PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between ANDERSON SILVA (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shamil Magomedov (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.

SILVA
vs
Magomedov

185 cm
21
190 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

186 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, ANDERSON SILVA!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Shamil Magomedov!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Luis Engracia and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

SILVA clinches up with Magomedov and pushes him back against the cage.
Magomedov fails to pull guard.
SILVA lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Magomedov lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Magomedov is trying to trip SILVA. He has hold of a leg but SILVA is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Magomedov persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Magomedov wants to stand but SILVA is controlling his posture from full guard.
Magomedov is stalling in the full guard.

Magomedov decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on SILVA, up you get!

SILVA has managed to clinch.
Magomedov is trying to drag SILVA to the mat but SILVA just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
SILVA has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Magomedov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

SILVA breaks from the clinch.
Shamil Magomedov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Magomedov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
SILVA looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov prevents SILVA from improving his position.
SILVA is not content to let Magomedov control the position.
SILVA trying to control from the bottom.
SILVA is controlling Magomedov's position as best he can from this difficult position.
SILVA looks like he's trying to stand up.

Magomedov decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Magomedov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming SILVA to the mat! SILVA manages to get full guard.
SILVA is breathing heavily.
SILVA looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

SILVA pushes Magomedov off and scrambles back to his feet.
Magomedov tries to close the distance and clinch up but SILVA swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Excellent takedown into side control there by SILVA.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
SILVA wants to control but Magomedov is keeping him busy.
SILVA working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

SILVA decides to stand up, so the ref orders Magomedov to his feet.
SILVA shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Magomedov defends it nicely.

Magomedov shoots in and bounces SILVA off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
SILVA trying to control the position.
Magomedov wants to control from the top but SILVA keeps moving.
Magomedov stops SILVA from standing up.
SILVA keeping moving, preventing Magomedov from controlling successfully.
SILVA trying to keep a closed guard but Magomedov is proving a slippery customer.
SILVA wants to sweep here but Magomedov controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
SILVA keeping moving, preventing Magomedov from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Magomedov misses with a takedown attempt

and SILVA counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by SILVA.
ANDERSON SILVA has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shamil Magomedov.
SILVA trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
SILVA throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Magomedov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Magomedov is trying to keep SILVA in close.
SILVA passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shamil Magomedov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

SILVA looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Magomedov is fending him off so far but SILVA persists. Nope, Magomedov circles away and we're back to standing.

SILVA closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Magomedov to the mat! Magomedov manages to get full guard.
SILVA has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Magomedov is proving hard to escape from.
SILVA wants to control from the top but Magomedov keeps moving.

Magomedov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Magomedov is trying to control the position but SILVA postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
SILVA wants to control from the top but Magomedov keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Magomedov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. SILVA doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. SILVA manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
SILVA wants to control from the top but Magomedov keeps moving.
Magomedov trying to control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

SILVA scores a takedown into full mount!

SILVA is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Magomedov can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
SILVA cracks Magomedov with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

SILVA with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Poor strikes thrown by SILVA there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
SILVA looking to control but Magomedov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov tries to hold on but SILVA postures up.
Magomedov sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Magomedov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with SILVA. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
SILVA is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Magomedov tries to hold on but SILVA postures up.
BOOM! SILVA connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
SILVA controlling his opponent.
SILVA is in the full mount, landing strikes.
SILVA raining down shots from the mount!
SILVA has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Magomedov's face.
A nice elbow there by SILVA.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Magomedov can do anything to dispel that myth.
SILVA lands a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

ANDERSON SILVA dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

SILVA goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Magomedov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
SILVA is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
ANDERSON SILVA overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
SILVA regains full guard. Nicely done.
Magomedov trying to control but SILVA is working from the bottom.

SILVA uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Magomedov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and SILVA counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by SILVA.
SILVA wants to control from the top but Magomedov keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
SILVA stands and throws Magomedov's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
SILVA has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Magomedov tries to lock up and control but SILVA gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Magomedov is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but SILVA is staying active.
SILVA controlling the position easily from mount.
Magomedov is squirming around, avoiding SILVA's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

SILVA looking to secure an arm triangle but Magomedov defends it well.
SILVA thowing shots but they're missing.
Magomedov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

SILVA is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Magomedov has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
SILVA landing strikes from the mount and Magomedov is in trouble!
Magomedov tries to lock up and control but SILVA gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
SILVA lands a big elbow.
SILVA controlling from mount.
SILVA with a couple of short strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
SILVA tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

SILVA looking to secure an arm triangle but Magomedov defends it well.
SILVA tries to control but Magomedov wriggling away.
SILVA lands a big elbow.
SILVA trying to control but he's not successful this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
ANDERSON SILVA showed his dominance in that final round.
Well SILVA 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... ANDERSON SILVA!