PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Brock Keller (ranked 4058 p4p, 6034 weight class) and Damiano Silva (ranked 352 p4p, 460 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Silva's choice of entrance music: Apaga mas não bate. Damiano Silva will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Keller
vs
Silva

150 cm
18
145
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
143
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brock Keller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Damiano Silva!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Hugh Johnson and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silva gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Silva looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Keller postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Silva is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Keller, into his guard.

Keller looking for a guillotine here but Silva defends easily.
Silva working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Keller is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Keller looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Silva drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Keller dives on top into guard.

Keller thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Keller pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.
Keller trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Keller is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Silva is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Keller is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Silva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Keller doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Keller manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Keller pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keller definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Keller might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Keller passes Silva's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Keller is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Silva defends it well.

Keller is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Silva is just riding it out for now. Keller eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Keller is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Silva has managed to free his arm - good work.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Keller closes the distance and clinches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Brock Keller dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Keller closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Keller thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Keller swings around for an armbar but Silva sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Keller's guard.
Brock Keller overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Keller utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Silva is looking to work some ground and pound but Keller has wrist control.
Silva is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Keller throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Keller has his foot on Silva's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Silva works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Keller 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.
Keller working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Silva.

Keller has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Silva can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Keller is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Silva can do to turn this around?

Keller had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Silva defends it easily.

Keller has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Silva can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Silva throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Keller has his foot on Silva's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Silva works his way back into a safe position though.

Silva drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Keller dives on top into guard.

Silva is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Keller is aware though and is defending well.
Keller advances to half guard.
Silva is not content to let Keller control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Keller is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Silva sees it coming and defends easily.
Silva felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Keller wants to work for an arm triangle but Silva is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Silva is looking for a sweep. Keller is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Keller is looking for a kimura here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Keller has closed the distance and engaged Silva in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Keller has hold of one of Silva's legs. Silva is fighting the takedown attempt but Keller gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Keller drops back looking for a leg! Silva is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Silva manages to kick Keller off! Keller jumps back into Silva's guard.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Keller from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Brock Keller dominated that second round.
That's time! Keller's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Silva moves away from the strike by Keller.
Silva is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Keller rushes Silva and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Keller manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Keller looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Keller knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Silva on the ground.

Keller has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Silva can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Keller is looking for a triangle but Silva pushes his legs off easily.
Keller on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Keller tries to get out of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Keller escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Silva gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Silva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Silva drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Silva jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Keller is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Silva defends well.

Keller escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Silva gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Silva is looking to work some ground and pound but Keller has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Silva throws a big elbow that misses.

Silva avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Keller has his foot on Silva's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Silva works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Silva drops back, looking for a kneebar! Keller looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Keller looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Keller!

Keller tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Keller has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Keller thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Keller working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Keller working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Keller is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Silva has escaped the position, nice work there.

Keller working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Damiano Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Keller is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Silva has escaped the position, nice work there.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brock Keller showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Keller has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brock Keller!
A victorious Brock Keller thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
Damiano Silva spoke after the fight, saying 'Sou ruim memo'.