PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rickson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Silva
vs
Howard

190 cm
25
218 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

185 cm
23
218 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rickson Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John Howard!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Eliza Hachem and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Howard.
Howard on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Howard shoots for a takedown but Silva saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Silva scores with a push kick.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Howard looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Silva is fending him off so far but Howard persists. Nope, Silva circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice body punch from Howard.
Howard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Howard takes one on the button.
Howard misses the body punch
and Silva makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Howard looks gassed!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Silva connects with a good right hand that stumbles Howard. Howard circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Silva moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Silva throws a leg kick which misses Howard's front leg but catches the back leg as Howard tries to avoid it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Silva.
Silva scores with a jab to the body.
Silva with a jab.
Silva throws a head kick that half lands.
Silva moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva throws a right hand that Howard ducks under and follows up with a left that Howard also avoids with ease.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Silva, right into the meat.
Silva lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Silva lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
John Howard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Silva lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Silva scores with a leg kick.
Silva misses with a double jab.
Silva swinging wildly here.
Silva scores with a nice strike.
Nice cross by Silva.
Silva connects with a good right hand that stumbles Howard. Howard circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Rickson Silva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Good exchange - Howard coming out on top.
Howard misses with a hook. Silva ducked under it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Howard misses.
Howard throws a body punch but Silva moves out of range.
Silva thows a body shot but no joy.
Howard fails to land the takedown.
Rickson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Howard.
Silva is looking to clinch but Howard is avoiding it.
Howard avoids the head kick by Silva.
Silva throws a nice inside leg kick.
Silva lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A slow jab from Howard misses its intended target.
Howard swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Silva counters with a nice body shot.
Silva moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Silva is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Silva scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Howard is trying desperately to land a takedown but Silva is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Howard.
Silva scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Silva.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot to de liver by Silva. Beautiful body shot.
Silva lands a jab to Howard's midsection.
Silva lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Howard backs up against the cage.
Silva lands a jab to Howard's midsection.
Silva misses with a two punch combination.
Howard takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Howard takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Howard misses with a hook.
Howard misses the shot to the body.
Silva lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Silva blocks a jab.

Silva closes the distance and clinches.
Howard's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Silva swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Silva scores with a shoulder strike.
Silva doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard takes an elbow to the temple.
Howard tries for a takedown. No joy.
Silva working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A nice left hand lands by Silva.
A nice left hand lands by Silva.
Howard blocking some punches.
Silva lands an elbow just above Howard 's eye.
Howard is looking to control Silva's arms but Silva gets an underhook and turns him. Now Howard has his back to the cage.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.
Silva with a knee to the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Silva throws an elbow but misses.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva lands an uppercut.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Silva just misses with a elbow thrown towards Howard's brow.
Silva lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Howard backwards.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Howard blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Howard.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Howard blocks it with crossed arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rickson Silva 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.

Howard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Silva bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Silva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Silva throws a sloppy head kick and Howard moves out of range easily.
Silva is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Howard can do to turn this around?
Silva moves out of range as Howard strikes.
No luck for Howard with that takedown attempt.
Howard drops his hands momentarily and Silva takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Howard fails with a takedown attempt.
Howard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Silva.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Howard is breathing heavily.
Silva avoids the body shot from Howard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva clinches up against the cage.
Silva swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Silva doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Howard is trying to stall.
Howard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Good body shot from Silva.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A head punch on the inside from Silva fails to land.
Silva lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Howard blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva misses with a hook from the clinch.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A hook to the body from Howard.
Silva has Howard pressed against the cage, preventing Howard from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Silva with a knee to the head.
Howard is trying to drag Silva to the mat but Silva just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rickson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Howard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva swings wildly with an uppercut but Howard uses good head movement to avoid it.
Howard is leaning against Silva and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Silva looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Howard dodges an elbow strike from Silva.
A short right from Silva.
Howard takes an elbow to the temple.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Howard has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Howard blocks it with crossed arms.
Howard presses Silva against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Silva.
Silva doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Silva lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Howard backwards.
Howard looking for a takedown.
Howard is trying to break the clinch but Silva is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Silva fails to land.
Silva misses with some punches.
Nice body punch from Silva.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Howard blocks it.

Howard manages to break the clinch.
Howard throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Silva throws a right and a left that Howard avoids nicely.
A cross from Howard lands.
Silva ducks right into an uppercut from Howard.
Howard looks to land a left hand but Silva moved out of range nicely.
Howard looks to score with a jab to the body but Silva is just out of range.
Silva takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Silva uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Howard.
Howard swings away with a body shot that misses

and Silva holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Silva misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva misses with a short punch on the inside.
Howard tries for a takedown. No joy.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Howard's efforts to push away.
Howard taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Howard blocking some punches.

Howard manages to break the clinch.
Howard looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Silva takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Howard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Silva manages to avoid it.
Howard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Silva moves away.
Silva tries to clinch but Howard is having none of it.
A telegraphed right hand from Howard misses the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rickson Silva dominated that second round.
That's time! Silva's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Silva slips under a jab from Howard.
Howard missing with a left hand there. Silva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Howard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Silva moves out of range as Howard strikes.
Howard takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Nice body punch from Howard.
Howard has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Silva moves out of range of the strikes.
Silva takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Silva throws out a loose jab but Howard uses good head movement to avoid it.
Howard fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Howard shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Silva defends it nicely.
Howard circles away from the clinch attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rickson Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Silva misses with a jab to the body
and Howard counters with a straight right hand.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Howard loads up on a big right hand but Silva slips the punch.

Howard scores with a takedown into Silva's guard.
Howard working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Silva's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Howard is working Silva over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Howard trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying to keep Howard in close.
Howard wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.
John Howard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Howard trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Howard preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Silva fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Howard manages to avoid it.
Howard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Howard throws a body punch but Silva moves out of range.
Howard shoots in but no luck this time.
Silva ducks right into an uppercut from Howard.
Silva misses the jab.
Nice defenses there by Silva.
Howard takes a swing at Silva's ribcage but misses.
Silva lands with a thumping leg kick.
Howard misses with a body shot.
Howard just misses with a punch to the body.
Rickson Silva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Howard misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Silva counters with a thumping low kick.
Howard takes a swing at Silva's ribcage but misses.
Silva misses the shot to the body.
Silva fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Howard checks it well.
Howard shoots in but no luck this time.
Rickson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Howard.
Silva scores with a hook.
Howard moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Silva lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A combination from Silva does no damage.
Howard shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Silva sprawls well. Silva wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Howard gets slowly back to his feet.
Silva scores with a leg kick.
Silva throws a leg kick which misses Howard's front leg but catches the back leg as Howard tries to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Howard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Silva 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:27

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