PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between cruel de leon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcelo Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marcelo Silva will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

de leon
vs
Silva

170 cm
19
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight 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, cruel de leon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marcelo Silva!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

de leon shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Silva napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Silva bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Silva misses with a two punch combination.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but de leon swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
No luck for de leon with that takedown attempt.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but de leon swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Silva misses with the combination.
Silva scores with a hook.

de leon closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Silva to the mat! Silva manages to get full guard.
Silva wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and de leon manages to pass to side control.
Silva is trying to stand up here but de leon is controlling him well.

Silva kicks de leon off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

de leon 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.
Silva wants to get back to his feet but de leon is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Silva looks gassed!
de leon trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
de leon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.
de leon scoring with punches to the head and body.
de leon passes Silva's left leg - he's now in half guard.
de leon not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Silva tries to clinch up.
de leon avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

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

Silva uses the cage to get back to his feet.

de leon feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Silva wants to stand but de leon is controlling the position.

de leon stands up from guard. Let's bang!
de leon circles away from the clinch attempt.
Silva looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

de leon clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva looking to slow down the pace here.
de leon tries for a takedown but Silva manages to get underhooks.
de leon has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Silva avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for cruel de leon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.
de leon takes an elbow to the temple.
de leon is looking to control Silva's arms but Silva gets an underhook and turns him. Now de leon has his back to the cage.
de leon tries to pull guard but Silva won't allow it.
Silva landing knees to the head.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Silva scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Silva lands an elbow just above de leon 's eye.

de leon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Silva tries to clinch but fails miserably

and de leon decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Silva's guard.
Silva keeping moving, preventing de leon from controlling successfully.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
de leon trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
de leon trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
de leon stops Silva from standing up.
de leon throws a big right hand that misses.
de leon trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Silva pushes de leon off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
de leon avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
de leon shoots in and drives through. Silva sprawls well.
Silva misses with a head kick.

Silva drives through and clinches with de leon against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

cruel de leon dominated that round.
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.

de leon fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Silva avoids it really well and circles away.
Silva tries to clinch up

and de leon counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Silva pulls de leon into guard.

Silva has his feet on de leon's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Silva enables de leon to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Silva manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Silva wants to get back to his feet but de leon is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Silva wriggles free and stands up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva misses with a double jab

and de leon counters with a shoot takedown. Silva fights it but they end up in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
de leon trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.

Silva pushes de leon off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Marcelo Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Silva wants to clinch

and de leon decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Silva's guard.

de leon stands up from Silva's guard - de leon perhaps looking for a knockout.
Silva throws an uppercut from half a mile away. de leon sees it coming and avoids it easily.
de leon changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Silva tries to avoid it but de leon manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Silva to the ground. Silva escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A slow jab from de leon misses its intended target.

Silva moves into the clinch successfully.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva lands an elbow inside that de leon shrugs off.
Silva avoids the elbow strike from de leon, against the cage.
Silva gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from de leon.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for cruel de leon. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Silva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Silva drives through and clinches with de leon against the cage.

Silva breaks the clinch.

Silva scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
This has been an exciting period of action!
de leon takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
de leon is looking to reverse the position.
Silva wants to control but de leon is keeping him busy.
de leon manages to work his way to half guard, despite Silva's best efforts.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva wants to work for an arm triangle but de leon is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
cruel de leon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
de leon trying to control from the bottom.
de leon is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Silva is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Silva is trying to work for a kimura but de leon is defending well.
de leon is looking for a sweep. Silva is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four 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.
de leon wants to get back to his feet.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.
de leon is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
de leon is working hard here to advance position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Silva stands up out of the half guard.

Silva forces de leon back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that cruel de leon will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

de leon blocks a head kick by Silva.
de leon keeps the fight on the outside.
cruel de leon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Silva tries to clinch up

and de leon counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Silva!
Silva is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
de leon can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Silva is looking to escape.
Silva really wants to buck de leon off and get back to his feet.
de leon wants to control the pace but Silva is squirming around nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is looking to improve his position but de leon isn't that keen on the idea.
Silva is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
de leon dominating with strikes here.

de leon stands up from mount. Strange move.

Silva closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
de leon goes for a takedown attempt but Silva pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

de leon moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva lands a damaging elbow.
Silva putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has de leon in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Silva lands with a left to the head.

Silva manages to break the clinch.
Silva closes the distance but de leon moves to the side
and de leon counters with a two punch combo.
Silva lands a body shot.
Silva scores with a three punch combo!
Silva looks to score with a jab to the body but de leon is just out of range.

de leon closes the distance and clinches.
Silva lands a knee to the body.
Silva landing some nice looking knees to the body.
de leon tries to pull guard but Silva holds him up against the cage and eventually de leon drops back down to his feet.
de leon misses with a hook to the ribs.

Silva jumps guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to stand up but de leon is controlling him.

Silva kicks de leon off and gets to his feet.
de leon blocks a head kick by Silva.
de leon misses with a head kick.
Silva throws a head kick that misses
and de leon counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Silva tries to clinch but de leon is having none of it.

de leon closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Silva quickly recovers to half guard.

de leon decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
de leon tries to clinch but Silva moves out of range.
Silva closes the distance looking to clinch

and de leon decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Silva's guard.
Marcelo Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
de leon wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.

Silva has his feet on de leon's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
de leon moves in looking to clinch but Silva pushes him off.
Silva throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Silva is looking to clinch.
de leon avoids the head kick by Silva.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
de leon circles away from the clinch attempt.

de leon fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Silva sprawls well initially but de leon persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Silva is staying active underneath de leon, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
cruel de leon is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Silva flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
cruel de leon showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for de leon, 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 Suge Night scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... cruel de leon!