PBP Commentary

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

Silveira
vs
Costa

200 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

187 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid 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, Leonardo Silveira!
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, Douglas Costa!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Thiago Cunha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Costa takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Costa fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Silveira sprawls well initially but Costa persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Silveira trying to hold on to Costa's head to control him but Costa postures up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Silveira manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Costa looks gassed!
Silveira is pulling down on Costa's head. It's preventing any offense from Costa, at least for the moment.
Costa wants to control from the top but Silveira keeps moving.
Silveira throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Costa is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Silveira pulls Costa in close to his closed guard and prevents Costa from doing any damage or advancing position.
Silveira's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silveira wants to get back to his feet but Costa is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Silveira has his hands on Costa's head, controlling the position.
Costa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Silveira looking for a sweep. Not yet Silveira, not yet.
Silveira keeping moving, preventing Costa from controlling successfully.
Costa throws a big right hand that misses.
Costa trying to control the position from guard on top but Silveira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two 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 referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Costa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Silveira scores with a one two! Costa had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
A punch combination from Silveira misses.
Silveira connects with a good right hand that stumbles Costa. Costa circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Silveira will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Silveira lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Silveira scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Costa doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Silveira scores with a jab to the head.

Silveira closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Silveira lands in his opponent's guard.
Silveira postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silveira is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silveira seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Costa for as long as he can get away with.
Silveira has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Silveira gets to his feet. Costa looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silveira looks to land a right hand but Costa moved out of range.
Some wild striking there from Costa.
Nice straight punches there by Silveira. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Silveira.
Silveira ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A left and a right from Silveira both land. Nice combination.
A head kick misses from Costa.
Costa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Silveira is fending him off so far but Costa persists. Nope, Silveira circles away and we're back to standing.
Silveira lands with a nice body punch.
Silveira misses with a hook.
Silveira fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Costa manages to avoid it.
Silveira throws a one two combo.
Costa connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Costa gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Silveira.

Costa rushes Silveira and presses him up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonardo Silveira dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Costa tries to clinch but Silveira is having none of it.
Silveira catches Costa with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Silveira swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Costa.
Silveira with a nice cross.
Silveira cracks Costa with an open hand slap.
Silveira looks to score with a jab to the body but Costa is just out of range.
Silveira takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Silveira is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Silveira fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Silveira throws a series of punches but Costa moves out of range.
Silveira really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Silveira throws a one two combo.
Costa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Silveira swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Silveira lands with a cross.
Silveira fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Costa avoids a punch combination nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Costa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Silveira swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silveira will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Costa moves into the clinch successfully.
Silveira misses with the head strike.
A right handed body shot lands from Silveira.
Costa unloads a knee to the mid-section. Silveira lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Costa breaks from the clinch.
Silveira connects with a nice looking jab.
Silveira stalks Costa and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Costa's face. Costa staggers backwards, shaken.
Silveira stuffs the takedown attempt from Costa. Costa gets slowly back to his feet.

Costa drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Silveira can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Costa controls the pace.
Costa preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa trying to control the position from guard on top but Silveira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Silveira wriggles free and stands up.
Silveira throws a series of strikes that have Costa backpedaling.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Silveira tries for a takedown but Costa manages to get underhooks.
Costa drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Costa looking to throw knees to the head but Silveira is blocking nicely.

Silveira has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Costa is trying to keep an underhook but Silveira manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Costa pushes Silveira off and gets back to his feet.

Costa darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Silveira is controlling Costa's trapped leg to prevent Costa from advancing to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa wants to control but Silveira is keeping him busy.
Costa thows a huge punch but Silveira dodges it nicely.
Silveira keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Costa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Silveira's head.
Costa is trying to control the action in half guard but Silveira is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Silveira gets back to full guard.
Silveira keeping moving, preventing Costa from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Silveira looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Silveira keeping moving, preventing Costa from controlling successfully.
Silveira is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Costa is controlling him.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Silveira lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Costa has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Silveira finds it's way round the side to connect with Costa's head.
Costa shoots in but Silveira avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Leonardo Silveira has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Douglas Costa.
Costa takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Leonardo Silveira will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Silveira as Costa shoots in.
Silveira scores with a sloppy right hand. Costa should have avoided that one.
Costa walks into a left hand.
Leonardo Silveira is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Silveira throws a nice looking combination but Costa bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Silveira jabs at Costa's body.
Silveira lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Silveira lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Silveira throws a shot to the body.
Leonardo Silveira seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silveira moves in looking to clinch but Costa pushes him off.
Silveira avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Costa takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Silveira scores with a nice right hand.
Costa feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Silveira's calf.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A shot to de liver by Silveira. Beautiful body shot.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Silveira crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Costa - the referee stops the clock and Silveira gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Costa. Silveira manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Costa changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Silveira tries to avoid it but Costa manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Silveira to the ground. Silveira escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silveira works over Costa's head and body with a nice combination.
A telegraphed right hand from Silveira misses the target.
Silveira jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Silveira tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Costa was well out of range. Poor timing from Silveira.
Costa fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Leonardo Silveira has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Douglas Costa.
Costa bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Costa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Silveira scores with a punch to the head.
Silveira dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Silveira throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Costa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Costa takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Silveira wants to clinch.
Costa fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Silveira lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Silveira throws a body punch but Costa moves out of range.
A big left from Silveira misses.
Silveira misses with a looping right.
Costa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Silveira pinned against the cage. Silveira gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Silveira looks to land a combination but Costa avoids it well.
Leonardo Silveira is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Costa closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Silveira to the mat! Silveira manages to get full guard.
Silveira wants to sweep here but Costa controlling him for the moment.
Silveira trying to control the position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Silveira lands with an uppercut that bounces Costa off the cage and back into rage.

Costa feints and as Silveira raises his hands in defense, Costa changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Silveira wants to stand but Costa is controlling the position.
Silveira keeping moving, preventing Costa from controlling successfully.
Silveira not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silveira keeping full guard, as Costa tries to pass.
Silveira will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Silveira is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Silveira working for a triangle but Costa defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silveira is trying to keep Costa in close.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Silveira lands the left hand.
Silveira misses with an uppercut. Costa saw that one coming.
Costa tries to clinch there but Silveira circles away.
Silveira throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Costa.
Costa takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Douglas Costa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Silveira looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Silveira steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Costa. That one must have hurt.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Leonardo Silveira.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Silveira, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Leonardo Silveira!