PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rich Silva Jr (ranked 253 p4p, 330 weight class) and Solomon Nao (ranked 35 p4p, 50 weight class). Silva Jr kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Sleeping Giant. Nao has chosen The End as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Solomon Nao enters the cage!

Silva Jr
vs
Nao

198 cm
31
268
20 - 11 - 0

190 cm
36
258
32 - 12 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
Altitude Clothing

Urban Fighter
UnderGround Clothing Co.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rich Silva Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Solomon Nao!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Ren Mimura and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nao throws a half hearted mid kick.
Silva Jr misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nao.
Silva Jr tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nao swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Silva Jr wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Donk. Silva Jr catches Nao right on the button with a cross.
Silva Jr throws a quick inside leg kick.
Silva Jr throws a right hand that misses
and Nao connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Silva Jr swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nao throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva Jr misses with a straight left.
Nao works the jab nicely.
Silva Jr tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nao was well out of range. Poor timing from Silva Jr.
Nao moves into range and connects with a jab.
Silva Jr takes a swing at Nao's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nao listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Silva Jr avoids a kick to the body.
Silva Jr keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Silva Jr tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Nao manages to circle out of the way.
Silva Jr looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Nao ducks under a wild hook from Silva Jr.
Silva Jr is looking to wear down Nao with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Silva Jr with a nice calf kick.
Nao misses with a wild body shot.
Silva Jr just misses with a punch to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Silva Jr misses the target.

Silva Jr pushes Nao up against the cage in a clinch.
Nao working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Silva Jr blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Silva Jr manages to pull guard.
Silva Jr wants to sweep here but Nao controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nao looking to pass the guard.

Silva Jr working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nao doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nao manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Nao looking to pass the guard.
Nao controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Let's hope that Nao has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva Jr wants to sweep but no luck.
Nao is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nao throws a looping overhand right but Silva Jr ducks down to avoid it.
Silva Jr seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Silva Jr looks to throw the jab but Nao is out of range.
Nao tries to work over Silva Jr's front leg with a kick but Silva Jr checks it.
Nao throws a chopping leg kick but Silva Jr manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Nao misses with a looping right.
Nao misses with an uppercut.
Silva Jr bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva Jr fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Nao takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Nao throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Silva Jr.
A looping hook to the body misses from Silva Jr. Nao does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nao tries a quick counter leg kick but Silva Jr is wise to it.

Silva Jr has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nao throws a head punch that misses.
Nao misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nao misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Silva Jr.
A head punch on the inside from Nao fails to land.
Nao lands a body shot in the clinch.
Nao pushes Silva Jr back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Silva Jr is breathing heavily.
A nice right hand lands inside from Nao.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silva Jr jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nao walks away with a smile on his face. Silva Jr gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Silva Jr avoids a kick to the body.
Nao misses with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Solomon Nao dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nao throws a big shot that misses.
Silva Jr lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Nao at a distance.
Nao paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Silva Jr misses with a looping right.
Nao throws a shot from downtown. Silva Jr moves away and avoids it.
Silva Jr throws a jab when Nao was well out of range.
Silva Jr fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nao.
Silva Jr misses with a body shot
and Silva Jr takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Silva Jr stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Nao.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva Jr jabs Nao to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A combination from Nao does no damage.
Silva Jr wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Silva Jr slips a jab from Nao.
Nao pivots, looking for a leg kick but Silva Jr is out of range and Nao settles back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Silva Jr. Nao does a little dance to reset his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Silva Jr. Nao does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nao misses with a leg kick.
Silva Jr scores with a nice strike.

Nao tries to keep at a distance but Silva Jr has taken the fight into the clinch.
Silva Jr lands a right hand.
A hook to the body from Silva Jr.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Silva Jr misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nao softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Silva Jr goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nao tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Silva Jr blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Silva Jr jumps guard but Nao stands there with Silva Jr around his waist. Silva Jr gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nao misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva Jr tries to pull guard but Nao holds him up against the cage and eventually Silva Jr drops back down to his feet.
Nao throws a head punch that misses.
Nao lands a left hand.
Nao misses with a hook to the ribs.
A right handed body shot lands from Silva Jr.
Nao lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Silva Jr has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Nao uses from the top position.
Silva Jr keeping full guard, as Nao tries to pass.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Nao. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Nao is looking to stand up but Silva Jr won't let him.

