PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Povetkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eduardo Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Povetkin kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Mother Russia. Silva has chosen X is Coming as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Povetkin
vs
Silva

185 cm
22
165 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

182 cm
23
166 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Basic striking
Powerful

Fire Sportswear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alexander Povetkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eduardo Silva!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Povetkin pinned against the cage. Povetkin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Silva tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Povetkin swivels and escapes.
Silva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Povetkin but Povetkin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Alexander Povetkin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eduardo Silva.
Silva fails with the takedown.
Povetkin lands with a slapping head kick.
Povetkin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Silva looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Silva throws a jab but it's blocked by Povetkin.
Povetkin looks to land a body kick but Silva moved away.
Povetkin is looking to clinch.
Povetkin cracks the inside of Silva's front leg.
Silva shoots in looking for a takedown. Povetkin tries to sprawl out of it but Silva keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Povetkin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Povetkin moves into range and clinches up with Silva.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Povetkin lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Povetkin has Silva pressed against the cage.
Silva tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Silva tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Povetkin smiles and moves away.
Eduardo Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva fails with the takedown.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Povetkin, right into the meat.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Povetkin as he jumps to the side.
Povetkin lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

It looks like Eduardo Silva has been cut.

Silva drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva prevents Povetkin from getting back to his feet.
Silva stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Povetkin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Povetkin keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.

Silva drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Povetkin dives on top into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Povetkin stays in close to Silva's body and controls the position.
Silva wants to control but Povetkin passes easily into half guard.
Silva trying to control from the bottom.
Silva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Silva slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

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 is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Silva is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Silva is looking for a triangle here but Povetkin uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Silva looks gassed!
Silva is trying to get back to half guard.
Silva struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Povetkin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Eduardo Silva's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Silva fails with the takedown.
Povetkin stuns Silva with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Povetkin stuffs the takedown attempt from Silva. Silva gets slowly back to his feet.
Povetkin connects with a jab.
Povetkin throws a quick inside leg kick.
Povetkin tries to clinch up but Silva circles away and keeps his distance.
A combination from Povetkin does no damage.

Povetkin moves into the clinch.
Silva on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Povetkin scores with a shot to the side of Silva's head.
Povetkin makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Povetkin works on Silva's body with a couple of short punches.
Povetkin effectively controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Povetkin scores with a shoulder strike.
The referee calls for Povetkin to work.
Povetkin lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Silva.
Povetkin lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Povetkin pressing his opponent against the cage.
Povetkin lands a body punch.
Povetkin just leaning against Silva, taking a breather.
Silva tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Povetkin smiles and moves away.
Alexander Povetkin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eduardo Silva.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Silva.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Povetkin won't allow Silva to pass to mount.
Povetkin wants to get back to full guard.

Silva looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Povetkin has his hands clasped together around Silva's back. He's all about the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva is working for a kimura but Povetkin is defending it quite comfortably.
Povetkin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Povetkin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Silva looking to pass the guard.

Silva drops back, looking for a kneebar! Povetkin looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Povetkin looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Povetkin!

Povetkin stands up and beckons Silva to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Povetkin dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Eduardo Silva's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Povetkin looks to land a combination but Silva avoids it well.
Povetkin turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Povetkin leaves Silva with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Silva fails to land the takedown.
Povetkin throws a head kick that misses.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Alexander Povetkin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eduardo Silva.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Povetkin tests Silva's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nice sprawl there from Povetkin as Silva shoots in.
Povetkin with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Silva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left lands for Povetkin.
A shot to the liver by Povetkin. Beautiful body shot.
Silva takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Silva swats away the attempt to clinch by Povetkin.

Povetkin moves into range and clinches up with Silva.
Povetkin digs a right hand underneath Silva's ribcage. Silva let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Nice body punch from Povetkin - that landed with a thud.
Nice body punch from Povetkin.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Povetkin.
Povetkin holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Povetkin seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Silva fails to pull guard.
Alexander Povetkin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Povetkin lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Silva backwards.
Silva jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Povetkin walks away with a smile on his face. Silva gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Povetkin lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A nice leg kick lands there from Povetkin.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Silva.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva dives in and grabs Povetkin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Povetkin pushes down on Silva's head and hops out.
Silva is trying hard to land a takedown here. Povetkin sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Povetkin lands with a kick to the temple. Silva shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Povetkin moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Povetkin has closed the distance and engaged Silva in a clinch.
Povetkin stalling the fight.
Silva tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Povetkin just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Povetkin.
Silva's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Povetkin lands an uppercut.
Povetkin stalling.
Silva jumps guard but Povetkin stands there with Silva around his waist. Silva gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Povetkin scores with a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Povetkin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Povetkin 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:26
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:26
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Povetkin!