PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Gracie (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
Gracie

188 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Hellbent, Inc.™
Fight Club Clothing™

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alexander Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Thiago Cunha and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Silva.
Silva looks to score with a jab to the body but Gracie is just out of range.
Silva tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Gracie manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Silva scores with a hook to the body. Gracie takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Silva has managed to clinch.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Silva lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Silva connects with a knee to the head.
Silva effectively controlling the action here.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gracie blocks it with crossed arms.

Silva manages to break the clinch.
A combination from Silva does no damage.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
A slow jab from Silva misses its intended target.

Silva closes the distance and clinches.

Gracie gets control of Silva's arms and successfully pulls guard. Gracie will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Silva loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva wants to stand but Gracie is controlling his posture from full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Silva is looking to work some ground and pound but Gracie has wrist control.
Silva wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie wants to get back to his feet but Silva is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

We're going to have a standup here because Alexander Silva wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Gracie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Gracie shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Silva's guard.
Gracie controlling from the top position.
Silva trying to control the position.
Gracie thows a big elbow that misses.
Gracie thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Silva knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
Silva managing to control the position.
Gracie in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
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.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alexander Silva wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Silva clinches.

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 tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.
Silva tries to land knees in the clinch but Gracie avoids the damage to the body.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Gracie blocks with his arms.
Silva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gracie is defending well for now.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva is breathing heavily.

Gracie has Silva pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Gracie pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Silva tumbling to the mat - Gracie dives into Silva's guard.
Gracie works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Silva is having none of it.
Gracie sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Silva defending well though.
Gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gracie 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Alexander Silva will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gracie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gracie is defended easily by Silva.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gracie is defended easily by Silva.
Gracie looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Alexander Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlos Gracie.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gracie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Silva misses with the combination.
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gracie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Silva lands a lovely overhand right.
Silva tries to work over Gracie's front leg with a kick but Gracie checks it.
Silva digs a good body shot into Gracie's ribs.

Silva has managed to clinch.
Silva connects with a knee to the head.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.

Silva breaks the clinch.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown but Silva manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gracie's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Silva connects with an inside leg kick.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
A solid body kick from Silva.
Some wild striking there from Silva.
Alexander Silva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva lands with a slapping head kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Silva throws a good cross that connects.

Silva fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gracie, pushing him back against the cage.
Knees to the body from Silva.
A knee to the head by Silva.
Silva utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Silva obliges.
Silva unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Stalling in the clinch from Silva.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.
Silva working Gracie over with knees to the body.
Silva landing knees to the head.
Silva lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva gets underhooks to prevent Gracie's takedown attempt.
Silva connects with a knee to the head.
Silva tries to land knees in the clinch but Gracie avoids the damage to the body.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Silva won't allow it.
Silva lands a nice knee to the body.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gracie blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva missing with knees to the body.
Gracie tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gracie jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Silva walks away with a smile on his face. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Alexander Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie shoots in but Silva avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Silva lands a jab to the nose.
Gracie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

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.
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Silva.
Silva tries to clinch but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.
That kick from Silva tenderised Gracie's leg. Gracie is trying to keep his angry face on.
Silva throws a nice head kick!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie.
Silva tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice cross by Silva.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Silva dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Silva circles away.
Gracie keeps the fight on the outside.

Silva clinches with his opponent.
Silva lands a nice knee to the body.
Silva putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Gracie in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Silva scores a nice knee to the body.
Silva has Gracie pressed against the cage.
Silva unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A bit of stalling here from Silva.
Silva landing knees to the body.
Silva comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Gracie blocks with his arms.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva connects with a knee to the head.
Gracie changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Silva fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A head kick misses from Silva.
Silva throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Gracie moves out of range as Silva strikes.
Silva tries to clinch up.
Silva tries a head kick but it misses.
Silva throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.

Gracie looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Silva is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Silva sees it coming and defends easily.
Gracie is trying to control. Silva wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Silva avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gracie.
Silva holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Gracie is keen to just control but Silva is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Silva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Silva tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.

Silva is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.
Gracie is pressing down on Silva's thigh, looking to free his foot. Silva is holding on for now.

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.
Gracie stops Silva from getting back to his feet.
Gracie trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.
Silva wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.
Carlos Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alexander Silva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Silva regains full guard. Nicely done.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Silva showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Silva, 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:26
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:26
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:26

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