PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vitor De Silva (ranked 2483 p4p, 2349 weight class) and Kamaru Usman (ranked 364 p4p, 347 weight class). Kamaru Usman has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Vitor De Silva's chin.

De Silva
vs
Usman

184 cm
25
185
5 - 0 - 0

184 cm
24
182
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Vitor De Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kamaru Usman!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, David Hoff and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Usman dives in for a single leg takedown but De Silva sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
De Silva seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

Usman feints and as De Silva raises his hands in defense, Usman changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
De Silva is trying to control the position but Usman postures up.
De Silva knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Usman on the ground.
Usman controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
It looks like Usman might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
De Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Usman with a flurry of punches that miss.
De Silva being controlled here, momentarily.
De Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Usman is proving a slippery customer.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Usman working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Usman postures up in De Silva's guard and throws a big left but De Silva blocks it.
Usman stays in close to De Silva's body and controls the position.
Usman wants to control from the top but De Silva keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Silva throws the left hand but Usman avoids the punch easily.
Usman appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
De Silva defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Usman.

Usman drives through and clinches with De Silva against the cage.
De Silva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Usman is defending well for now.
De Silva prevents a takedown attempt there.
Vitor De Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kamaru Usman.
De Silva has a couple of punches blocked by Usman.
Usman has De Silva pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. De Silva manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Usman tries for a takedown but De Silva manages to get underhooks.
Usman tries for a takedown. No joy.
Usman is trying to drag De Silva to the mat but De Silva just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Usman goes for a takedown attempt but De Silva pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Silva works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Usman takes a shot to the body in his stride.
De Silva darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A telegraphed right hand from De Silva misses the target.
Usman with the counter takedown but De Silva avoids it easily.
De Silva scores with a nice head shot.
Donk. De Silva catches Usman right on the button with a cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
De Silva avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
De Silva scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Usman shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and De Silva connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
De Silva listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Usman's hands are dropping dangerously low here and De Silva connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Usman scrambles back to his feet.
De Silva scores with a jab. Usman acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Usman shoots in looking for a takedown but De Silva manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Usman's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Usman fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Usman swats away the attempt to clinch by De Silva.
Usman misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Usman has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Usman there as he acknowledges the shot.
De Silva scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Usman looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? De Silva is fending him off so far but Usman persists. Nope, De Silva circles away and we're back to standing.
Usman drops his hands momentarily and De Silva takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
De Silva misses with an uppercut.
Usman shoots in and drives through. De Silva sprawls well.
Usman shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has De Silva pinned against the cage. De Silva gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Usman changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. De Silva looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Usman creates some space and throws a big elbow, but De Silva sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Usman tries to move to mount but De Silva blocks the move with his legs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Usman working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Usman postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Usman wants to control but De Silva is keeping him busy.
An elbow from Usman crashes against the mat.
De Silva wants to control but Usman postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The strikes coming from Usman are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Usman working the ground and pound.

Usman tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Usman has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
De Silva is not content to let Usman control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor De Silva dominated that round.
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.

Usman tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but De Silva swivels and escapes.
Usman looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
De Silva misses with an uppercut.
Usman needs to keep his hands up - De Silva had a free shot at his head there.
Usman has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Usman there as he acknowledges the shot.
Usman moves away from the strike by De Silva.
Usman steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from De Silva.

Usman moves into the clinch.
Usman looking for a takedown.
Vitor De Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kamaru Usman.
Usman is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A bit of stalling here from De Silva.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Usman goes for a takedown attempt but De Silva pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
De Silva looks to land a left hand but Usman moved out of range nicely.
Usman looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? De Silva is fending him off so far but Usman persists. Nope, De Silva circles away and we're back to standing.
De Silva tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Usman manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Usman.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Usman moves into the clinch.
Usman blocks an uppercut.
Usman has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. De Silva is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Usman jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as De Silva walks away with a smile on his face. Usman gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Usman displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as De Silva throws out the jab.
De Silva connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Usman moves out of range of the strikes.
De Silva tries to clinch up

so Usman counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Usman pushing down on De Silva's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Usman seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but De Silva does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Usman moves into full mount! De Silva won't be happy about that!
De Silva tries to reverse the position but Usman maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Usman lands a couple of good shots and De Silva has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Usman throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
De Silva is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Usman somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.

Usman is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but De Silva has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Kamaru Usman has got the better of the ground game so far.

Usman has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, De Silva has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
You can see the frustration on De Silva's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Usman tries to keep control of the position but De Silva is staying busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Usman lands with a hammerfist to the side of De Silva's head.
Usman tries to keep control of the position but De Silva is staying busy.

Usman is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged De Silva with him. De Silva is trying to defend but Usman has an arm under the chin now! De Silva grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Kamaru Usman!