PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sha Danson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabe Silva (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.

Danson
vs
Silva

180 cm
26
190 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

220 cm
24
195 lbs
6 - 3 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sha Danson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Gabe Silva!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yuuki Gou and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Danson misses with a looping right.
Danson throws a jab when Silva was well out of range.
Danson misses with an uppercut. Silva saw that one coming.
Danson misses with an uppercut. Silva saw that one coming.
Danson missing with a left hand there. Silva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Silva uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Danson.
Danson misses with a double jab.
Danson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A big right from Danson misses.
Silva lands a lovely overhand right.
Danson looks to throw the jab but Silva is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Danson misses the jab.
Silva is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Silva steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Danson.

Silva throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Danson was covering up waiting for the punch and Silva finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Danson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Silva can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Silva stands and throws Danson's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Silva stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Silva looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Danson!

Silva working for a guillotine from mount but Danson is in no mood to give up.
Danson is working to get back to half guard.

Silva is working for a guillotine from mount but Danson frees his head quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva landing shots from mount.
Danson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Silva is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Danson to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Danson shrugs it off.
Danson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Danson is looking to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Danson regains half guard.

Danson is defending against the submission attempts here by Silva.

Danson actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Danson defends it well.

Danson actively working from the bottom here.
Danson wants to get back to his feet.

Silva is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Danson defends it well.
Silva looks gassed!
Danson wants to control but Silva is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Silva seems to be working for a kimura but Danson defends the submission attempt.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Danson throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Silva keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Danson.
Danson is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Danson cracks Silva with a right hand to the side of the head.

Silva shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Danson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

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

Danson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Silva can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Danson looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Silva passes into side control.

Silva looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabe Silva dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Silva closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Danson wants to control but Silva is keeping busy.

Silva is working for a kimura but Danson is defending it quite comfortably.
Danson is trying to maintain the position but Silva is very close to passing his half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Danson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva passes to side control.

Silva is trying to get an arm triangle but Danson is defending well.
Danson tries to bench press Silva off him but Silva keeps the position.
Silva wants to control but Danson is keeping him busy.

Silva tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Silva has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Silva is breathing heavily.
Danson is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Silva off and has taken his back!

Danson working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Danson looking for the RNC.

Danson looking for the RNC.
Silva manages to reverse the position and now he's in Danson's guard. Nice work there by Silva.
Silva sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Silva is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Silva stands up from guard. Let's bang!
The fighters circling - Danson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Danson throws a jab but it's blocked by Silva.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Danson is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Silva's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Silva steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Danson.

Silva clinches up with Danson and pushes him back against the cage.
Silva is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Danson fails to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Danson tries to pull guard but Silva won't allow it.

Silva escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Danson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Danson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Danson looks to land a combination but Silva avoids it well.
Silva uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Danson.
A punch combination from Danson misses.
Danson throws a head kick but Silva moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabe Silva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A punch combination from Danson misses.
Sha Danson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Silva has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Silva there as he acknowledges the shot.
Danson throws a jab when Silva was well out of range.
Silva has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Silva there as he acknowledges the shot.
Danson fails to land with a series of punches.
No joy there for Danson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice defenses there by Silva.
Danson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Danson misses with a looping left.
Danson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva avoids a punch combination nicely.

Silva instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danson jumps guard but Silva stands there with Danson around his waist. Danson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Silva manages to break the clinch.
Danson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sha Danson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Danson misses with a two punch combination.
Danson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Danson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Danson takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Nice defenses there by Silva.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
No joy there for Danson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A big right from Danson misses.
Silva scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Danson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Silva moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Danson misses with a few strikes there.
Jab, jab by Silva - just one landing.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Danson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Danson throws a series of punches but Silva avoids them all with ease.

Silva instigates a clinch.

Silva decides to pull guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Silva throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Silva is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Danson defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Silva is on top in guard.

Silva thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Danson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Silva is aware though and is defending well.

Silva thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Danson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Silva defends well.
Gabe Silva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Silva jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Danson 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 not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Danson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Gabe Silva.
I've got Silva winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabe Silva!