PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Claudio Barbosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wanderlei Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Claudio Barbosa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Barbosa
vs
Silva

180 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

181 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Claudio Barbosa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wanderlei Silva!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Paulo Santos and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silva clinches.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Barbosa blocks with his arms.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Barbosa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Barbosa.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Barbosa blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa goes for a takedown attempt but Silva pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.
Silva tries to clinch but Barbosa moves out of range.

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

Silva closes the distance and pushes Barbosa back into the cage.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Barbosa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Barbosa is blocking nicely.
Silva prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Claudio Barbosa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva stops a takedown attempt from Barbosa.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Barbosa's face.
Barbosa is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Barbosa blocks with his arms.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Claudio Barbosa has been cut.
Silva lands a knee to the head.
Barbosa is working for takedown but Silva is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's four 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.
Barbosa can't get the takedown.
Barbosa is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.
Silva prevents the takedown attempt.
Barbosa is breathing heavily.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Barbosa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Silva dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Claudio Barbosa's cut.
That's time! Barbosa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Silva landing knees to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Silva prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Silva fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Silva fails to land the takedown.
Silva tries to clinch there but Barbosa circles away.

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.
Barbosa shoots and misses

and Silva holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Claudio Barbosa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Barbosa's face.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Barbosa has Silva pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Silva manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barbosa has Silva pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Silva manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Silva is pressed up against the cage. Barbosa has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Silva down to the mat. Silva avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva clinches up with Barbosa and pushes him back against the cage.
Silva lands a knee to the head.
Barbosa takes a knee right on the jaw!
Silva scores with a knee to the head.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva gets underhooks to prevent Barbosa's takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Barbosa looking for a takedown.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Silva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Silva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Silva lands a knee to the head.

Claudio Barbosa's cut is getting worse.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Silva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Claudio Barbosa's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Silva fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Barbosa, pushing him back against the cage.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Barbosa's face.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Barbosa is blocking nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barbosa has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Silva is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Barbosa drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Silva gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Silva is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Claudio Barbosa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barbosa takes a knee right on the jaw!
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Barbosa is blocking nicely.

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.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Barbosa is blocking nicely.
Barbosa has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Silva avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Barbosa takes a knee right on the jaw!
Silva tries a knee to the head but Barbosa blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa is working for takedown but Silva is calmly controlling the position for now.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Barbosa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Barbosa goes for a takedown in the clinch but Silva prevents it.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Barbosa blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Barbosa's face.

That's four 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.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Barbosa blocks it.
Barbosa has Silva pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Silva manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Wanderlei Silva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Silva connects with a knee to the head.
Silva prevents a takedown attempt there.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wanderlei Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Silva winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wanderlei Silva!