PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wanderlei Silva (ranked 3931 p4p, 3269 weight class) and Paolo Maldini (ranked 388 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Silva
vs
Maldini

184 cm
25
190
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
25
187
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Northern Zombie

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wanderlei Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Paolo Maldini!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Daniel Cesar and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Silva misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Wanderlei Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maldini tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Silva was well out of range. Poor timing from Maldini.

Maldini gets tackled into the cage by Silva. Silva maintains the clinch.
Maldini is pressed up against the cage. Silva has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Maldini down to the mat. Maldini avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Silva throws a shot to the body.
Silva fails to land the takedown.
Maldini displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Silva.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wanderlei Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Silva forces Maldini back against the cage and clinches.
Maldini has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldini tries to break free but Silva pushes him back against the cage.
Silva prevents Maldini from breaking the clinch.
Maldini can't break the clinch.
Maldini is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Maldini is trying to push Silva away but Silva has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Silva has Maldini pressed against the cage, preventing Maldini from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Maldini is trying to force a seperation but Silva has the dominant position.
Maldini avoiding damage as Silva throws knees to the body.
Silva has Maldini pressed against the cage, preventing Maldini from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Maldini is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Maldini gets underhooks to prevent Silva's takedown attempt.

Silva escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Silva closes the distance and pushes Maldini back into the cage.
Maldini wants to break free but Silva has control.
Maldini looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Silva prevents Maldini from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A frustrated look appears on Maldini's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Maldini looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Silva wants to take the fight to the mat but Maldini manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Maldini wants to break free but Silva has control.
Silva wants to take the fight to the mat but Maldini manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Silva swings widly with a right hand
and Maldini counters with a one-two to the body.
Maldini avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Maldini scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Silva takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Silva is rocked!
Maldini sees an opening and throws a straight punch right through Silva's defenses. It connects perfectly with Silva's jaw and knocks him out cold! Wow - that's a contender for knockout of the year - absolutely brutal!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:50 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Paolo Maldini!