PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nicolas Morales (ranked 7736 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson Silva (ranked 25285 p4p, 706 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Morales
vs
Silva

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nicolas Morales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anderson Silva!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Paulo Santos and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Morales closes the distance and clinches.
Morales scores with a shot to the side of Silva's head.
Silva's coach down at Cozad MMA Rio was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Silva's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Morales avoids a wild elbow strike from Silva.
Morales is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Morales keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Silva's efforts to push away.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Silva wants to break free but Morales has control.
Silva tries to pull guard but Morales won't allow it.
Silva tries to break free but Morales pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva jumps guard but Morales stands there with Silva around his waist. Silva gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Silva is trying to break the clinch but Morales has him pressed against the cage.
Morales stalling.
Silva on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morales looking to throw knees to the head but Silva is blocking nicely.
Silva missing with knees to the body.
Silva wants to get back to striking at distance but Morales won't allow it.
Silva tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Morales just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nicolas Morales has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anderson Silva.
Morales wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Silva has him pressed against the cage.

Morales jumps guard and drags Silva to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morales being controlled here, momentarily.
Silva missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Morales looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morales keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Silva postures up in Morales's guard and throws a big left but Morales blocks it.

Morales working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Silva doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Silva manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Silva stays in close to Morales's body and controls the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Morales tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Silva defends well and Morales ends up having to push Silva into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morales slaps away a takedown attempt from Silva, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Morales as he avoids it easily.
Morales is looking for a counter combo.
Silva shoots in looking for a takedown but Morales manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Silva's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Morales wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Silva. No joy for Morales on that attempt.
Silva throws a jab when Morales was well out of range.
Morales jabs Silva to the body, keeping him at a distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Morales is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Silva pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Morales is breathing heavily.
Silva is looking to take this one to the mat.
Morales lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Silva.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants a takedown.
Silva is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Morales manages to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morales working a defensive guard here.
Morales can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Silva controls the pace.
Silva throws an elbow that misses. Morales uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Silva's guard. Nice move by Morales!

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Silva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Morales is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas Morales dominated that round.
That's time! Morales's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Morales avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Silva has Morales up against the cage in a clinch.
Silva wants a takedown but no success here.
Morales is trying to pull guard but Silva turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Morales gets underhooks to prevent Silva's takedown attempt.
Morales gets underhooks to prevent Silva's takedown attempt.
Nicolas Morales has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anderson Silva.
Silva is looking for a takedown.
Morales managing to block the knees to the body from Silva.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva is trying to push Morales away but Morales has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Morales can't break the clinch.
Silva jumps guard but Morales stands there with Silva around his waist. Silva gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Morales looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva jumps guard but Morales stands there with Silva around his waist. Silva gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Silva can't get the takedown.
Morales is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Silva can do to turn this around?
Morales wants to break the clinch but can't.

Morales jumps into guard, dragging Silva to the mat.
Silva slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Morales has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Morales keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Silva throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Morales 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.
Morales is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Silva closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Silva tries to circle away but Morales has him pinned against the cage.
Morales on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Morales goes for a takedown attempt but Silva pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Morales keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Morales is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Silva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Morales shoots in for a double leg but Silva sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Silva shoots in and drives through. Morales sprawls well.
Morales shoots in for a takedown but Silva shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Morales has taken the fight to the clinch.
Morales goes for a takedown in the clinch but Silva prevents it.
Morales is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Silva gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Morales is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Silva is looking to break free of the clinch but Morales has double underhooks.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Silva goes for a takedown attempt but Morales pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Morales darts in and clinches Silva up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas Morales dominated that second round.
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 throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Morales tries for a takedown but Silva circles away easily
and Silva counters with a left to the body.
Morales leaves Silva with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Morales darts in and clinches Silva up against the cage.
Silva has had enough of the clinch but Morales keeps him there for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morales drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Silva gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Silva tries to circle away but Morales has him pinned against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is trying to break free.
Morales jumps guard but Silva turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nicolas Morales. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Morales pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Silva prevents Morales from breaking the clinch.

Morales pulls Silva into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva throws a big elbow that misses.
Morales wants to sweep but no luck.

Morales has an active guard here but Silva has managed to pass into half guard.
Silva seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Morales keeps working.
Silva trying to control the pace.
Silva tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Silva seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morales is controlling Silva's trapped leg to prevent Silva from advancing to side control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Morales shoots in for a double leg but Silva sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Morales tries for a takedown but Silva sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Morales dodges the punch combination from Silva.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
A thudding body kick lands there by Silva!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Silva.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morales slaps away a takedown attempt from Silva, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nice body punch from Silva.
Silva fails to land the takedown.
Morales tries to counter with a takedown but Silva is quick to defend against it.
Anderson Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Silva dives in and grabs Morales's left leg, looking for a takedown. Morales pushes down on Silva's head and hops out.
Silva defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Morales.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Silva shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Morales defends it nicely.
Morales throws a big counter combination but Silva scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anderson Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Morales 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicolas Morales!