PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Silvia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Silvia
vs
Richards

190 cm
24
275 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

190 cm
19
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

The Fighter's Ultimate Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thiago Silvia!
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, Ben Richards!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richards tries to clinch there but Silvia circles away.
Richards wants to clinch.
Richards is looking to clinch but Silvia is avoiding it.
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silvia paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Richards forces Silvia back against the cage and clinches.
Richards lands a nice shot to the body.
Richards tries a knee to the head but Silvia blocks it.
Richards has had enough of the clinch but Silvia keeps him there for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richards prevents a takedown attempt there.
Richards lands a nice shot to the body.

Silvia turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Silvia manages to end up in side control.
Silvia working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silvia is chipping away with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards is trying to escape the position but Silvia is controlling the position.
Silvia is looking to take a break and control but Richards is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Richards tries to bench press Silvia off him but Silvia keeps the position.
Silvia scores with punches from side control.
Richards can't do much from the bottom here.
Silvia controlling the position.
Richards wants to control but Silvia postures up.
Silvia works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Silvia wants to control but Richards is keeping him busy.
Richards takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silvia looks up at the clock and then as Richards takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Silvia smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Richards struggling a bit here.
Silvia grinds an elbow into Richards's temple.
Silvia trying to control the position but Richards is working away.
Richards takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Silvia trying to control the position but Richards is working away.
Silvia is breathing heavily.
Richards is looking for a sweep.
Richards is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Silvia has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Silvia is chipping away with strikes.
Richards taking punishment in the form of punches.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silvia is looking to take a break and control but Richards is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Silvia wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
You can see the frustration on Richards's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Silvia creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Silvia 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.
Richards is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Richards throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Richards tries to buck Silvia off but Silvia is having none of it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Richards is looking to clinch.
Richards tries to clinch but Silvia moves out of range.

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.
Silvia fails to land the takedown.
Richards dips to his left and cracks Silvia with an uppercut!
Silvia keeps the fight on the outside.
Richards wants to clinch up but Silvia keeps it at a distance.
Richards tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Richards wants to clinch.
Richards gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Silvia counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Richards doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Silvia counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Silvia missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Silvia trying to control the position from guard on top but Richards is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Richards working a defensive guard but Silvia manages to pass into side control anyway.
Richards can't do much from the bottom here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silvia in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Silvia is looking to take a break and control but Richards is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Richards tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Silvia wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Silvia's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Richards avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Silvia.
Silvia is nestled in close to Richards, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Silvia sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Richards defending well though.
Richards avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Silvia.
Richards is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Richards is looking to clinch but Silvia is avoiding it.
Richards tries to clinch there but Silvia circles away.

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.
Richards scores with a sloppy right hand. Silvia should have avoided that one.
Richards tries to clinch but Silvia moves away
and Silvia counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Richards wants to clinch up but Silvia keeps it at a distance.
Richards is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Richards fails with an attempt to clinch.
Richards wants to clinch.

Richards closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silvia takes an elbow to the temple.
Richards landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Richards jumps guard and drags Silvia to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Richards is trying to keep Silvia in close.
Richards keeping moving, preventing Silvia from controlling successfully.

Richards working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Silvia doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Silvia manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Silvia working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

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.
Richards keeping moving, preventing Silvia from controlling successfully.
Richards looking to hit a scissor sweep but Silvia is one step ahead there.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Silvia stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Silvia wants it to stay on the feet.
Richards fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ben Richards seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Richards moves in looking to clinch but Silvia pushes him off.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch up but Silvia swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Richards tries to clinch up but Silvia circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Silvia dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Richards is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Richards gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Silvia to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Richards wants to stand but Silvia is controlling the position.
Richards tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Richards is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Silvia wants to control from the top but Richards keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards wants to sweep but no luck.
Richards doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Richards is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Richards is looking to clinch but Silvia is avoiding it.
Richards fails with the takedown

and Silvia counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Silvia.
Richards looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Richards lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Thiago Silvia has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Silvia is working for takedown but Richards is calmly controlling the position for now.

Richards has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Silvia uses from the top position.
Richards not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Richards wants to stand up but Silvia is controlling him.
Richards utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Richards is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Richards keeping full guard, as Silvia tries to pass.
Silvia thows a big elbow that misses.
Richards lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Silvia!
Silvia taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silvia tries to buck Richards off but he can't manage it.
Richards can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Silvia is looking to escape.
Silvia trying desperately to get to his feet.
Silvia trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

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.
Richards tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Richards lands with some strikes.
Silvia is squirming around, avoiding Richards's attempts to control the action.
Ben Richards has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
You get the feeling that Silvia really doesn't like being in this position too much.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ben Richards.
I think Silvia has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thiago Silvia!