PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vanderlei Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Walter McWrestle (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
McWrestle

180 cm
18
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

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 Los Angeles, Vanderlei Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Walter McWrestle!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but McWrestle swats him away and circles back towards the center.

McWrestle shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Silva is trying to control the position but McWrestle postures up.
Silva is pulling down on McWrestle's head to control his posture.
McWrestle in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McWrestle 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.
McWrestle trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McWrestle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McWrestle postures up in Silva's guard and throws a big left but Silva blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McWrestle in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
McWrestle dodges the punch combination from Silva.
Silva throws a lazy right hand but McWrestle sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Silva tries to circle away but McWrestle has him pinned against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McWrestle is trying to break free.

McWrestle turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and McWrestle manages to end up in side control.
McWrestle in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Silva is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on McWrestle's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Silva wants to control but McWrestle is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Silva is trying to defend against the ground and pound but McWrestle scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ground and pound from McWrestle.
McWrestle thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Silva's head.
Silva tries to roll over but McWrestle keeps him under control.
Silva trying to control but McWrestle postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying to defend against the ground and pound but McWrestle scores with a couple of nice shots.
Silva is trying to control but can't.
McWrestle looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Silva wants to improve his position but McWrestle is controlling well.
Well, if McWrestle is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
McWrestle 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.
Silva avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McWrestle.
Silva wants to control but McWrestle is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. McWrestle lands a nice short elbow.
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. McWrestle connects with a nice short shot to Silva's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McWrestle is nestled in close to Silva, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
McWrestle throwing shots but Silva is blocking nicely.
Silva trying to hold on to McWrestle's head to control him but McWrestle postures up.
McWrestle 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.
Silva regains full guard. Nicely done.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Silva looking for a guillotine here but McWrestle defends easily.
McWrestle scoring with some ground and pound.
Silva can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as McWrestle controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
McWrestle connects with a couple of short punches.
McWrestle controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
McWrestle working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
McWrestle content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
McWrestle 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.
McWrestle works over Silva with some ground and pound from guard.
McWrestle pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.
McWrestle stops Silva from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Walter McWrestle dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

McWrestle throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
McWrestle lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

McWrestle has closed the distance and engaged Silva in a clinch.
Silva tries to pull guard but McWrestle holds him up against the cage and eventually Silva drops back down to his feet.

McWrestle works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
McWrestle with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Silva will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
McWrestle is working Silva over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
McWrestle must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Silva being controlled here, momentarily.
McWrestle scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McWrestle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McWrestle cracks Silva with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McWrestle throwing strikes but missing.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
McWrestle is working Silva over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
McWrestle working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
McWrestle scoring with some ground and pound.
McWrestle throws a big right hand that misses.
McWrestle works over Silva with some ground and pound from guard.
McWrestle lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Silva is trying to keep McWrestle in close.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
McWrestle not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Silva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McWrestle sitting in guard here, content to control.
Let's hope that McWrestle has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
McWrestle keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Silva's head.
McWrestle postures up and lands a big shot to Silva's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McWrestle wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.
Silva is trying to control the position but McWrestle postures up.

Silva is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
McWrestle trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McWrestle lands a couple of elbows.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but McWrestle is proving a slippery customer.
Silva wants to get back to his feet but McWrestle is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

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

McWrestle gets a takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nice strikes from McWrestle there.
Ground and pound from McWrestle.
McWrestle takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
McWrestle lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. McWrestle lands a nice short elbow.
Silva trying to control from the bottom.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. McWrestle lands a nice short elbow.
McWrestle scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Nice strikes from McWrestle there.
Silva wants to control but McWrestle is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Walter McWrestle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

McWrestle jabs at Silva's body.

McWrestle drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Silva manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McWrestle scores with a jab to the body.
McWrestle cracks Silva with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

McWrestle gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
McWrestle works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Silva is fighting off a takedown attempt but McWrestle is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Silva to the mat. Silva regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
McWrestle throwing strikes but missing.
McWrestle cracks Silva with a solid left hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McWrestle landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McWrestle preventing the sweep.
McWrestle content to stall in guard here.
Silva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McWrestle slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
McWrestle's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
McWrestle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two 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.
McWrestle preventing the sweep.
McWrestle lands a couple of decent looking shots.
McWrestle stays in close to Silva's body and controls the position.
Silva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McWrestle wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.

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

McWrestle has closed the distance and engaged Silva in a clinch.
Silva can't break the clinch.

McWrestle gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Silva kicks McWrestle off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McWrestle catches Silva with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Silva misses with a takedown

and McWrestle holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
McWrestle gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Silva.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vanderlei Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.

McWrestle has Silva pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. McWrestle pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Silva tumbling to the mat - McWrestle dives into Silva's guard.

Silva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. McWrestle doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. McWrestle manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
McWrestle is working Silva over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McWrestle works over Silva with some ground and pound from guard.
McWrestle pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.
McWrestle content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
McWrestle preventing the sweep.
McWrestle distracts Silva with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Silva is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Walter McWrestle is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McWrestle showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Vanderlei Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Walter McWrestle comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McWrestle has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 26:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Walter McWrestle!