PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jacob Sullivan Sullivan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson 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.

Sullivan Sullivan
vs
Silva

173 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 Rio de Janeiro, Jacob Sullivan Sullivan!
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, Anderson Silva!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Mauricio Rocha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sullivan looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Silva wants to sweep but no luck.

Silva has his foot on Sullivan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sullivan works his way back into a safe position though.
Sullivan is looking to stand up but Silva won't let him.
Sullivan throws a big right hand that misses.
Sullivan throwing strikes but missing.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Sullivan from controlling successfully.
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.
Sullivan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sullivan wants to stand but Silva is controlling his posture from full guard.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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 Sullivan counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Sullivan prevents Silva from improving his position.
Silva slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Sullivan wanted to stand there but Silva had control of the position.
Sullivan wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Sullivan is looking to stand up but Silva won't let him.
Sullivan is breathing heavily.
Sullivan scoring with some ground and pound.
Sullivan trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt

and Sullivan counters with a single leg into guard. Silva didn't expect that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Silva controls Sullivan momentarily but Sullivan frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.

Silva looking for a guillotine here but Sullivan defends easily.
Sullivan trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sullivan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sullivan working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sullivan is looking to work some ground and pound but Silva has wrist control.
Silva not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sullivan trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Sullivan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Silva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sullivan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sullivan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sullivan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Silva is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sullivan is not content to let Silva control the position.

Silva is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sullivan defends it well.
Silva is looking to advance position but Sullivan won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sullivan trying to hold on to Silva's head to control him but Silva postures up.
Sullivan works his way to full guard. Good work.
Silva passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Silva has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Silva avoids the attempt from Sullivan to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sullivan bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Sullivan wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sullivan tries to clinch up but Silva circles away and keeps his distance.

Sullivan closes the distance and clinches.

Sullivan pulls Silva into guard.
Sullivan is looking to stand up but Silva isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sullivan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Silva manages to get himself to full guard.
Silva working a defensive guard but Sullivan manages to pass into side control anyway.
Sullivan trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.

Sullivan decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Sullivan changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Silva looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Silva is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sullivan sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Silva is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Silva is looking to regain half guard here but Sullivan keeps moving and retains side control.
Sullivan working the ground and pound from side control.

Sullivan working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Sullivan wants to stand but Silva has his arm trapped.
Silva sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Sullivan performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Silva has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sullivan is working away from the top position though.
Silva is pressing down on Sullivan's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Jacob Sullivan Sullivan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Silva looking to control.
Sullivan stays in close to Silva's body and controls the position.
Sullivan stopping the sweep attempt from Silva.
Sullivan showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Sullivan stands and throws Silva's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Sullivan stands up and beckons Silva to his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sullivan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Sullivan has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sullivan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Sullivan looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Silva!
Sullivan controlling the position easily from mount.
Silva gets back to half guard.
Sullivan trying to control from half guard but Silva is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sullivan prevents Silva from improving his position.

Silva actively working from the bottom here.
Silva tries to roll over but Sullivan keeps him under control.
Silva works his way to full guard. Good work.
Silva is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Silva trying to mount his opponent but Sullivan defends it.

Silva is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob Sullivan Sullivan dominated that second round.
That's time! Sullivan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Sullivan changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Silva looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Silva manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Silva not doing much here.
Sullivan is staying active underneath Silva, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Silva uses his free foot to push down on Sullivan's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Sullivan.
Silva can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sullivan is looking to escape.

Silva is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Sullivan can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva mounts Sullivan! Really nice guard pass there!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Silva jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Sullivan manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Sullivan prevents Silva from moving into mount.
Sullivan is trying to get back to half guard.
Silva trying to control the position but Sullivan is working away.
You can see the frustration on Sullivan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Sullivan throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Sullivan decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan stalling.
Silva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Silva is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Silva looking for submissions off his back.
Silva is staying active underneath Sullivan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Silva regains full guard. Nicely done.

Silva throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Silva lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sullivan!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan can't escape the position.
Silva tries to control but Sullivan wriggling away.
Sullivan tries to lock up and control but Silva gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sullivan throwing hammer fists to the chest of Silva. What's that going to do exactly?
Silva trying to control but Sullivan is having none of it.
Sullivan is just holding on here. Silva manages to take his back.
You can see the frustration on Sullivan's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Silva doesn't have the hooks in and Sullivan manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Silva bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sullivan's guard.
Silva looking to pass the guard.
Sullivan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Silva manages to get himself to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sullivan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Silva looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sullivan trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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.
Sullivan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Anderson Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sullivan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sullivan passes into half guard.
Sullivan content to control rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Anderson Silva.
Well Sullivan 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jacob Sullivan Sullivan!