PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and vitor belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Silva
vs
belfort

188 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

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 1 - 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, vitor belfort!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
belfort scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
belfort fails with a takedown attempt.

Silva has taken the fight to the clinch.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but belfort is blocking nicely.
Silva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. belfort is defending well for now.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by belfort as Silva tries to tie him up.
belfort managing to block the knees to the body from Silva.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
belfort jumps guard but Silva stands there with belfort around his waist. belfort gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
belfort tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Silva smiles and moves away.
Alexander Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of vitor belfort.
Silva tries to bum rush belfort with a series of wild strikes but belfort uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

belfort darts in and clinches Silva up against the cage.
belfort on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Silva tries to land knees in the clinch but belfort avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but belfort has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A knee to the head by Silva.
Silva using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from belfort.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva tries to land knees in the clinch but belfort avoids the damage to the body.
Silva using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
belfort drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but belfort has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but belfort blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva lands a good knee to the midsection. belfort won't want to take too many of those.
belfort tries for a takedown but Silva manages to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
belfort manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Silva gets underhooks to prevent belfort's takedown attempt.
belfort blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
belfort managing to block the knees to the body from Silva.
Silva landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Silva is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but belfort is keeping busy.
The referee calls for Silva to work.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Silva.
belfort looking for a takedown.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva takes a shot to the head.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
belfort tries to pull guard but Silva holds him up against the cage and eventually belfort drops back down to his feet.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but belfort is blocking nicely.
Silva tries a knee to the head but belfort blocks it.

belfort pulls guard.
belfort not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

belfort is working an open guard so Silva takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
belfort tries to clinch up
and Silva counters with a thumping low kick.
belfort has his takedown stuffed

and Silva counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
belfort looks gassed!
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but belfort is blocking nicely.
belfort swings wildly with an uppercut but Silva uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva scores a nice knee to the body.
belfort drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Silva gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but belfort is blocking nicely.
Silva tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and belfort avoids it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but belfort has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Silva tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and belfort avoids it.
Silva displaying some good clinch control by pressing belfort up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Silva dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

belfort misses with a takedown attempt

and Silva moves into the clinch.
Silva landing knees to the body.
Silva will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning belfort up against the cage.
Silva landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Silva lands a nice knee to the body.
Silva taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but belfort has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
belfort misses with some punches.
Silva is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
belfort is breathing heavily.
Silva working belfort over with knees to the body.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Silva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. belfort is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
belfort takes a knee to the side of the body.
Silva misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from belfort.
Silva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. belfort is defending well for now.
Silva taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
belfort avoids a wild elbow strike from Silva.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
belfort tries for a takedown but Silva manages to get underhooks.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.
belfort managing to block the knees to the body from Silva.

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 looking to throw knees to the head but belfort is blocking nicely.
belfort fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Alexander Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of vitor belfort.
belfort scores with a shot to the side of Silva's head.
Silva is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
belfort fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Silva on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
belfort on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Silva tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and belfort avoids it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Silva.
belfort tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silva just stands there and leans against the cage.
Silva gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from belfort.
Silva lands a nice knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Silva leaning against his opponent.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Silva for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
A knee to the head by Silva.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Silva using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
The referee calls for Silva to work.
belfort goes for a takedown in the clinch but Silva prevents it.
Silva leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Alexander Silva.
Silva connects with a single shot there.
belfort looks to clinch
and Silva counters with a leg kick.
belfort on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Good exchange - Silva coming out on top.
Alexander Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Silva closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Alexander Silva has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Silva content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva lands a good knee to the midsection. belfort won't want to take too many of those.
Silva manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Silva tries to land knees in the clinch but belfort avoids the damage to the body.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
belfort on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Silva dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

belfort gets tackled into the cage by Silva. Silva maintains the clinch.
belfort blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but belfort blocks with his arms.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

belfort has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Silva regains guard immediately.

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

belfort 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!
belfort keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
belfort takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Silva wants to pass the guard but belfort is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

belfort looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
belfort is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Silva trying to hold on to belfort's head to control him but belfort postures up.
belfort prevents Silva from improving his position.
Silva is looking to escape.
Silva is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two 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 actively working from the bottom here.

belfort is working for a submission of some sort.
belfort not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Silva throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is pressing down on belfort's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Silva has belfort pulled in close to control his posture.
belfort scoring with punches to the head and body.
belfort keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Silva's head.
belfort tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.
belfort wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.

Silva looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
belfort passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Silva.
belfort missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Silva wants to stand and escape but belfort is having none of it.
belfort wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
vitor belfort 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.
belfort is looking to work some ground and pound but Silva has wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
vitor belfort comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Silva has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28

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