PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wanderlei Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Rua
vs
Silva

183 cm
19
212 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
26
203 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mauricio Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wanderlei Silva!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Alexandre Firmino and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva tries a head kick but it misses.
Silva wants to clinch up but Rua keeps it at a distance.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Rua drives through and clinches with Silva against the cage.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Rua creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rua is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Silva is defending well for now.
Silva tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rua avoids it.
Rua trying to land knees to the body.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Rua blocks it.
Silva avoiding damage as Rua throws knees to the body.
Rua with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rua trying to land knees to the body.
Silva throws an elbow that misses.
Silva managing to block the knees to the body from Rua.
Rua blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rua tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rua landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Rua managing to block the knees to the body from Silva.
Rua lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Wanderlei Silva has been cut.
Silva misses with an elbow strike.
Rua misses with a knee to the head.
Rua missing with knees to the body.
Silva misses with an elbow strike.
Rua on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Silva lands an elbow inside.
Silva can't find room to land a body shot as Rua controls the action.
Silva misses with the head strike.
Rua blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rua lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rua throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Silva blocks it with crossed arms.
A knee to the head by Rua.
Silva looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rua.
Silva misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Silva can't find room to land a body shot as Rua controls the action.
Rua crunches a lovely knee into Silva's ribcage.
Rua lands a damaging elbow.
Rua using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Rua connects with a nasty looking knee right to Silva's face.
Rua lands a good knee to the midsection. Silva won't want to take too many of those.
Rua tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Silva avoids it.
Rua landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Silva blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rua tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Silva avoids it.
Rua lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Silva tries a body shot but Rua blocks it.
Rua with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rua lands a nice elbow.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Rua looking to throw knees to the head but Silva is blocking nicely.
A knee to the head by Rua.
Silva avoiding damage as Rua throws knees to the body.
Rua trying to land knees to the body.
Silva takes a knee to the side of the body.
Rua crunches a lovely knee into Silva's ribcage.
Rua lands an elbow inside that Silva shrugs off.
Rua throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rua misses with a knee to the head.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Rua utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Silva has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silva throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ruas head.
Rua managing to block the knees to the body from Silva.
Rua gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rua working Silva over with knees to the body.
Rua lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rua tries a knee to the head but Silva blocks it.
Silva blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Silva on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Silva landing knees to the body.
Silva landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Rua landing knees to the head.
Rua blocking some punches.
Silva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rua is defending well for now.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Rua misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Silva.
Silva takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rua misses with an elbow strike.
Rua blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rua landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Rua lands an elbow inside.
Rua connects with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva works on Rua's body with a couple of short punches.
Silva working Rua over with knees to the body.
Rua unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A short body shot lands from Silva as the two fighters clinch.
Rua unloads a knee to the mid-section. Silva lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rua trying to land knees to the body.
Rua tries to land knees in the clinch but Silva avoids the damage to the body.
Rua blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rua with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rua takes a knee to the side of the body.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rua scores a nice knee to the body.
Silva misses with a punch to the body.
Rua unloads a knee to the mid-section. Silva lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rua scores with a knee to the head.
Rua blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Rua on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Rua.
Rua using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Rua lands a nice knee to the body.
A short body shot lands from Silva as the two fighters clinch.
Rua lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Silva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rua is defending well for now.

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.
Rua tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Silva avoids it.
Rua lands an elbow inside that Silva shrugs off.
With the fighters up against the cage, Silva throws an elbow but misses.
Silva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rua is defending well for now.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rua just misses with a elbow thrown towards Silva's brow.
Rua is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rua crunches a lovely knee into Silva's ribcage.
Silva avoiding damage as Rua throws knees to the body.
Rua with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva crunches a lovely knee into Rua's ribcage.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Rua landing knees to the body.
Silva tries to land knees in the clinch but Rua avoids the damage to the body.
Silva on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rua tries a knee to the head but Silva blocks it.
Rua missing with knees to the body.
Rua on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rua with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rua tries a knee to the head but Silva blocks it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silva misses with a hook from the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Silva.
Silva avoids the elbow strike from Rua, against the cage.
Silva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rua is defending well for now.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Silva on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Rua dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Wanderlei Silva's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rua looks to clinch

