PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Niclas Ekman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ekman
vs
Silva

193 cm
23
205 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

190 cm
23
215 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Niclas Ekman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chris Silva!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Illya Tyunina and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ekman is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Silva's half guard.
Ekman tries to pass the half guard into mount. Silva knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Silva tries to get to full guard but Ekman has control of the leg.
Ekman is trying to control the action in half guard but Silva is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Ekman is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Silva doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ekman.

Ekman is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Silva works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ekman sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Ekman got a little sloppy there for a moment and Silva has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ekman has managed to get both his arms back between Silva's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Silva wants to sweep but no luck.
Silva looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Ekman puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Silva moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Ekman won't allow Silva to sweep him here.
Ekman controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ekman forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva looking for submissions off his back.
Ekman seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Silva wants to improve his position but Ekman is controlling well.
Silva is refusing to be controlled, as Ekman sits in half guard.

Ekman is working for a kimura but Silva is defending it quite comfortably.
Ekman is breathing heavily.
Silva slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekman stopping the sweep attempt from Silva.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ekman avoids the head kick by Silva.
Silva doesn't manage to clinch there - Ekman circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ekman is defended easily by Silva.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

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.
Silva wants to clinch.
Ekman tries for a takedown but Silva sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Silva has managed to clinch.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva lands a knee to the head.

Silva has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Ekman uses from the top position.
Ekman stopping the sweep attempt from Silva.

Silva has his foot on Ekman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ekman works his way back into a safe position though.

Silva looking for a guillotine here but Ekman defends easily.
Ekman wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Silva dominated that round.
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.

Silva tries to clinch up.
Silva lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ekman at a distance.
Silva tries to clinch there but Ekman circles away.
Silva misses with a head kick.
Silva moves in looking to clinch but Ekman pushes him off.
Silva moves in looking to clinch but Ekman pushes him off.
Ekman shoots in but Silva avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Silva wants to clinch up but Ekman keeps it at a distance.

Silva closes the distance and clinches.

Silva successfully pulls guard.
Silva lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ekman!
Silva takes Ekman's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Ekman is in trouble.

Silva is persistently looking for the submission but Ekman is defending it well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ekman defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Silva's arms.
Ekman trying to control the position but Silva manages to sink in the hooks.

Silva has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Ekman! Can he survive? No! He's out! Silva gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Chris Silva!