PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carter Veroni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anderson Silva has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Silva
vs
Veroni

187 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

171 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anderson Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Carter Veroni!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Felipe Paraventi and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Veroni fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Veroni closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Silva did well to prevent Veroni getting side control.

Veroni is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Silva is just riding it out for now. Veroni eventually gives up the hold.
Silva wants to get back to full guard.

Veroni is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Silva sees it coming and defends easily.
Veroni should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Veroni is trying to work for a kimura but Silva is defending well.

Veroni seems to be looking for submissions.
Veroni looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is trying to get back to full guard.
Silva is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Veroni's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Veroni's back!
Veroni breaks Silva's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Veroni drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Silva manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Veroni has Silva in his guard.

Silva avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Veroni looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Silva content to stall in guard here.
Silva will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Silva avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Silva is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

Veroni had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Silva is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Veroni Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Silva's back instead.

Veroni looking for the RNC.
Veroni is not going to allow Silva to sit and survive in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Silva is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Silva trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Veroni is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carter Veroni dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Veroni looks for a takedown but Silva sprawls well.
Veroni shoots for a double leg takedown but Silva sprawls well. He's pushed Veroni's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Carter Veroni seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Veroni is trying hard to land a takedown here. Silva sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Anderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carter Veroni.

Silva moves into the clinch.
A knee to the head by Silva.
Silva is pressed up against the cage. Veroni 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.
Silva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Silva closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Veroni is breathing heavily.
Silva utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Veroni wants a takedown but no success here.
Veroni tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Knees to the body from Silva.

Silva manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva seems keen to control Veroni's posture.

Veroni postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Silva is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Veroni, into his guard.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Veroni is keeping the position.

Veroni has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Silva is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Veroni.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veroni tries to bench press Silva off him but Silva keeps the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Veroni shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Silva but Silva pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Silva tries to clinch up.
Silva defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Veroni.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Veroni is defended easily by Silva.
Silva stuffs the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Veroni fails with the takedown.
Veroni shoots in looking for a takedown. Silva tries to sprawl out of it but Veroni keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Silva manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Veroni throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Silva's waist but Silva gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Veroni off to one side.
Veroni shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Silva pinned against the cage. Silva gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Veroni closes the distance and clinches up with Silva, looking for a takedown. Veroni pushes Silva against the cage but Silva circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva tries to clinch there but Veroni circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Silva dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Silva stuffs the takedown.
Veroni looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Silva is fending him off so far but Veroni persists. Nope, Silva circles away and we're back to standing.

Silva shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Veroni looking for submissions off his back.

Veroni actively working from the bottom here.

Veroni actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva controlling the pace.

Veroni looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Silva prevents Veroni from improving his position.

Veroni looking for subs from the bottom but Silva mounts him!

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.
Veroni keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Veroni is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Silva controlling from mount.
Veroni bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Veroni drops back, looking for a kneebar! Silva looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Silva looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Silva!
Veroni is looking to reverse the position.

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.
Veroni regains half guard.
Veroni is trying to get back to full guard.
Veroni won't allow Silva to pass to mount.

Veroni actively working from the bottom here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Veroni misses with a takedown

and Silva counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Anderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carter Veroni.
Veroni drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Silva gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Veroni tries to score a body lock takedown but Silva shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Silva prevents the takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anderson Silva showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Silva has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28

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