PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Wanderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vedad Zilic (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.

Silva
vs
Zilic

180 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wanderson Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vedad Zilic!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva shoots in but no luck this time.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zilic as he avoids it easily.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zilic as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wanderson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Silva looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zilic is fending him off so far but Silva persists. Nope, Zilic circles away and we're back to standing.

Silva gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Zilic trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Silva is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Zilic from controlling successfully.
Zilic pushes down on Silva's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zilic tries to stand but can't do so whilst Silva controls his leg.

Zilic decides to stand up.

Zilic drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Zilic won't allow Silva to sweep him here.
Zilic connects with a couple of short punches.
Zilic stands up over Silva, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Zilic gets to his feet - Silva follows without any prompting.

Zilic gets a takedown into half guard.
Zilic passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zilic trying to control but Silva is having none of it.
Silva tries to control Zilic's body but Zilic pushes him off. Silva squirms to his side and now Zilic has his back!
Silva trying to control the hands but Zilic won't let him.
Silva is in bad spot here.
Silva trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Silva's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Silva is working hard here to advance position.
Zilic scores with strikes from the back.
Zilic is hanging on to Silva's back as he tries to escape.
Zilic doesn't have the hooks in and Silva manages to turn into his guard.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zilic is keeping the position for now.

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

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Silva shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Zilic counters with a takedown into side control.

Zilic stands up and beckons Silva to his feet.
Silva misses with a takedown

and Zilic decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Silva's guard.
Zilic stopping the sweep attempt from Silva.

Zilic drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zilic jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Silva wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Zilic is now in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Zilic stands up from half guard.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vedad Zilic dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Zilic closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Zilic lands in his opponent's guard.

Silva throws his legs up looking for a submission but Zilic uses it to pass to side control.

Zilic is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Silva knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Vedad Zilic has got the better of the ground game so far.

Zilic is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Silva knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Silva is trying to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zilic is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Silva knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Silva stops Zilic from passing to mount.
Silva sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Zilic takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Silva wants to improve his position but Zilic is controlling well.
Silva is trying to control but can't.
Silva tries to get to full guard but Zilic has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zilic is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Zilic prevents Silva from improving his position.

Zilic stands up from half guard.
Silva throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Wanderson Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva fails with the takedown

and Zilic counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Zilic wants to work for an arm triangle but Silva is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Zilic is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zilic moves into full mount! Silva won't be happy about that!
Zilic fails to move to back control.

Zilic moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Silva has worked his arm free - good work by Silva!
Silva sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Silva tries to get to full guard but Zilic has control of the leg.
Zilic wants to take a breather but Silva is having none of it.
Silva trying to hold on to Zilic's head to control him but Zilic postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva manages to get to full guard.
Silva looking to control.
Silva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Zilic from controlling successfully.
Silva trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zilic throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Silva's head.
Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Zilic moves into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Zilic manages to break the clinch.
Silva with a poor takedown

and Zilic counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vedad Zilic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Silva with a poor takedown

so Zilic counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Zilic gets to his feet. Silva looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Zilic darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Zilic looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Zilic passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Silva!
Zilic prevents Silva from getting the reversal.
Zilic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zilic is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Silva has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Silva!

Silva postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Zilic is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Silva, into his guard.
Silva throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Zilic won't allow Silva to sweep him here.

Silva is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Zilic wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Zilic passes into side control.
Zilic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Zilic working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Silva wants to control but Zilic postures up.
Silva is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Silva's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is looking for a sweep.

Zilic decides to stand back up.
Silva throws a left and a right that both miss
and Zilic counters with a thumping low kick.
Silva fails with the takedown

and Zilic counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Silva trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Zilic manages to pass to mount!
Silva is wriggling around trying to escape.

Zilic has hold of Silva's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Silva manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Silva tries to improve his position but instead Zilic has taken his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to escape the position.
Zilic tries to keep control of the position but Silva is staying busy.
Zilic is not going to allow Silva to sit and survive in this position.

Zilic is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Silva is defending well though. Zilic let's go of the attempt for now.

Zilic working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
I really don't envy Silva right now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vedad Zilic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zilic has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 26:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vedad Zilic!