PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Link Gatez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wanderlei Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva has chosen Sandstorm as his entrance music. Wanderlei Silva has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Link Gatez's chin.

Gatez
vs
Silva

178 cm
24
216 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

180 cm
28
215 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Link Gatez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wanderlei Silva!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Luis Engracia and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Gatez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gatez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gatez keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice shot by Gatez.
Gatez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Silva tries to clinch but Gatez moves out of range.
Gatez lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Gatez lands a nice shot that snaps Silva's head back.
Silva slips under a jab from Gatez.
Gatez cracks a nice hook into Silva's ribs.
Silva swinging wildly here.
Gatez displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Silva misses with a double jab
and Gatez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Silva closes the distance but Gatez moves to the side
and Silva takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Silva tries to clinch
and Gatez counters with a leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gatez scores with a one two! Silva had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Silva wants to clinch but Gatez slips to the side
and Gatez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Silva closes the distance but Gatez moves to the side
and Gatez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Silva takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Gatez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Silva keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva pushes Gatez off looking to stand but Gatez dives back in and keeps control.
Silva looks gassed!
Silva is refusing to be controlled, as Gatez sits in half guard.
Gatez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gatez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gatez throwing shots but Silva is blocking nicely.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gatez.
Gatez is working Silva over with some ground and pound from side control.
Gatez sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Silva is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.
Gatez misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Gatez in side control lands a decent elbow.

Gatez tries for a kimura but Silva is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gatez creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Gatez tries to score with some ground and pound. Silva controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Silva is trying to buck Gatez off.
The ground and pound from Gatez seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Gatez working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Silva is trying to buck Gatez off.
Gatez staying calm.
Gatez fails to land a wild elbow strike.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Silva fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to clinch

and Gatez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Silva won't be happy with that.
Silva tries to escape but Gatez is in control.
Sloppy strikes there by Gatez.
Silva is pushing Gatez's head away, looking to escape. Gatez manages to hold on to the position though.
Gatez misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Silva can do anything to dispel that myth.
Silva taking a bit of punishment here - Gatez scoring with strikes.
Silva is trying to get back to his feet.
Gatez working the ground and pound from side control.
Gatez lands some shots froms side control.

Gatez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Silva is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Gatez is controlling him well.
Gatez is chipping away with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gatez throws a strike aimed at the side of Silva's head but Silva avoids it well.
Gatez working the body and head with strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gatez postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Silva is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Gatez asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Gatez lands a nice forearm strike.
Gatez 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.
Silva tries to escape but Gatez is in control.
Gatez landing a few strikes.
Silva is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Gatez is controlling him well.
Gatez scoring with punches and elbows.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gatez lands some shots froms side control.
Silva takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Link Gatez dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gatez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Silva is trying to defend but Gatez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Gatez thows a huge punch but Silva dodges it nicely.
Gatez is trying to control. Silva wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Link Gatez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gatez misses with a head shot. Silva uses the momentum to regain guard.
Silva wants to stand up but Gatez is controlling him.
Gatez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Silva wants to stand but Gatez is controlling the position.
Gatez wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.
Silva wants to stand but Gatez is controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gatez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Gatez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatez comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Silva takes one to the side of the head.
Gatez lands a really nice looking cross but Silva seems unphased.
Silva will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Silva ducks right into an uppercut from Gatez.
Silva misses with a combination
and Gatez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Silva closes the distance looking to clinch
and Gatez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Silva lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gatez circles away quickly and effectively.
Danga de danga de dang - Gatez scores with a four punch combination!
Silva tries to clinch but Gatez moves away

and Gatez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gatez scoring with punches to the head and body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gatez thows a big elbow that misses.
Gatez lands a couple of elbows.
Silva wants to stand and escape but Gatez is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gatez working some strikes from top position.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Gatez from controlling successfully.
Gatez postures up and lands a big shot to Silva's brow.
Gatez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gatez lands a couple of elbows.
Gatez landing with the ground and pound.
Gatez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Gatez lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gatez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Silva wants to get back to his feet but Gatez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gatez trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gatez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Silva can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatez stops Silva from standing up.
Gatez working some strikes from top position.
Gatez trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gatez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gatez throws a big right hand that misses.
Silva is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gatez is controlling him.
Gatez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Silva wants to stand but Gatez is controlling the position.
Gatez is in close to Silva's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Gatez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Silva works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Silva darts in trying to clinch
and Gatez makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva darts in trying to clinch
and Gatez counters with a two punch combo.
Silva darts in trying to clinch
and Gatez counters with a straight right hand.
Link Gatez is winning the standup battle so far.
Gatez connects with a good right hand that stumbles Silva. Silva circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Gatez scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Gatez throws out a loose jab but Silva uses good head movement to avoid it.
Silva takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Silva throws a combination that misses
and Gatez counters with a stiff right hand.
Silva tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Gatez counters with a good low kick that Silva was not able to check.
Gatez scores with a jab. Silva acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva wants to clinch
enabling Gatez to counter with a crisp jab.
Gatez tests Silva's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gatez lands with an uppercut that bounces Silva off the cage and back into rage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

No joy there for Silva, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Silva closes the distance looking to clinch
and Gatez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gatez.
Gatez looks up at the clock and then as Silva takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Gatez smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Silva throws Gatez to one side and escapes!
Silva tries to clinch up
and Gatez counters with a straight right hand.
Gatez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Silva closes the distance but Gatez moves to the side
and Gatez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Wanderlei Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Gatez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Silva did well to prevent Gatez getting side control.
Gatez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Silva defending well though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gatez prevents Silva from standing back up.
Gatez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatez drops an elbow to the side of Silva's head.
Gatez is nestled in close to Silva, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Silva tries to kick Gatez off but Gatez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Silva is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Gatez scores with a couple of nice shots.
Gatez working Silva over with strikes.
Gatez scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Gatez stops Silva from getting back to his feet.
Gatez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
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. Gatez connects with a nice short shot to Silva's temple.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Gatez lands a nice short elbow.
Gatez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Silva pushes Gatez off looking to stand but Gatez dives back in and keeps control.
Gatez lands with a punch from half guard.
Silva is trying to stand up here but Gatez is controlling him well.
Gatez 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gatez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Silva defends it well.
Gatez working over Silva with some ground and pound. Silva looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Gatez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Silva is trying to stand up here but Gatez is controlling him well.
Silva is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Gatez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gatez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Silva has hold of Gatez's hands but Gatez slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Silva on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Link Gatez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Silva is trying to stand.
Gatez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
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. Gatez connects with a nice short shot to Silva's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Gatez.
Gatez is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Gatez's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Gatez scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Wanderlei Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gatez is trying to control. Silva wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Well, if Gatez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Gatez takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Silva avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gatez.
Gatez is keen to just control but Silva is a slippery customer.

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.
Gatez prevents Silva from standing back up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Silva wants to clinch but Gatez slips to the side
and Gatez counters with a right hand to the body.

Gatez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Gatez from controlling successfully.

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.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gatez is leaning against Silva and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gatez lands a right hand that snaps the head of Silva backwards.
Silva throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Gatez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Silva gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gatez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Link Gatez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gatez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:25
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:25
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Link Gatez!