PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tane Te Rauparaha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Te Rauparaha's entrance music is Get Ready - Concord Dawn ft Scribe. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Silva's choice of entrance music: BLUNT- The Iron Maiden. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Te Rauparaha
vs
Silva

190 cm
24
190 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

186 cm
25
195 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ka-POW Clothing

Australian Xtreme - 159 Energy!
Australian Xtreme - 159 Energy!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tane Te Rauparaha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matt Silva!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, John Mangel and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Te Rauparaha shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Silva throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Te Rauparaha tries to close the distance and clinch but Silva swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Silva looks to score with a jab to the body but Te Rauparaha is just out of range.
Te Rauparaha wants to clinch.
Silva throws an overhand right that lands on Te Rauparaha's shoulder, as Te Rauparaha tries to avoid the shot.
Silva swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Silva scores with a hook.
Te Rauparaha bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Silva fails to land with a series of punches.
Silva swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Te Rauparaha keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Silva.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Te Rauparaha shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Silva throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Matt Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Te Rauparaha, right into the meat.
Silva walks forward, straight into a front kick from Te Rauparaha.
Silva loads up on a big right hand but Te Rauparaha slips the punch.
Silva scores with a three punch combo!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Te Rauparaha moves away.
Te Rauparaha lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Silva dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Te Rauparaha moves away from the strike by Silva.
A nice combination there by Silva.
Te Rauparaha throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Silva jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Te Rauparaha clinches with his opponent.
Nice elbow from Te Rauparaha.
Te Rauparaha wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Silva successfully pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Te Rauparaha is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Te Rauparaha is one step ahead there.
Te Rauparaha has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Silva looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Te Rauparaha is one step ahead there.
Silva is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Silva looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Silva swings for the body but Te Rauparaha moves out of range.
Silva throws a right and a left that Te Rauparaha avoids nicely.
Te Rauparaha takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Silva shoots in and bounces Te Rauparaha off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Te Rauparaha keeping full guard, as Silva tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to control but Te Rauparaha is working from the bottom.
Silva lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Silva throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Te Rauparaha works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Silva is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Silva wants to control from the top but Te Rauparaha keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Te Rauparaha wants to stand up but Silva is controlling him.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Te Rauparaha is on top in guard.
Te Rauparaha postures up.
Silva manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Te Rauparaha manages to get himself to full guard.
Te Rauparaha keeping full guard, as Silva tries to pass.
Silva prevents Te Rauparaha from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Silva 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.

Te Rauparaha feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Silva's calf.
Te Rauparaha misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Te Rauparaha throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Tane Te Rauparaha is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A combination from Silva does no damage.
Silva throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Silva throws a lazy right hand but Te Rauparaha sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Silva throws a right and a left that Te Rauparaha avoids nicely.
Silva throws a shot from downtown. Te Rauparaha moves away and avoids it.
Te Rauparaha misses with a wild body shot.
Silva throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Silva on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Te Rauparaha. Te Rauparaha obviously looking to wear him down.
Te Rauparaha fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Te Rauparaha showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Silva.
Te Rauparaha moves out of range as Silva strikes.
Silva tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Silva tries to bum rush Te Rauparaha with a series of wild strikes but Te Rauparaha uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Te Rauparaha throws a quick inside leg kick.
Silva misses the body punch
and Te Rauparaha counters with a slapping leg kick.

