PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rivera comes into the arena with Right Said FRED---I'm to Sexy blaring out of the sound system. Silva comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Desabafo - Marcelo D2 kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Jon Silva has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rivera
vs
Silva

196 cm
20
281 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

189 cm
23
240 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Next Level Nutrition (158q for $50!!!!)

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Raphael Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jon Silva!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Daniel Cesar and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A left lands for Silva.
Silva works Rivera's body with a nice hook.
A jab lands there for Silva.

Rivera moves into the clinch successfully.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rivera displaying some good clinch control by pressing Silva up against the cage.
Rivera gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Silva is trying to break free.
Silva wants to break free but Rivera has control.

Silva breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Donk. Silva catches Rivera right on the button with a cross.
A head kick from Silva lands but Rivera takes it in his stride.
Rivera looks for a takedown but Silva sprawls well.
Silva connects with a single shot there.
Rivera shoots in for a double leg but Silva sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silva lands with a nice combination. Rivera backs away looking to recover.
No luck for Rivera with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raphael Rivera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Silva throws a series of punches but Rivera avoids them all with ease.
Silva checks a leg kick.
Rivera shoots in and drives through. Silva sprawls well.
Jon Silva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rivera on the side of the head.
Rivera takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Rivera is breathing heavily.
Good exchange - Silva coming out on top.
Silva scores with a jab.
Rivera gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Silva scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rivera doesn't seem bothered though.
Silva scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silva digs a good body shot into Rivera's ribs.
Silva paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Silva is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Rivera had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Rivera gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Silva.
Silva comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Silva connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Silva is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Rivera. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Rivera closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Nice cross by Silva.

Rivera is rocked!

Silva lands a head kick that stumbles Rivera and the fighters go to the mat.
Oh Rivera is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Silva is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rivera seems to have got his legs back now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva stands up from Rivera's guard - Silva perhaps looking for a knockout.
Silva displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rivera.
Silva throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A good leg kick by Silva.
Raphael Rivera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Rivera on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Silva scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Silva connects with a good right hand that stumbles Rivera. Rivera circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Silva lands a lovely overhand right.
Silva lands a nice shot to the body.

Silva bobbing and weaving well here. And he's unloaded with a massive right hand that drops Rivera! He dives into his guard looking to finish!
Silva working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rivera's head.
Silva is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva wanted to stand there but Rivera had control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivera looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Silva wants to stand but Rivera has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Silva trying to control but Rivera is working from the bottom.
Rivera being controlled here, momentarily.

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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Silva tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Silva misses with an uppercut. Rivera saw that one coming.
Rivera shoots in but no luck this time.
Silva scores with a punch to the head.
The crowd cheers as Silva lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rivera doesn't seem phased though.
Rivera looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Rivera doesn't manage to clinch there - Silva circles away.
Silva stuffs the takedown.
Rivera is trying hard to land a takedown here. Silva sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Silva connects with a looping right hand.
A left and a right from Silva both land. Nice combination.
Rivera walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Silva moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
A decent looking cross lands there for Silva.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rivera closes this distance looking for a takedown but Silva circles away.
Nice uppercut lands for Silva. That snapped Rivera's head back.
A nice combination there by Silva.
Silva lands with an overhand left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Silva dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Silva works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Silva has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Silva looks to land a combination. Rivera sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Rivera misses with a series of wild punches.
Silva throws a head kick but Rivera moves out of range.
Silva lands a slapping body shot.

A big head kick from Silva and Rivera is sent sprawling to the canvas!
Silva is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Silva must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Let's hope that Silva has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rivera is keeping the position for now.
Silvais looking to pass into half guard but Rivera pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Rivera is in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rivera working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rivera wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Rivera throws a strike but Silva rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rivera has his foot on Silva's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Silva works his way back into a safe position though.
Rivera working a defensive guard here.
Silva seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rivera lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Silva!
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Silva. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

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.
Silva is looking to get to half guard.
Silva tries to lock up and control but Rivera gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Silva working to try and regain half guard.
Silva tries to hold on but Rivera pushes him away.
Silva is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Rivera throws some wild stikes that Silva manages to avoid easily.
Silva tries to hold on but Rivera postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rivera unloads with some shots from mount but Silva bucks and avoids them well.
Rivera prevents Silva from getting the reversal.
Rivera looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

It looks like Jon Silva has been cut.
Rivera 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.

Rivera 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 has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rivera is proving hard to escape from.

Rivera looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Rivera lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Silva!
Rivera unloads with some shots from mount but Silva bucks and avoids them well.
Silva is working to get back to half guard.
Rivera looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Silva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jon Silva's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rivera will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A big left from Silva misses.
Jab from Silva.
Rivera tries to clinch but Silva is having none of it.
Rivera tries to clinch up.
Rivera connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Silva's hands.
Rivera walks into a stiff left hand from Silva.
Rivera wants to clinch up but Silva keeps it at a distance.
Silva stuffs the takedown.
Rivera tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Silva swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raphael Rivera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivera closes the distance and clinches up with Silva, looking for a takedown. Rivera pushes Silva against the cage but Silva circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Silva connects with a jab.
Jon Silva seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rivera takes one on the button.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Silva scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A left and a right from Silva both land. Nice combination.

A jab-cross combination lands for Silva and sends Rivera crashing to the mat! Silva follows him down to the mat - Rivera regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Silva wants to free his trapped foot but Rivera is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rivera wants to get back to full guard but Silva has passed into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva controlling from mount.
Rivera tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Silva looking to control but Rivera is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

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 tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Silva tries to control but Rivera wriggling away.

Despite being in the dominant position, Jon Silva just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Silva fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Silva dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rivera. That did some damage!
Rivera is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That has opened up Jon Silva's cut even more.
Rivera tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Silva swivels and escapes.
Silva lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Rivera throws a push kick but Silva slaps the foot to one side.
Silva lands a jab to Rivera's midsection.

Rivera shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Rivera looking to ground and pound but Silva is blocking nicely.
Raphael Rivera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva can't escape the position.
Rivera tries to control but Silva wriggling away.
Silva is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rivera is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Silva holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Rivera tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Rivera throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Rivera lands a heavy elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva is bucking up trying to escape but Rivera cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Silva tries to hold on but Rivera pushes him away.
Rivera postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Silva looks a forlorn figure.
Rivera thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Jon Silva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Silva really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Silva wants to control but Rivera is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva can't escape the position.
Silva tries to hold on but Rivera postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jon Silva.
I've got Silva winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 26:30

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