PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Noel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Irwin Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Irwin Silva has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Noel
vs
Silva

176 cm
24
183 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

178 cm
19
176 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ryan Noel!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Irwin Silva!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Paulo Santos and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Noel rushes Silva and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Noel is leaning against Silva and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Silva is looking to break free of the clinch but Noel has double underhooks.

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 Noel uses from the top position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Noel controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Noel trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Noel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Noel drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Silva dives on top into guard.
Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noel keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Noel looking for a sweep. Not yet Noel, not yet.
Silva trying to control but Noel is working from the bottom.
Silva slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Noel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Noel is on top in guard.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Noel from controlling successfully.
Noel looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Silva working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Noel is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Noel wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.
Noel trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Silva closes the distance but Noel moves to the side

so Noel counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Noel postures up.
Noel is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Noel won't allow Silva to sweep him here.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Noel is proving a slippery customer.
Silva looking to control but Noel passes into half guard.
Silva is in trouble now - Noel has advanced to mount!
Silva tries to reverse the position but Noel maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Noel trying to control but Silva is having none of it.

Noel goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Silva turns into him and now he's in Noel's guard.
Noel looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Silva puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Noel tries to roll over but Silva keeps him under control.
Noel is working hard here to advance position.
Silva thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Noel's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Silva misses with a takedown attempt

and Noel counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Noel.

Noel tightens his grip and picks Silva up, before dumping him to the ground. Silva manages to land in guard.

Noel drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Noel jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Noel wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Silva is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Noel defends well.
Silva wants to stand but Noel is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noel wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.

Silva looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Noel misses with a body shot.
Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Noel decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Silva's guard.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Noel from controlling successfully.
Silva keeping full guard, as Noel tries to pass.
Silva trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noel won't allow Silva to sweep him here.
Noel not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Noel drops back, looking for a kneebar! Silva looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Silva looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Silva!
Noel is trying to control Silva's posture but Silva avoids it.
Silva controlling the position from side mount.

Silva is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Noel knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noel is looking to reverse the position.
A control attempt from Noel but he's now mounted!
Noel is working to get back to half guard.
Silva trying to control but Noel is having none of it.
Noel really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Silva can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Noel is looking to escape.

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 prevents Noel from getting the reversal.
Silva controlling the position easily from mount.
Noel is trying desperately to improve position.

Silva looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Noel wants to hold on but Silva pushes him away.
Silva looking to control but Noel is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Noel is trying to escape the mount.
Ryan Noel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Noel dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Noel drives through with a takedown into guard.
Noel trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Noel 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 keep a closed guard but Noel is proving a slippery customer.

Noel is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Silva is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Silva has escaped and now he's on top!
Noel keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Silva passes into half guard.
Noel wants to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noel wants to control but Silva is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Noel won't allow Silva to pass to mount.
Noel trying to control here.
Silva looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Noel wants to control but Silva is keeping busy.
Noel wants to improve his position but Silva is controlling well.
Silva is keen to just control but Noel is a slippery customer.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Silva tries to clinch

and Noel counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Silva's guard now.
Noel postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noel trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Noel is really struggling to control Silva but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Silva keeping full guard, as Noel tries to pass.

Silva is trying to get an arm triangle but Noel is defending well.
Silva tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to move into full mount but can't pass Noel's legs.
You can see the frustration on Noel's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Noel is trying to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Noel's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Noel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Silva wants to clinch

and Noel counters with a single leg into guard. Silva didn't expect that.
Noel wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Silva is trying to keep Noel in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noel trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Silva pulls Noel in to control the position.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Noel is proving a slippery customer.
Silva can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Noel controls the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Silva looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Noel clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Silva shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Noel counters by clinching up.

Silva ties up his opponent against the ropes and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Silva no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Silva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Silva is looking for a triangle but Noel pushes his legs off easily.

Noel has gone for a leg lock! Silva slips out almost immediately though and dives into Noel's guard.
Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Noel is retaining full guard.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Noel wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Noel's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva wants to control from the top but Noel keeps moving.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Noel is keeping the position for now.
Noel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Silva is one step ahead there.
Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Noel tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Silva shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Noel counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Silva is refusing to be controlled, as Noel sits in half guard.
Silva is trying to get back to full guard.
Noel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silva keeps working.
Silva is trying to maintain the position but Noel is very close to passing his half guard.
Noel seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Silva does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Noel 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 Noel.
Silva is trying to maintain the position but Noel is very close to passing his half guard.
Noel prevents Silva from improving his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Silva shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Noel counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ryan Noel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Irwin Silva.
Noel's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noel trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva is trying to control the position but Noel postures up.
Silva looking for a sweep. Not yet Silva, not yet.
Noel wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Noel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.

Noel postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Silva is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Noel, into his guard.
Noel looking for a sweep. Not yet Noel, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Noel had his way with Irwin Silva in that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Noel checks a low kick from Silva.
Noel doesn't manage to clinch there - Silva circles away.
A punch combination from Noel misses.
Noel throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Silva sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Noel throws a body punch but Silva moves out of range.
Silva shoots and misses

and Noel counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Silva is trying to maintain the position but Noel is very close to passing his half guard.
Noel trying to control from half guard but Silva is working away.
Noel is thwarting Silva's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is not content to let Noel control the position.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Noel controlling the pace.
Noel stalling away here and it's allowed Silva to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Noel wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Noel shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Noel was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Silva is squirming around, avoiding Noel's attempts to control the action.
Ryan Noel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to hold on but Noel pushes him away.
Noel controlling his opponent.
Silva is looking to get to half guard.
Noel tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Noel tries to push Silva's head away but Silva is holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is looking to get to half guard.
Silva tries to lock up and control but Noel gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Noel looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Noel goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Silva is on top in guard.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Noel is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Silva works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Silva is pressing down on Noel's thigh, looking to free his foot. Noel is holding on for now.
Noel is looking to improve his position.
Silva seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Noel does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Noel trying to control here.
Noel wants to get back to full guard.
Silva wants to take a breather but Noel is having none of it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Silva with a lazy takedown attempt

and Noel counters with a single leg into guard. Silva didn't expect that.
Silva trying to control the position.
Irwin Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Noel trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Noel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Noel 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 50:45
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 50:45
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Noel!
Ryan Noel retains his welterweight title!