PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jackson Silva (ranked 1893 p4p, 3594 weight class) and Herbert Justen (ranked 223 p4p, 400 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Silva
vs
Justen

188 cm
31
250
15 - 11 - 0

198 cm
23
236
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Good low kicks
Granite chin

Fantasy Threads

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 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jackson Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Herbert Justen!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Joseph Jones and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Silva.
Silva throws a left and a right that both miss
and Justen counters with a stiff right hand.
We've been hearing reports that Silva has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Justen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A head kick misses from Silva.
Justen tries to clinch up but Silva circles away and keeps his distance.
Justen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Justen lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Justen throws a big shot that misses.
Silva shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Silva is looking to land body kicks.
Justen is looking to clinch.
Silva takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Silva misses with a series of wild punches.
Justen throws a fast counter high kick but Silva manages to duck under it in time.
Justen throws a combination that misses

and Silva counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Justen is looking to reverse the position.
Silva tries to move to mount but Justen blocks the move with his legs.
Silva advances nicely into full mount.
Silva fails to take his opponent's back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Justen is trying to escape the mount.
Justen gets back to half guard.

Justen looking for submissions off his back.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Silva in particular looking to stall.
Silva trying to control from half guard but Justen is working away.
Justen is trying to maintain the position but Silva is very close to passing his half guard.
Justen tries to roll over but Silva keeps him under control.

Justen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Justen wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to free his trapped foot but Justen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Silva moves nicely into side control.
Justen tries to improve position but can't.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Silva trying to control the position but Justen is working away.
Justen manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Justen is looking for a sweep. Silva is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Silva wants to pass to mount but Justen is defending the position.
Silva trying to control from half guard but Justen is working away.
Silva works his way into full mount!
Silva trying to control but Justen is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Justen 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.
Justen is looking to improve his position.
Justen trying to control but Silva postures up.
Silva trying to pass the guard but Justen defending well.
Justen moves into full guard.
Justen lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Silva is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Silva has Justen pulled in close to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Justen wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Silva keeping full guard, as Justen tries to pass.
Justen is looking to pass into half guard but Silva pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Silva is in guard.

Justen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Silva defends it easily.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Justen is keeping the position.
Silva wants to control from the top but Justen keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jackson Silva will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

No luck for Justen with that takedown attempt.
Jackson Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A punch combination from Silva misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Silva throws a leg kick but Justen checks it.
Silva throws a sloppy head kick
and Justen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A head kick misses from Justen.
Justen throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Silva tries to counter with a takedown but Justen is quick to defend against it.
Silva just misses with a punch to the body.
Silva moves out of range as Justen strikes.
Silva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Justen blocks a head kick by Silva.
Justen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Silva.
Silva misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Justen tries to clinch up but Silva circles away and keeps his distance.
Justen shoots for a takedown but Silva saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Silva changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Nice uppercut there from Silva.
Silva swinging wildly here.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Justen! But no joy.
Silva throws a series of punches but Justen avoids them all with ease.
A lazy left from Justen finds it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva misses with a straight left.
A bone on bone clash there as Justen blocks the leg kick.
A little jabbing left from Justen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Justen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Silva.
Justen throws a body shot but no joy.
Silva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Justen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Silva as he jumps to the side.
Jackson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Herbert Justen.
Silva slaps away a takedown attempt from Justen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Justen misses with an uppercut

so Silva counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Justen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Justen can't keep his opponent in guard - Silva advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Jackson Silva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Silva thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Justen's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Silva is working hard here to advance position.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Silva moves nicely into side control.
Justen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Silva wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Silva tries to move to mount but Justen blocks the move with his legs.
Silva advances nicely into full mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silva tries to control but Justen wriggling away.
Justen tries to reverse the position but Silva maintains control.
Silva wants to take Justen's back but he can't do it this time.
Silva controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Justen is trying to escape the mount.
Justen is still trying to improve position.
Silva trying to control but Justen is having none of it.
Justen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Justen 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 is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Justen can do to turn this around?
Silva trying to pass the guard but Justen defending well.
Silva seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Justen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Justen actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to mount his opponent but Justen defends it.

Silva is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Justen 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.
Silva works his way into full mount!
Justen is looking to improve his position but Silva isn't that keen on the idea.
Silva tries to control but Justen wriggling away.
Justen slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Justen keeps working.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jackson Silva dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Silva takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Justen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Justen throws a lazy head kick

and Silva counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Silva wants to take a breather but Justen is having none of it.
Silva is thwarting Justen's attempts to control the position.

Justen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Silva pulls his head out easily.
Silva uses his free foot to push down on Justen's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Justen.
Justen tries to hold on but Silva postures up.
Justen prevents Silva from taking his back.
Justen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Silva wants to control the pace but Justen is squirming around nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva controlling from mount.
Justen manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Silva wants to take a breather but Justen is having none of it.
Justen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Silva controlling the pace.

Silva moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Justen.
Justen is not content to let Silva control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Justen is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Justen gets full guard.
Justen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Justen looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Silva passes into side control.
Justen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Silva wants to control but Justen is keeping him busy.
Justen wants to control but Silva postures up.
Silva trying to control the action but Justen is working from the bottom.
Silva works to advance to full mount. Justen defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva looking to control and managing it successfully.
Justen sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Silva trying to pass the guard but Justen defending well.
Silva has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Herbert Justen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Justen is trying desperately to improve position.
Silva works his way to his opponent's back.
Justen looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Justen wants to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to control but Justen is keeping busy.
Silva throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Silva gets his hands free as Justen looks to control.
Justen is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Justen staying busy and making it hard for Silva to control.
Justen trying to control but not successfully.
Silva keeps control of the position as Justen tries to break free.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva tries to keep control of the position but Justen is staying busy.

Silva has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Jackson Silva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Silva has good solid back control here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jackson Silva showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Silva, 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jackson Silva!
Herbert Justen was interviewed post fight and said 'F*** '.