PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Le Banner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adriano Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Adriano Silva told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Le Banner
vs
Silva

225 cm
22
274 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

215 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Likes ground

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Steve Le Banner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Adriano Silva!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Le Banner shoots for a double leg takedown but Silva sprawls well. He's pushed Le Banner's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Silva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Silva drives through and clinches with Le Banner against the cage.
Le Banner prevents the takedown attempt.
Le Banner looking for a takedown.
Le Banner goes for a takedown attempt but Silva pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Le Banner. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Le Banner looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Silva is looking to stand up but Le Banner isn't so interested in that idea.
Silva 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.
Le Banner stops Silva from standing up.
Le Banner really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Silva controls Le Banner momentarily but Le Banner frees himself.
Le Banner showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Le Banner wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Silva really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Le Banner. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Silva wants to stand but Le Banner is controlling the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Le Banner keeps the fight on the outside.
Le Banner fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Silva gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Le Banner from controlling successfully.
Le Banner wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.
Le Banner is breathing heavily.

Silva had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Le Banner is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Silva Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Le Banner's back instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Le Banner prevents Silva from getting a body triangle.
Le Banner covers up after that shot from Silva.
Le Banner covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Silva lands punches and elbows.
Silva lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Silva lands a shot to the body.
Silva punishes Le Banner with strikes from the back mount.
Silva not allowing Le Banner to control his hands.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Le Banner manages to escape to a better position under a series of strikes. Silva is now in side control.

Silva decides to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Le Banner tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Silva with a poor takedown

and Le Banner counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Silva is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Le Banner trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva wants to stand up but Le Banner is controlling him.
Le Banner slips nicely into half guard.
Le Banner is looking to take a break and control but Silva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Silva blocking the ground and pound attempt from Le Banner.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Le Banner prevents Silva from standing back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Le Banner tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Silva moves into the clinch.
Le Banner avoiding damage as Silva throws knees to the body.
Silva jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Le Banner walks away with a smile on his face. Silva gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Horrible takedown by Le Banner or perhaps it was just good defense by Silva which made him look bad.
Le Banner circles away from the clinch attempt

and Le Banner counters with a single leg into guard. Silva didn't expect that.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Le Banner is proving a slippery customer.
Le Banner working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Silva's head.
Silva wants to sweep here but Le Banner controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Silva closes the distance and clinches.

Le Banner ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Le Banner no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Le Banner trying to control the position.

Le Banner is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva is in close to Le Banner's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Silva working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Silva decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The fight stays on the outside here - Le Banner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Le Banner takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva with a lazy takedown attempt

and Le Banner counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Silva!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Le Banner trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Silva is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Le Banner with the ground and pound from mount.
Silva is working to get back to half guard.
Le Banner lands a heavy elbow.
Le Banner avoids the attempt from Silva to control.
Silva is trying desperately to improve position.
Silva throwing hammer fists to the chest of Le Banner. What's that going to do exactly?
Le Banner cracks Silva with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Silva is squirming around, avoiding Le Banner's attempts to control the action.
Silva avoids a series of strikes thrown by Le Banner.

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.

Le Banner looking to secure an arm triangle but Silva defends it well.
Silva is in all sorts of trouble here.
Le Banner breaks from Silva's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Le Banner has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Silva's face.
Steve Le Banner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Silva is trying to stand up.
Silva is trying to escape the mount.
Le Banner lands a heavy elbow.
Le Banner avoids the attempt from Silva to control.
Le Banner sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Silva squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Le Banner is working for a guillotine from mount but Silva frees his head quite easily.
Silva working to try and regain half guard.

Le Banner is working for a guillotine from mount but Silva frees his head quite easily.

Le Banner is working for a guillotine from mount but Silva frees his head quite easily.
Le Banner avoids the attempt from Silva to control.
Silva is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Le Banner sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Le Banner moves to the back position.

Le Banner is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Silva has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Silva holding both Le Banner 's hands and preventing any damage.
Le Banner has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Le Banner dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Silva tries to clinch

and Le Banner counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Silva!
Le Banner prevents Silva from getting the reversal.

Le Banner is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Silva is surviving well by controlling Le Banner's body position as best he can.
Silva is trying to escape the mount.
Silva is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Silva is squirming around, avoiding Le Banner's attempts to control the action.
Silva is trying desperately to improve position.
Silva wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva is squirming around, avoiding Le Banner's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to buck Le Banner off but he can't manage it.
Silva is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Le Banner controlling from mount.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.

Le Banner is going olschool here, as he tries to force Silva to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Silva shrugs it off.
Silva is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Le Banner prevents Silva from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Silva is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Le Banner is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Silva can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Silva tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Silva tries to hold on but Le Banner pushes him away.
Silva sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Silva actively working from the bottom here.
Silva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Le Banner prevents Silva from standing back up.
Le Banner with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Le Banner trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.

Silva makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Le Banner circles away from the clinch attempt
and Le Banner counters with a stiff right hand.

Silva drives through and clinches with Le Banner against the cage.
Silva trying to control the position but instead, Le Banner has worked for underhooks and has pushed Silva into the cage.
Silva tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Le Banner just stands there and leans against the cage.
Silva wants to break the clinch but can't.

Le Banner pulls guard effortlessly.
Le Banner looking to control.
Silva pushing down on Le Banner's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Silva wants to stand up but Le Banner has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva seems to be working for a kimura but Le Banner defends the submission attempt.
Silva is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Le Banner wants to control but Silva is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Silva is pressing down on Le Banner's thigh, looking to free his foot. Le Banner is holding on for now.
Le Banner wants to control but Silva is keeping busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Silva bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Silva throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Silva tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Silva working away.

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 Steve Le Banner.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Le Banner, 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Le Banner!