PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wanderlie Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stasiek Burdon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burdon has chosen Linkin Park - Bleed it out as his entrance music. Stasiek Burdon will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Silva
vs
Burdon

179 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
19
196 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wanderlie Silva!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Stasiek Burdon!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Thiago Cunha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silva closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Burdon is trying to get back to half guard.
Burdon gets back to half guard.
Burdon is pressing down on Silva's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Burdon looking for a sweep. Not yet Burdon, not yet.
Silva is looking to stand up but Burdon won't let him.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Burdon will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Burdon pulls Silva in close to prevent any damage.

Burdon is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Burdon has Silva pulled in close to control his posture.
Burdon is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Burdon connects with a nice short shot to Silva's temple.
Burdon trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.
Burdon content to control rather than advance.
Silva is trying to stand back up but Burdon is controlling him
Silva is staying active underneath Burdon, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Silva pushes Burdon off looking to stand but Burdon dives back in and keeps control.
Silva 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Burdon misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Silva rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Burdon moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Silva scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Burdon is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Silva off and has taken his back!

Burdon has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Silva has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Burdon throwing damaging strikes from the back! Silva could be in trouble here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Burdon. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Burdon softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Silva breaks Burdon's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Silva trying to control but Burdon is working from the bottom.
Silva stands up out of Burdon's guard for a moment - Burdon manages to land a nice upkick.
Burdon looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Burdon not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Silva in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Burdon strikes from his own guard.
Burdon manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Silva tries to hold on but Burdon postures up.
Silva throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You get the feeling that Silva really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Burdon looking to control but Silva is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva is looking to get to half guard.
Silva is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Silva tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Burdon looking to control but Silva is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Burdon landing strikes from the mount and Silva is in trouble!
Silva is trying to escape the mount.
A nice elbow there by Burdon.
Silva working to try and regain half guard.
Burdon lands with some strikes.

Burdon looking to secure an arm triangle but Silva defends it well.

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.
Burdon landing strikes from the mount.
Silva sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Silva works his way to full guard. Good work.
Silva throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Burdon keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Silva's head.
Burdon passes Silva's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Burdon wants to pass to mount but Silva is defending the position.
Silva looks like he's trying to stand up.
Burdon passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Silva!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Burdon is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Silva can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Silva is trying desperately to improve position.
A nice elbow there by Burdon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stasiek Burdon dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Silva ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Burdon moves away.
Silva throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Burdon is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Burdon feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Silva's calf.
Burdon throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Silva's waist but Silva gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Burdon off to one side.
Burdon doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Silva counters with a nice double leg into side control. Burdon won't be happy with that.

Silva is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Burdon is trying to escape and Silva transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Burdon is forced to tap! Nice work there by Silva! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Wanderlie Silva!
Wanderlie Silva is the new middleweight champion!