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Luis Engracia and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie misses with a series of wild punches.
A combination from Gracie does no damage.
Gracie tries to bum rush Silva with a series of wild strikes but Silva uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gracie tries to score a power double leg takedown but Silva sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gracie somewhat.
Gracie lands with an overhand left.
Silva lands a high kick!

It looks like Antonio Gracie has been cut.
Gracie throws a nice looking combination but Silva bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gracie falls off balance throwing a combination

and Silva counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Silva has Gracie pressed against the cage, preventing Gracie from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gracie misses with a wild combination.
Silva dodges the punch combination from Gracie.
Silva lands with a kick to the temple. Gracie shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie stalks Silva and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Silva's face. Silva staggers backwards, shaken.

Silva is rocked!
Silva tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gracie manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gracie misses with a looping left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gracie connects with a crisp jab.
Silva is still on wobbly legs! Can Gracie finish him?
A telegraphed right hand from Gracie misses the target.
Gracie fails to land with a series of punches.
Silva is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Some wild striking there from Gracie.
Gracie fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gracie tries to bum rush Silva with a series of wild strikes but Silva uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gracie leaves Silva with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gracie looks to land a combination but Silva avoids it well.

Gracie tries to keep at a distance but Silva has taken the fight into the clinch.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Knees in the clinch landing for Silva.
Silva prevents Gracie from breaking the clinch.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Silva fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gracie looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gracie missing with a left hand there. Silva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gracie throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Silva throws the kick towards the body but Gracie avoids it.
Gracie defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Silva.
Antonio Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benji Silva.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie throws a right hand that Silva ducks under and follows up with a left that Silva also avoids with ease.
Silva shoots in looking for a takedown. Gracie tries to sprawl out of it but Silva keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gracie manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.
Silva lands a head kick!
Silva seems to have recovered his senses.
Gracie throws a right hand that Silva ducks under and follows up with a left that Silva also avoids with ease.
Silva scores with a head kick.
Silva lands a high kick!
Gracie lands a lovely overhand right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie lands a jab to the head.
Silva has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Silva takes the fight into the clinch.

Silva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gracie stuffs the takedown.
Gracie throws a low kick but Silva avoids it.
Gracie throws a series of punches but Silva avoids them all with ease.
Silva takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Gracie looks to throw the jab but Silva is out of range.
Silva throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Gracie lands with a nice combination. Silva backs away looking to recover.
Silva scores with a head kick.
Gracie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Silva moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Antonio Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A solid body kick from Silva.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a series of punches but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie throws a right and a left that Silva avoids nicely.
Gracie misses with a combination
and Silva counters with an outside leg kick.
Silva drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Silva saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gracie slaps away a takedown attempt from Silva, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Gracie lands with a nice combination. Silva backs away looking to recover.
Silva fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gracie looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Gracie on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Gracie drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Silva is looking to regain half guard here but Gracie keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silva keeps working.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Silva tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Antonio Gracie will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Antonio Gracie's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Gracie jabs at Silva's body.
Gracie throws a left and a right that both miss

and Silva counters with a takedown into side control.
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gracie tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Silva presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Silva looking to ground and pound but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Gracie really wants to buck Silva off and get back to his feet.
Gracie wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
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!
Gracie is trying to stand back up.
Gracie covering up well and avoiding damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries to escape but Silva has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
What can Gracie do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Gracie wants to get back to his feet.
Silva keeps control of the position as Gracie tries to break free.
Gracie is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Silva.
Gracie has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Gracie trying to get back to his feet but Silva is in full control for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gracie tries to escape but Silva has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Gracie holding both Silva 's hands and preventing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gracie is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to get back to his feet but Silva is in full control for now.
Silva is hanging on to Gracie's back as he tries to escape.
Gracie trying to get back to his feet but Silva is in full control for now.
Silva missing with strikes from the back.
Gracie holding both Silva 's hands and preventing any damage.
Silva keeps control of the position as Gracie tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to get back to his feet but Silva has full control of the position and if anything, Gracie has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Silva gets his hands free as Gracie looks to control.
Good control from Silva.
Gracie is trying to get back to his feet but Silva has full control of the position and if anything, Gracie has just worked his way into a worse spot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie rolls, trying to escape but Silva keeps control of the position.
Gracie is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Benji Silva will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Antonio Gracie's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Silva showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gracie.
Gracie will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gracie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gracie swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Silva lands a really nice looking cross but Gracie seems unphased.

Silva shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Gracie wants to get back to his feet but Silva is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Silva stands up from Gracie's guard - Silva perhaps looking for a knockout.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva shoots for a double leg takedown but Gracie sprawls well. He's pushed Silva's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Silva.

Silva gets a clinch.
Silva prevents Gracie from breaking the clinch.
Silva tries to score a body lock takedown but Gracie shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Gracie looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Silva manages to break the clinch.
Gracie lands a jab to the nose.

Silva moves into range and clinches up with Gracie.
Gracie wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Silva pulls guard successfully.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Silva manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Gracie, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Silva moves out of range as Gracie strikes.

Silva gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Silva breaks the clinch.
Antonio Gracie is winning the standup battle so far.
Gracie waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Silva.
Gracie misses with a left hand
and Silva counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Gracie swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Silva lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Silva rushes Gracie and presses him up against the cage.
Gracie wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Silva gets control of Gracie's arms and successfully pulls guard. Silva will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Silva has Gracie pulled in close to control his posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Antonio Gracie wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Gracie will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gracie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Silva moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gracie moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Silva scoring well with a low kick there.
Silva has a takedown stuffed.
Antonio Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benji Silva.
Silva with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Gracie to score with a decent uppercut.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looks to land a combination but Silva avoids it well.

Silva drives through and clinches with Gracie against the cage.
Gracie wants to break the clinch but can't.

Silva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gracie misses with a few strikes there.
A shot to the liver by Gracie. Beautiful body shot.
Gracie misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Silva throws a right and a left that both miss.
No joy there for Gracie, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie thuds his right hand into Silva's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Gracie misses with a right hand
and Silva counters with a head kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A decent looking cross lands there for Gracie.

Silva instigates a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benji 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Antonio Gracie!