Nao decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Silva Jr, up you get!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva Jr falls off balance throwing a combination
and Nao counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nao takes one on the button.
Good exchange - Silva Jr coming out on top.
Silva Jr ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Nao walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Silva Jr checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Silva Jr fails with an attempt to clinch.
Solomon Nao seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nao tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Silva Jr was well out of range. Poor timing from Nao.
Silva Jr throws a combination that misses
and Nao counters with a straight right hand.
Nao keeps the fight on the outside.
Nao steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Nao throws a hook but Silva Jr avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva Jr throws a jab when Nao was well out of range.
Silva Jr misses with a wild body shot.
Nao looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Nao takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Silva Jr throws a front kick aimed at Nao's knee but Nao avoids it well.
Nao appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Silva Jr tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Nao is able to avoid easily.
Silva Jr with a jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silva Jr is looking to clinch.
Silva Jr lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Silva Jr scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Silva Jr tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nao was well out of range. Poor timing from Silva Jr.
Nao flicks out a counter leg kick but Silva Jr steps away.
Nao throws a leg kick but Silva Jr sees it coming and moves out of range.
Silva Jr tries to close the distance and clinch but Nao swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
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 Rich Silva Jr will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Silva Jr dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Silva Jr misses the body punch
and Nao counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Silva Jr takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Silva Jr cracks Nao with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Nao looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Silva Jr with the inside leg kick.
Nao uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Silva Jr.
Silva Jr backing away here, and Nao unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Silva Jr tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nao manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A countering left hand to the body from Nao misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva Jr on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Silva Jr checks the leg kick nicely there.
Nao scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Silva Jr thows a body kick. Nao tries to catch it but that hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva Jr scores with a shot to the body.
Nao tests Silva Jr's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nao avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Silva Jr looks for the body kick but Nao saw that one coming.
Silva Jr ducks under a wild hook from Nao.
Nao connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Silva Jr momentarily.
Silva Jr is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nao.
Silva Jr misses with a body kick.
Silva Jr uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nao.
Silva Jr punishes Nao's body with a nice straight punch.
Silva Jr lands with a kick to the ribs.
Silva Jr rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Nao makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nao slips a jab and a cross from Silva Jr.
Nao swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Silva Jr misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nao.
Nao looks to throw the jab but Silva Jr is out of range.
Nao gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Silva Jr.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva Jr misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nao.
Nao misses with a body kick.
Silva Jr throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nao sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nao looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Silva Jr feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Naos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Silva Jr moves to clinch but Nao breaks away
and Nao cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Silva Jr throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nao swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva Jr.
Nao lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Nao ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Rich Silva Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nao misses with a hook.
Silva Jr tries to clinch but fails miserably
letting Nao counter with a right hand.
Nao looks to land a body kick but Silva Jr moved away.
Silva Jr tries to clinch
and Nao counters with a nice body shot.
Silva Jr moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Nao throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Silva Jr tries to counter by clinching up but Nao breaks away and moves out of range.
Nao throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Silva Jr throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva Jr ducks under a wild hook from Nao.
Nao on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Silva Jr smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Silva Jr looks to clinch
and Nao connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva Jr misses with a hook
and Nao connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Silva Jr is rocked!
Silva Jr slips a straight right by Nao.
Silva Jr shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Oh Silva Jr is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Silva Jr wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Some bone on bone action there as Nao checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Silva Jr swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Nao connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Silva Jr tries to close the distance and clinch but Nao swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Solomon Nao.
I think Nao 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Solomon Nao!
Solomon Nao thanked the fans post fight for their support.
Rich Silva Jr was interviewed post fight and said 'Me hungry!'.