PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heath Knight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Silva
vs
Knight

170 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Antonio Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Heath Knight!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Saam Ante and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knight throws a nice inside leg kick.
Knight thumps Silva with a low kick.
Knight fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Knight is looking to clinch.
Knight displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Silva throws out the jab.
Silva throws a body punch but Knight moves out of range.
Knight dives in and grabs Silva's left leg, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes down on Knight's head and hops out.
Silva tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Knight counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Silva tries to clinch but Knight moves away
and Knight counters with a head kick. That will keep Silva thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Silva circles away from the clinch attempt.
Silva throws a right and a left that both miss.
Silva misses with a jab, cross combination.
Knight wants to clinch up but Silva keeps it at a distance.
Knight looks for a takedown but Silva sprawls well.
Antonio Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Heath Knight.
Silva misses with a few strikes there.
Knight throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Silva's waist but Silva gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Knight off to one side.

Silva forces Knight back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva stops a takedown attempt from Knight.
Silva tries to score a body lock takedown but Knight shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Knight pulls guard effortlessly.

Silva stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Knight tries to clinch up
enabling Silva to counter with a crisp jab.
Silva throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Knight decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Silva's guard.
Silva pulls Knight in to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Knight!
Silva sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Knight is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Silva thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Knight avoids a series of strikes thrown by Silva.
Knight is wriggling around trying to escape.
Silva throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Silva throws some wild stikes that Knight manages to avoid easily.
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.
You get the feeling that Knight really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Knight looks gassed!
Knight is in all sorts of trouble here.
Knight is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Knight is desperately trying to improve his position but Silva has a good base and remains in mount.
Silva throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Knight is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Silva throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Knight because Silva loaded up on that one.
Knight is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Silva throwing strikes here but Knight is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Knight is looking to improve his position but Silva isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Knight is wriggling around trying to escape.
Silva thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Silva sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Silva looking to finish with strikes here!
Silva looking to ground and pound but Knight is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Poor strikes thrown by Silva there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Knight is in all sorts of trouble here.
Knight wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Silva.
Knight wants to hold on but Silva pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Silva thowing shots but they're missing.
Silva unloads with some shots from mount but Knight bucks and avoids them well.
Silva avoids the attempt from Knight to control.
Silva throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Knight wants to control but Silva is having none of it.
Silva misses with a head shot.
Knight wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Silva.
Silva throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Knight wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Silva.
Knight avoids a series of strikes thrown by Silva.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heath Knight dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Silva fails to land with a series of punches.
Silva scores with a crisp jab that stopped Knight in his tracks.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Knight shoots in for a double leg but Silva sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Antonio Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Silva throws a shot to the body.
Silva fails to land the takedown.
Silva fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Knight tries to clinch
letting Silva counter with a right hand.
Knight tries to clinch but Silva is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva throws a series of punches but Knight avoids them all with ease.
Knight fails with the takedown.
No luck for Silva with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Knight closes the distance and pushes Silva back into the cage.
Silva scores with a shoulder strike.
Silva looking for a takedown.
Knight wants to stall.
Silva throws a punch but it's blocked by Knight.

Knight breaks from the clinch.
Knight showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Silva.
Silva darts in trying to clinch
and Knight counters with a nice uppercut.
Knight closes this distance looking for a takedown but Silva circles away.
Nice jab there from Silva.
Knight shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Silva as he avoids it easily.
Silva tries to clinch but Knight is having none of it.
Knight dives in and grabs Silva's left leg, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes down on Knight's head and hops out.

Silva rushes Knight and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Knight is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Silva goes for a takedown attempt but Knight pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Knight closes the distance and pushes Silva back into the cage.
Knight tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Silva keeps control of Knight as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Silva has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Knight avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Knight tries to throw a body punch but Silva avoids it by throwing Knight back against the cage.
Knight changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Silva fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A punch combination from Silva misses.
Knight throws a head kick that Silva semi-blocks.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Knight sprawls well. Knight wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Silva gets slowly back to his feet.
Knight avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva rushes Knight and presses him up against the cage.
Silva tries for a takedown. No joy.

Knight breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Silva tries to clinch but Knight moves away
and Knight counters with a big head kick but Silva shrugs it off.
Silva stuffs the takedown.
Knight slaps away a takedown attempt from Silva, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Silva scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Knight throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Silva's waist but Silva gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Knight off to one side.
Knight throws a nice looking combination but Silva bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Knight throws a sloppy head kick and Silva moves out of range easily.
Silva misses with a two punch combination.
Knight takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Knight uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Silva.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Silva lands an impressive looking overhand right. Knight doesn't seem phased though.

Silva has managed to clinch.
Silva is trying to break the clinch but Knight has him pressed against the cage.
Knight throws an elbow that misses.
Knight tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Knight escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Silva throws a combination. Knight tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Knight circles away from the clinch attempt
and Knight counters with an outside leg kick.
Nice sprawl there from Silva as Knight shoots in.
Knight clinches but Silva breaks the clinch

and Silva moves into the clinch.
Silva avoiding damage.
Silva lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Silva lands with a short shot to the head.
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 Antonio Silva will probably get the nod.
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. And we move into the final round!

Silva displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Silva moves into the clinch.
Knight has Silva pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Silva manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Knight throws a head punch that misses.
A hook to the body from Silva.
Knight prevents the takedown attempt.
Knight just leaning against Silva, taking a breather.
Silva is working for takedown but Knight is calmly controlling the position for now.
Knight tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Silva wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Knight has him pressed against the cage.
Knight prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva wants a takedown.

Knight pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Knight gets a clinch.

Knight pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Heath Knight seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Knight shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Silva sprawls well. Silva wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Knight gets slowly back to his feet.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but Knight shows good takedown defense.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Silva swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Silva throws a right and a left that both miss.
Knight misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Silva tries to clinch up but Knight circles away and keeps his distance.

Silva pushes Knight up against the cage in a clinch.
Silva is trying to break free.
Silva looking for a takedown.
Knight throws a punch but it's blocked by Silva.

Knight breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Knight lands a jab-cross combination.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Knight as he jumps to the side.
Knight throws a sloppy head kick and Silva moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

Silva clinches up with Knight and pushes him back against the cage.
Silva changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Knight fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Silva throws a right hand that Knight ducks under and follows up with a left that Knight also avoids with ease.
Knight throws a head kick that half lands.
Silva shoots in but no luck this time.
Knight throws a head kick that Silva semi-blocks.
Knight throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Silva's waist but Silva gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Knight off to one side.
Silva falls off balance throwing a combination

and Knight counters by moving into the clinch.
Silva wants a takedown.
Silva changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Knight fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Knight looks to land a combination. Silva sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight closes the distance and clinches up with Silva, looking for a takedown. Knight pushes Silva against the cage but Silva circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Silva pushes Knight up against the cage in a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Silva creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Knight tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Silva looking for a takedown.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Silva has Knight pressed against the cage, preventing Knight from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Silva is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Knight pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Knight tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Silva is trying to drag Knight to the mat but Knight just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Knight.
Knight changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Silva fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Knight uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Silva.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Silva or perhaps it was just good defense by Knight which made him look bad.
Knight shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Silva closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Knight jumps guard but Silva stands there with Knight around his waist. Knight gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Silva prevents Knight from breaking the clinch.
Silva changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Knight fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Knight closes this distance looking for a takedown but Silva circles away.
Knight is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Silva has taken the fight to the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Antonio Silva.
I think Silva 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!