PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Da Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ian Higbee (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.

Da Silva
vs
Higbee

178 cm
25
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Solid 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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Thiago Da Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ian Higbee!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Paul Tew and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Da Silva is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Higbee's half guard.
Da Silva is trying to control. Higbee wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Higbee avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Da Silva.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Da Silva missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Da Silva 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.
Da Silva is looking to take a break and control but Higbee is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Higbee can do anything to dispel that myth.
Da Silva is pressing down on Higbee's thigh, looking to free his foot. Higbee is holding on for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Higbee is defending against the submission attempts here by Da Silva.
Da Silva could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Da Silva decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Da Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Higbee swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Da Silva wants to clinch.
Da Silva tries to clinch but Higbee moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Higbee defending well as Da Silva loads up on a big left hand.
Higbee lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Higbee shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Da Silva moves into the clinch.
Higbee changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Da Silva fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Thiago Da Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Higbee ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Higbee looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Da Silva!
Da Silva is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva tries to hold on but Higbee pushes him away.
Da Silva sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Da Silva is trying to get back to full guard.
Da Silva controlling the position for now.
Higbee is just content to waste time from the top position. Da Silva takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Higbee loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Higbee has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Da Silva is proving hard to escape from.
Higbee stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Da Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Higbee throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Higbee really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Da Silva. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Da Silva is looking for a triangle but Higbee pushes his legs off easily.
Da Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Da Silva is breathing heavily.

Higbee drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Da Silva manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Higbee has Da Silva in his guard.
Da Silva controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Da Silva misses with a looping right.
Da Silva shoots and misses

and Higbee counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Da Silva is controlling Higbee's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Da Silva is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Higbee's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Higbee's back!
Higbee tries to break free.
Higbee trying to control the position but Da Silva manages to sink in the hooks.
Da Silva is riding his opponent, not letting Higbee buck him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Da Silva tightening his grip on Higbee, looking for the choke.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Da Silva gets his hands free as Higbee looks to control.
Will Da Silva go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Da Silva patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Da Silva is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Higbee has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
A lull in the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva is trying to stick to Higbee's back but Higbee is turning into Da Silva. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Da Silva's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Higbee.
Higbee throws a strike but Da Silva rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Da Silva wanted to stand there but Higbee had control of the position.
Da Silva wants to control from the top but Higbee keeps moving.

That's four 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.
Higbee not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Higbee utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Da Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Higbee is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Higbee moves out of range of the body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Thiago Da Silva will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Da Silva tries to clinch but Higbee moves away

and Higbee counters with a shoot takedown. Da Silva fights it but they end up in guard.
Higbee looking to pass the guard.
Da Silva is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Da Silva is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Higbee stops Da Silva from standing up.
Da Silva keeping full guard, as Higbee tries to pass.

Da Silva manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Da Silva tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Higbee counters with a single leg into guard. Da Silva didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higbee not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Higbee throws a big right hand that misses.
Higbee passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Higbee misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Higbee trying to control the position but Da Silva is working away.
Da Silva sneaks back into half guard.

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.
Higbee is thwarting Da Silva's attempts to control the position.

Higbee is trying to work for a kimura but Da Silva is defending well.
Da Silva is trying to stand.
Higbee working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Higbee looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Da Silva might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Da Silva moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higbee wanted to stand there but Da Silva had control of the position.

Da Silva is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Higbee is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Da Silva gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Da Silva manages to pull guard.

Da Silva looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Higbee wants to stand and escape but instead Da Silva has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Higbee is working an open guard so Da Silva takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Higbee fails with the takedown

and Da Silva counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Higbee looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Da Silva wants to control from the top but Higbee keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Da Silva drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Da Silva seems to have locked his on tight now - Higbee screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Da Silva, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Thiago Da Silva!