and Silva counters by clinching up.
Rua lands a knee to the head.
Rua avoids the elbow strike from Silva, against the cage.
Rua lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A knee to the head by Rua.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rua obliges.
Silva takes an elbow to the temple.
Silva tries to land knees in the clinch but Rua avoids the damage to the body.
Rua misses with a knee strike.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Rua utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Rua lands an elbow inside that Silva shrugs off.

That has opened up Wanderlei Silva's cut even more.
Silva blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rua landing knees to the head.
Rua misses with a knee strike.
Silva lands a nice uppercut.
Rua tries to land knees in the clinch but Silva avoids the damage to the body.
Rua takes an elbow to the forehead.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rua.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva can't find room to land a body shot as Rua controls the action.
Silva blocks the elbow strike.
Rua landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Silva unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Silva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rua is defending well for now.
Rua working Silva over with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Knees to the body from Silva.
Rua throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Silva blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rua avoids it.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Silva has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silva lands a nice uppercut.
Rua creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Silva's defenses.
Silva blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rua landing knees to the body.
Silva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rua is defending well for now.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Rua avoiding damage as Silva throws knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Silva.
Rua with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rua pushes off an throws an elbow but Silva leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Silva misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but Silva blocks with his arms.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Silva misses with a hook to the ribs.
Silva takes a knee right on the jaw!
Silva misses with a punch on the inside.
Rua lands a nice knee to the body.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Rua blocks it.
Rua avoiding damage as Silva throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rua throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Silva blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but Silva blocks with his arms.
Silva throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Rua throws an elbow but it misses.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Mauricio Rua has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Silva misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rua.
Silva tries to land knees in the clinch but Rua avoids the damage to the body.
Rua lands a knee to the head.
Rua tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Silva avoids it.
Silva lands an elbow inside that Rua shrugs off.
Rua lands a nice elbow.
Silva tries to land knees in the clinch but Rua avoids the damage to the body.
Silva misses with an elbow strike.
Rua lands a knee to the head.
Silva tries to throw a body punch but Rua avoids it by throwing Silva back against the cage.
Rua blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Silva tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rua avoids it.
Silva tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rua avoids it.
Silva blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rua trying to land knees to the body.
Rua on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Silva lands a damaging elbow.
Rua lands a knee to the body.
Silva is leaning against Rua and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rua.
Silva is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Silva on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Silva misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rua.
Silva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rua is defending well for now.
Rua dodges an elbow strike from Silva.
Rua with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva takes a knee to the side of the body.
Rua pushes off an throws an elbow but Silva leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Silva misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rua.
Knees in the clinch landing for Silva.
With the fighters up against the cage, Silva throws an elbow but misses.
Rua lands a knee to the body.
Rua with a knee to the head.
Rua throws an elbow but it misses.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Rua blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rua with a knee to the head.
Rua trying to land knees to the body.
Rua lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Silva lands an elbow inside that Rua shrugs off.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Silva has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rua lands a knee to the head.
Silva crunches a lovely knee into Rua's ribcage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rua avoids a wild elbow strike from Silva.
Rua avoids a wild elbow strike from Silva.
Silva looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rua comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Rua misses with an elbow over the top.
Silva misses with a punch to the body.
Rua on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Rua.
Rua using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Rua throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Silva blocks it with crossed arms.
Rua is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Silva is defending well for now.
Silva lands an elbow inside that Rua shrugs off.
Silva managing to block the knees to the body from Rua.
Silva blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rua prevents a body shot from Silva.
Silva utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Rua lands a nice knee to the body.
Nice body punch from Silva - that landed with a thud.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva tries to land knees in the clinch but Rua avoids the damage to the body.
Silva misses with an elbow over the top.
Rua landing knees to the body.
Rua lands an elbow inside that Silva shrugs off.
Rua connects with a nasty looking knee right to Silva's face.
Rua misses with a knee to the head.
Silva lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Rua dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Wanderlei Silva's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rua tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Silva counters with a body kick.
Rua darts in trying to clinch
and Silva cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mauricio Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rua tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rua moves to clinch but Silva breaks away
and Silva connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rua wants to clinch but Silva slips to the side
enabling Silva to counter with a crisp jab.
Rua tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Silva counters by clinching up.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rua tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Silva avoids it.
Rua misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Silva.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rua tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Silva avoids it.
Silva blocks an elbow strike.
Rua misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Silva.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rua obliges.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rua lands an elbow just above Silva 's eye.
Rua creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Silva's defenses.
Rua avoids the elbow strike from Silva, against the cage.
Rua avoiding damage as Silva throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua prevents a body shot from Silva.
Silva tries to work over Rua's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Silva tries a body shot but Rua blocks it.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but Silva blocks with his arms.
Rua lands a good knee to the midsection. Silva won't want to take too many of those.
Silva blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Silva unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rua lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Silva on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Silva throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Silva on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Silva managing to block the knees to the body from Rua.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Silva has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silva landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Silva unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rua lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rua missing with knees to the body.
Rua on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Silva goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rua on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rua missing with knees to the body.
Silva throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Rua with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rua trying to land knees to the body.
Silva lands an elbow inside that Rua shrugs off.
Silva missing with knees to the body.
Rua unloads a knee to the mid-section. Silva lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

