PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Salazar Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Freitas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Salazar Silva had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 186.3lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. The key to victory for Salazar Silva has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Silva
vs
Freitas

197 cm
18
201 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
22
184 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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, Salazar Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mauricio Freitas!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Alexandre Firmino and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Freitas throws a body punch but Silva moves out of range.
Silva just misses with a punch to the body.

Freitas shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Silva wants to control but Freitas is keeping busy.
Silva is doing well to control the position and prevent Freitas from advancing to side control.

Freitas stands up out of the half guard.

Silva scores a takedown into full mount!
Silva trying to control but Freitas is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Freitas really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Silva wants to take his opponent's back but Freitas doesn't allow it.
Freitas just holding on.
Silva will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Silva is looking to stand but Silva has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freitas is working to get back to half guard.
Silva trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Silva tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Freitas wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Silva.
Freitas manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Freitas looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Silva thows a huge punch but Freitas dodges it nicely.
Silva thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Freitas's head.
Silva seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Freitas does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Freitas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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.
Freitas trying to control here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Silva with a lazy takedown attempt

and Freitas counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Silva manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Silva is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Freitas is aware though and is defending well.
Freitas slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Silva wants to control but Freitas postures up.
Freitas trying to control the position but Silva is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Freitas dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Silva doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Freitas holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Freitas wants a takedown but no success here.
Freitas working hard to break the clinch.

Freitas has hold of one of Silva's legs. Silva is fighting the takedown attempt but Freitas gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Silva wants to sweep here but Freitas controlling him for the moment.
Silva keeping full guard, as Freitas tries to pass.
Silva wants to stand up but Freitas is controlling him.

Silva looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to strike from the bottom.

Freitas stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Silva misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Freitas misses with a jab to the body
and Silva counters with a head kick.
No luck for Freitas with that takedown attempt.
Silva looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Freitas is fending him off so far but Silva persists. Nope, Freitas circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Salazar Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Freitas tries for a takedown but Silva circles away easily
and Silva counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Freitas has managed to clinch.
Silva lands a damaging elbow.
Silva drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Freitas gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Freitas is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Silva tries to score a body lock takedown but Freitas shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Silva pulls Freitas into guard.
Freitas tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.
Silva has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freitas preventing the sweep.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Freitas from controlling successfully.
Silva has his hands on Freitas's head, controlling the position.
Freitas wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Silva tries for a takedown but Freitas circles away easily

and Freitas counters with a single leg into guard. Silva didn't expect that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Freitas won't allow Silva to sweep him here.
Freitas trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.

Silva is looking for a triangle but Freitas pushes his legs off easily.
Silva wants to sweep here but Freitas controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Freitas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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 checks the leg kick nicely there.
Silva dives in and grabs Freitas's left leg, looking for a takedown. Freitas pushes down on Silva's head and hops out.
Silva keeps the fight on the outside.
Freitas shoots in but no luck this time.
Silva doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Freitas counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva wants to stand and escape but Freitas is having none of it.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Freitas from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Freitas won't allow Silva to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freitas trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Freitas pushes down on Silva's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Silva tries to roll over but Freitas keeps him under control.
Silva has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Freitas is working away from the top position though.
Freitas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silva keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Freitas takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Silva has his takedown stuffed

so Freitas counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Salazar Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Freitas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.
Freitas trying to stand up but can't free himself from Silva's guard.

Silva has his feet on Freitas's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Freitas closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Silva to the mat! Silva manages to get full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freitas slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Silva is adopting a defensive guard.
Silva looking to control.
Freitas tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.
Silva knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Freitas on the ground.
Silva pulls Freitas in to control the position.
Silva wants to sweep but no luck.

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.
Freitas is pushing down on Silva's leg trying to pass to half guard. Silva is fighting to maintain full guard but Freitas has managed to sneak the leg through.
Silva wants to control but Freitas is keeping busy.
Mauricio Freitas has got the better of the ground game so far.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.
Freitas sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Freitas wants to take a breather but Silva is having none of it.
Freitas throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mauricio Freitas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Freitas 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mauricio Freitas!