Silva looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Te Rauparaha preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Silva scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Te Rauparaha trying to hold on to Silva's head to control him but Silva postures up.
Silva missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Silva tries to pass to full mount but Te Rauparaha defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Te Rauparaha is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Silva looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Silva with a hook.
Te Rauparaha tries to clinch there but Silva circles away.
Silva will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Te Rauparaha slips under a jab.
Te Rauparaha displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Silva throws out the jab.
Te Rauparaha goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Te Rauparaha scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva jabs at Te Rauparaha's body.
Silva looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Silva misses with a double jab
and Te Rauparaha counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Silva is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Silva checks a low kick from Te Rauparaha.
A nice combination there by Silva.
Silva lands a lovely overhand right.
Silva bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Silva displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Silva lands a jab to the head.
Silva swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Te Rauparaha counters with a nice low kick that buckles Silva's knee momentarily.
Tane Te Rauparaha is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Te Rauparaha defending well as Silva loads up on a big left hand.
Silva misses with a hook. Te Rauparaha ducked under it nicely.
Te Rauparaha thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Silva if he has to take too many more of those.
Te Rauparaha uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Silva.
Te Rauparaha avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva looks to land a left hand but Te Rauparaha moved out of range nicely.
Silva jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Te Rauparaha moves out of range as Silva strikes.
Silva lands a nice looking body shot.
Silva scores with a crisp jab that stopped Te Rauparaha in his tracks.
Te Rauparaha lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The fighters circling - Silva throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Te Rauparaha on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silva throws a shot from downtown. Te Rauparaha moves away and avoids it.
Silva misses with a looping right.
A cross from Te Rauparaha lands.
Te Rauparaha is looking to score with low kicks.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Te Rauparaha turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Te Rauparaha throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Silva throws a jab but it's blocked by Te Rauparaha.
A telegraphed right hand from Silva misses the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tane Te Rauparaha dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Te Rauparaha looks to score with a jab to the body but Silva is just out of range.
Tane Te Rauparaha is winning the standup battle so far.
Te Rauparaha lands with a thumping leg kick.
Silva misses with a hook. Te Rauparaha ducked under it nicely.
Te Rauparaha throws a head kick but Silva moves out of range.
Te Rauparaha slips a straight right by Silva.
Te Rauparaha throws a body punch but Silva moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by Te Rauparaha.
Te Rauparaha feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Silva's calf.
Silva throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Te Rauparaha counters with a low kick, right behind Silva 's knee.
Te Rauparaha slips under a jab.
Nice body kick from Te Rauparaha.
Silva tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Te Rauparaha was well out of range. Poor timing from Silva.
Silva looks for a takedown but Te Rauparaha sprawls well.
Silva swings away with a body shot that misses
and Te Rauparaha counters with a head kick. That will keep Silva thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Silva takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Silva misses the body punch
and Te Rauparaha counters with a nice leg kick.
Silva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Te Rauparaha lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Te Rauparaha fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Silva.
Te Rauparaha scores with a hook to the body. Silva takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Te Rauparaha ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Te Rauparaha throws a head kick that misses.
Te Rauparaha lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Te Rauparaha feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Silva's calf.
Te Rauparaha lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Te Rauparaha is looking to clinch.
Te Rauparaha scores with a three punch combo!
Silva misses with a body shot
and Te Rauparaha makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Te Rauparaha darts in and clinches Silva up against the cage.
Silva tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Te Rauparaha pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Silva swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Te Rauparaha counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Te Rauparaha.
A nice left hand lands by Te Rauparaha.
Te Rauparaha misses with a knee strike.

Te Rauparaha breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Te Rauparaha staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a hook to the side of Te Rauparaha's head but Te Rauparaha sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Good leg kick by Te Rauparaha there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Crunch! Te Rauparaha slams his shin into Silva's torso.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Te Rauparaha tries to clinch but Silva is having none of it.
Te Rauparaha throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Silva ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Te Rauparaha moves away.
Te Rauparaha leaves Silva with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Tane Te Rauparaha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Silva.
Silva stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Te Rauparaha.
Te Rauparaha throws a nice head kick!
Silva misses with a wild body shot.
A nice leg kick lands there from Te Rauparaha.
Te Rauparaha misses with a wild body shot.
Te Rauparaha uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Silva.
Silva throws a left and a right that both miss
and Silva takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Te Rauparaha.
Te Rauparaha bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Silva misses with a combination
and Te Rauparaha counters with a nice low kick that buckles Silva's knee momentarily.
Te Rauparaha lands with a thumping leg kick.
Silva takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Te Rauparaha buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Te Rauparaha moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Te Rauparaha throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Silva's head.
Te Rauparaha scores with a nice right hand.
Te Rauparaha will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Crunch! Te Rauparaha slams his shin into Silva's torso.
Te Rauparaha fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Silva.
A head kick from Te Rauparaha lands but Silva takes it in his stride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Te Rauparaha closes the distance and pushes Silva back into the cage.
Te Rauparaha lands a nice knee to the body.
Silva misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Te Rauparaha scores a nice knee to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Te Rauparaha breaks the clinch.
Te Rauparaha throws a head kick that misses.
Silva pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Te Rauparaha walks into a jab.
Te Rauparaha throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Silva.
Silva loads up on a big right hand but Te Rauparaha slips the punch.
Te Rauparaha goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Silva bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Silva looks to land a left hand but Te Rauparaha moved out of range nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Te Rauparaha uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Silva.
Silva misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Te Rauparaha counters with a stiff right hand.

Te Rauparaha moves into the clinch.

Te Rauparaha breaks the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tane Te Rauparaha showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Te Rauparaha 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:27
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tane Te Rauparaha!