PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nick Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yannick Riesling (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva's entrance music is suffocating under the words of sorrow (Bullet For My Valentine). A fine choice. Nick Silva had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Silva
vs
Riesling

175 cm
24
194 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

181 cm
27
199 lbs
10 - 4 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nick Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Yannick Riesling!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Yves DeLean and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva throws a hook but Riesling avoids it easily.
Riesling takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Silva misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Riesling.
Silva throws the left hand but Riesling avoids the punch easily.
Silva misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Riesling throws a left and a right that both miss
and Silva counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Riesling misses with a body shot.
A punch combination from Riesling misses.
Riesling uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Silva.
Silva lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Riesling at a distance.
Riesling steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Silva.
Riesling swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Silva scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Silva is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Riesling.
Riesling throws out a loose jab but Silva uses good head movement to avoid it.
A punch combination from Silva misses.

Riesling forces Silva back against the cage and clinches.
Riesling lands a hook that snaps the head of Silva backwards.
Riesling tries for a takedown but Silva manages to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Riesling.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Riesling shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Riesling in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Riesling drops back looking for a leg! Silva is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Silva manages to kick Riesling off! Riesling jumps back into Silva's guard.
Silva knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Riesling on the ground.
Riesling throwing strikes but missing.
Silva can't keep his opponent in guard - Riesling advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.
Silva trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Silva avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Riesling.
Riesling not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Silva throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Riesling sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A punch lands to the side of Riesling 's head but he takes it in his stride.
A big left from Silva misses.
Nick Silva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The fighters circling - Silva throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Silva misses with a double jab.
Silva is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Riesling.
Silva jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Riesling keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Silva moves out of range as Riesling strikes.
Silva takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Riesling uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Silva has time to react.
Riesling misses with a hook.
A big right from Riesling misses.
Silva misses with a looping right.
Riesling ducks under a wild hook from Silva.
Silva moves out of range as Riesling strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva misses with a straight left.
Riesling missing with a left hand there. Silva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Riesling misses with a body shot.
Silva looks to land a right hand but Riesling moved out of range.
Silva moves out of range as Riesling strikes.
Silva throws a jab when Riesling was well out of range.
The fighters circling - Silva throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Riesling lands with a shot to the body.
Riesling takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Silva looks to score with a jab to the body but Riesling is just out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Silva misses the target.

Riesling shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Silva is trying to defend but Riesling finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Silva tries to kick Riesling off in order to stand up. Riesling Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riesling in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Silva is pushing Riesling's head away, looking to escape. Riesling manages to hold on to the position though.
Riesling laying and praying for a moment but Silva takes advantage and regains half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riesling is looking to stall here but Silva recovers full guard.
Silva is looking to stand up but Riesling isn't so interested in that idea.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Riesling is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yannick Riesling dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Silva misses with a body shot.
Riesling throws a hook to the side of Silva's head but Silva sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Silva misses with a looping right.
Riesling slips under a jab.
Riesling throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Silva.
Silva thows a left - swing and a miss!
Riesling throws a jab when Silva was well out of range.
Silva blocks a jab.
Riesling steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Silva.

Riesling shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riesling working the head and body with strikes.
Silva keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Silva is trying to stand back up but Riesling is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riesling thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Silva's head.
Silva keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Riesling thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Silva's head.
Silva taking some punishment here, with Riesling in his half guard.
Riesling slips a nice elbow through Silva's hands, connecting with Silva's forehead.
Silva tries to get to full guard but Riesling has control of the leg.
Silva is looking to escape.
Riesling has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Riesling not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Riesling winds up and cracks Silva with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Silva is staying active underneath Riesling, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
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. Riesling connects with a nice short shot to Silva's temple.
Riesling throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riesling with the ground and pound but Silva uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Riesling trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Riesling won't allow Silva to sweep him here.
Riesling is working Silva over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Riesling throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Silva avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Riesling stands up over Silva, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Silva is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Riesling is controlling him.
Riesling throws a big right hand that misses.
Riesling throws a big right hand that misses.

Silva pushes Riesling off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva blocks a jab.
Silva connects with a right hand. Riesling shakes it off.
Riesling might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Silva uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Riesling.
Riesling moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Silva loads up on a big right hand but Riesling slips the punch.
Silva throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Silva ducks under a wild hook from Riesling.
Silva throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Silva moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Silva misses with a series of wild punches.
Silva digs a good hook to Riesling's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Silva looks to land a combination but Riesling avoids it well.
Silva misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Riesling counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Riesling slips a straight right by Silva.
Silva displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Riesling throws out the jab.
Silva scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Riesling slips a jab from Silva.
Riesling misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Silva fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Riesling slips under a jab.
A big right from Riesling misses.
Silva will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Silva thows a left - swing and a miss!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yannick Riesling showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Silva throws a big shot that misses.
Silva throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Silva keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Silva swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Riesling takes one on the button.
Silva misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Riesling.
Silva misses with the combination.
Silva misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Riesling.
Riesling shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Silva as he jumps to the side.
Riesling throws a left and a right that both miss
and Silva counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riesling is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Silva.
Silva swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Silva tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Riesling was well out of range. Poor timing from Silva.
Silva misses with a combination
and Riesling counters with a left to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva misses with a looping right.
Silva with a jab.
Silva looks to land a right hand but Riesling moved out of range.
Riesling displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Silva throws out the jab.
Silva throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Silva slips under a jab.
Silva stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Riesling slips a straight right by Silva.
Silva jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Silva leaves Riesling with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Riesling lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Riesling avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Silva throws a right and a left that Riesling avoids nicely.

Riesling closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Riesling.
Riesling scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Silva wants to get back to striking at distance but Riesling won't allow it.
Silva tries to break the clinch but Riesling is controlling the position.

Riesling gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Riesling 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.
Riesling winds up and cracks Silva with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Riesling drops an elbow to the side of Silva's head.
Riesling thows a huge punch but Silva dodges it nicely.
Riesling takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Silva tries to roll over but Riesling keeps him under control.
Riesling thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.
Riesling thows a huge punch but Silva dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riesling lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Silva trying to control but Riesling postures up.
Silva is not content to let Riesling control the position.
Riesling not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice uppercut lands for Silva. That snapped Riesling's head back.
Silva is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Riesling.
Riesling takes one on the button.
Riesling steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Silva.
Silva tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Riesling was well out of range. Poor timing from Silva.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Riesling tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Silva was well out of range. Poor timing from Riesling.
Silva moves away from the strike by Riesling.
Riesling takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Riesling slips under a jab.
Silva throws an overhand right that lands on Riesling's shoulder, as Riesling tries to avoid the shot.
Silva throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Silva staying out of range there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Silva. Riesling does a little dance to reset his feet.
Riesling works the jab nicely.
Silva misses with a body punch

and Riesling counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Riesling.
Riesling drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nick Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yannick Riesling.
Riesling has Silva pressed against the cage, preventing Silva from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Riesling has clasped his hands together around Silva's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Silva tries to buck Riesling off but Riesling is having none of it.
Nick Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Silva is working hard here to advance position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yannick Riesling comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Riesling 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yannick Riesling!