PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between George Armani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Montanha Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Armani
vs
Silva

223 cm
22
302 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight 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, George Armani!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Montanha Silva!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Alexandre Firmino and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silva rushes Armani and presses him up against the cage.

Silva manages to break the clinch.
Armani showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Silva.

Silva scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Silva really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Armani. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Silva blocks the strikes from Armani.
Armani is trying to get back to full guard.
Armani pushes Silva off looking to stand but Silva dives back in and keeps control.
Nice strikes from Silva there.
Silva blocks the strikes from Armani.
Silva tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Silva is thwarting Armani's attempts to control the position.
Armani misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Armani misses with an uppercut.
Silva closes the distance and clinches up with Armani, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes Armani against the cage but Armani circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Silva shoots in but no luck this time.
Silva tries to clinch but Armani moves out of range.
Armani looks for a takedown but Silva sprawls well.
Armani circles away from the clinch attempt.
Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Armani counters with a takedown into side control.
George Armani has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Montanha Silva.
Silva taking a bit of punishment here - Armani scoring with strikes.
Silva tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Armani wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Silva's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Armani is breathing heavily.
Armani lands a few punches from side control.
Armani lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Silva is trying to control Armani's posture but Armani avoids it.
Silva manages to work his way to half guard, despite Armani's best efforts.
Armani prevents Silva from improving his position.
Armani missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armani thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Silva tries to roll over but Armani keeps him under control.
Armani working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Silva is refusing to be controlled, as Armani sits in half guard.

Silva is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Armani pulls his head out easily.
Silva tries to get to full guard but Armani has control of the leg.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Armani gets the takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva is looking to regain half guard here but Armani keeps moving and retains side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Armani in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Silva is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Armani connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Silva some visible discomfort.
Armani working the ground and pound.
Silva tries to buck Armani off but Armani is having none of it.
Armani lands an elbow.
Armani scores with punches from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Armani swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.

Armani shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Armani was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Silva is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Silva is looking to get to half guard.
Armani is landing with some decent strikes but Silva is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Armani lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Armani avoids the attempt from Silva to control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The referee warns Silva that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armani avoids the attempt from Silva to control.
BOOM! Armani connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Armani unloading with bombs!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Armani cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Silva regains half guard.
Silva blocking the ground and pound attempt from Armani.
Armani looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Silva with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Armani missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Silva wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva punching from the bottom.
Silva works his way to full guard. Good work.
Armani trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Armani from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Silva shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Armani to counter with a crisp jab.
Armani moves in looking to clinch but Silva pushes him off.

Silva clinches up against the cage.
Armani prevents the takedown attempt.
Armani gets underhooks to prevent Silva's takedown attempt.
George Armani has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Montanha Silva.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva goes for a takedown in the clinch but Armani prevents it.

Silva has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Armani uses from the top position.
Silva wants to sweep but no luck.
Armani working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Silva's head.
Armani working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
George Armani overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Armani postures up and lands a big shot to Silva's brow.
Armani lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Silva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Armani trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Armani working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Armani fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Armani paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Silva throws a head kick that misses.

Silva feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Silva trying to control but Armani is working from the bottom.
Silva looking to pass the guard.
Silva must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Armani throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that George Armani will probably get the nod.
That's time! Armani's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Armani counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Armani scoring with punches to the head and body.
Silva is trying to keep Armani in close.
Silva is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Armani lands a couple of digs.
Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Armani passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Silva can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armani landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Armani grinds an elbow into Silva's temple.
Silva managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Armani.
Armani working away.
Armani lands an elbow.
Armani wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silva keeps working.
Silva sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Armani is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Silva taking some punishment here, with Armani in his half guard.

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 wants to improve his position but Armani is controlling well.
Armani landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Silva is pressing down on Armani's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Armani missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Silva trying to control the position.
Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Armani working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Armani 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Armani loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Armani scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Silva trying to control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A telegraphed right hand from Silva misses the target.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt

and Armani counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Silva keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Armani perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Armani is trying to control the action in half guard but Silva is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Silva trying to control but Armani postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva is looking to improve his position.
Armani looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Armani working the head and body with strikes.
Armani working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Armani is keen to just control but Silva is a slippery customer.
Silva is looking for a sweep. Armani is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Silva tries to clinch up.
Silva with a poor takedown

and Armani counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Montanha Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
George Armani is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
George Armani has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Montanha Silva.
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.
Armani working some strikes from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Armani showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Armani, 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Armani!