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.
Silva blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rua throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rua dodges an elbow strike from Silva.
Rua on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rua lands a good knee to the midsection. Silva won't want to take too many of those.
Rua lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Silva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rua is defending well for now.
Silva blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Silva avoiding damage as Rua throws knees to the body.
Silva pushes off an throws an elbow but Rua leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rua tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rua backwards.
Rua lands a knee to the head.
Rua managing to block the knees to the body from Silva.
Rua tries to land knees in the clinch but Silva avoids the damage to the body.
Rua creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rua missing with knees to the body.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Silva blocks an elbow strike from Rua.
Silva tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rua avoids it.
Rua utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Rua putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Silva in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Silva misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rua.
Rua looking to throw knees to the head but Silva is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Silva blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rua missing with knees to the body.
Silva lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rua blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rua putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Silva in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Silva throws an elbow but misses.
Silva on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Silva tries a body shot but Rua blocks it.
Silva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rua is defending well for now.
Rua lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rua lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Silva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rua is defending well for now.
Rua lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Rua tries to land knees in the clinch but Silva avoids the damage to the body.
Silva avoiding damage as Rua throws knees to the body.
Silva swings wildly with an uppercut but Rua uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rua using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Silva avoiding damage as Rua throws knees to the body.
Rua throws an elbow that misses.
Rua misses with a knee strike.
Silva lands an elbow that stopped Rua in his tracks for a moment.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Silva obliges.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rua throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Silva blocks it with crossed arms.
Rua with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mauricio Rua is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rua missing with knees to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Silva throws an elbow but misses.
Rua avoiding damage as Silva throws knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rua obliges.
Rua with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rua working Silva over with knees to the body.
Silva avoiding damage as Rua throws knees to the body.
Silva lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rua backwards.
Rua avoiding damage as Silva throws knees to the body.
Rua managing to block the knees to the body from Silva.
Silva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rua is defending well for now.
Silva throws an elbow that misses.
Rua scores with a knee to the head.
Rua tries to land knees in the clinch but Silva avoids the damage to the body.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Silva misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rua.
Rua with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rua blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Silva tries to land knees in the clinch but Rua avoids the damage to the body.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Silva has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rua tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Wanderlei Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice body punch from Silva - that landed with a thud.
Silva avoids a wild elbow strike from Rua.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mauricio Rua.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rua, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mauricio Rua!