PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between BJ Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Liddell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva's entrance music is All Summer Long. A fine choice. Liddell is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by George Straits- The Fireman. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Silva
vs
Liddell

185 cm
22
205 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
215 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

MMA's Best Nutrition
Malicious Intent Fight Gear

Malicious Intent Fight Gear
MMA's Best Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, BJ Silva!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dan Liddell!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Wesley Smith and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Liddell misses.
Silva slips a straight right by Liddell.
A lazy left from Liddell finds it's target.
Silva throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Liddell.
Silva tries for a takedown but Liddell sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Liddell throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Silva closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Liddell wants to improve his position but Silva is controlling well.
Silva tries to pass to full mount but Liddell defends it.

Silva is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Liddell defends it well.
Liddell controlling the position for now.
Liddell tries to roll over but Silva keeps him under control.
Liddell slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Silva with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Liddell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Liddell wants to stand and escape but Silva is having none of it.
Liddell pulls Silva in close to prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Silva moves into full mount!
Liddell wants to control but Silva is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Silva wants to finish this one by submission but Liddell is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Silva.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liddell really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Silva looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Silva is breathing heavily.
Silva avoids the attempt from Liddell to control.
Liddell is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Silva is staying active.
Liddell working to try and regain half guard.
Liddell is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Liddell is looking to get to half guard.
Liddell is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Liddell can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Silva throws some wild stikes that Liddell manages to avoid easily.
Silva trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Liddell is looking to improve his position but Silva isn't that keen on the idea.
Liddell tries to hold on but Silva postures up.
Liddell is looking to improve his position but Silva isn't that keen on the idea.
Silva throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Liddell is wriggling around trying to escape.
Liddell holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Silva tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Liddell really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Silva. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Silva raining down shots from the mount!

Silva looking for a guillotine from mount but Liddell is having none of it.
Liddell wants to hold on but Silva pushes him away.
Silva unloads with some shots from mount but Liddell bucks and avoids them well.
Liddell wants to try and get back to his feet.
Liddell tries to hold on but Silva pushes him away.

Silva looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Liddell stops Silva from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Liddell tries to reverse the position but Silva maintains control.
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 BJ Silva will probably get the nod.
That's time! Silva's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Silva closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Silva lands in his opponent's guard.
Silva stops Liddell from standing up.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Liddell is keeping the position.

Liddell pushes Silva off and scrambles back to his feet.
Silva looks for a takedown but Liddell sprawls well.
Silva slips a straight right by Liddell.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A good leg kick by Liddell.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva shoots in but Liddell avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for BJ Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Liddell looks to land a combination but Silva avoids it well.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Liddell, as that shot connected.
Liddell bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Silva's head backwards.
Liddell pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Liddell gets caught flat footed, as Silva shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Silva won't allow Liddell to get back to his feet.
Liddell is pulling down on Silva's head to control his posture.

Silva drops back looking for a leg! Liddell is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Liddell manages to kick Silva off! Silva jumps back into Liddell's guard.
Liddell wants to stand up but Silva is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Silva trying to control but Liddell is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Liddell gets caught flat footed, as Silva shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Liddell 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.
Liddell trying to control the position.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Liddell is keeping the position for now.
Liddell keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Silva is in close to Liddell's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva prevents Liddell from getting back to his feet.
Silva passes Liddell's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Silva throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Silva thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Liddell's head.
Silva has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Silva trying to control the action but Liddell is working from the bottom.
Silva is really struggling to control Liddell but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Liddell is holding on to half guard well.
Silva wants to take a breather but Liddell is having none of it.
Liddell trying to control but Silva postures up.
Silva wants to pass to mount but Liddell is defending the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Liddell stuffs the takedown.

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.
Nice defenses there by Silva.
BJ Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Liddell throws a right and a left that Silva avoids nicely.
No luck for Silva with that takedown attempt.
Silva looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Liddell is fending him off so far but Silva persists. Nope, Liddell circles away and we're back to standing.
Silva looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Liddell is fending him off so far but Silva persists. Nope, Liddell circles away and we're back to standing.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Silva shoots in but no luck this time.
Dan Liddell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from Liddell does no damage.
Liddell misses with the combination.
Liddell misses with a looping left.

Silva scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Liddell prevents Silva from moving into mount.

Silva working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dan Liddell will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Silva's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Silva 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.
Liddell seems keen to control Silva's posture.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Liddell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Liddell looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Silva trying to control but Liddell is working from the bottom.
Liddell pulls Silva in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddell wants to stand up but Silva is controlling him.
Liddell is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Liddell pulls Silva in close to prevent any damage.
Liddell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Liddell wants to stand and escape but Silva is having none of it.

Silva drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Silva jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Liddell is retaining full guard.
Liddell wants to sweep but no luck.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Silva slips under a jab from Liddell.
Silva fails with the takedown.
Liddell throws a combination but it was largely blocked by 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 changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Liddell tries to avoid it but Silva manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Liddell to the ground. Liddell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Silva throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Liddell's waist but Liddell gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Silva off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for BJ Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Liddell keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Silva takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Silva shoots for a double leg takedown but Liddell sprawls well. He's pushed Silva's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Liddell swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Liddell takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Dan Liddell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Silva darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Silva is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Liddell slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva won't allow Liddell to get back to his feet.
Silva trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Silva passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Liddell is looking for a sweep.

Silva working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Silva sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Liddell is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Liddell struggling a bit here.

Silva thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Liddell stuck in half guard on the bottom here.

That's four 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.
Liddell sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Liddell is pressing down on Silva's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Silva is working Liddell over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Liddell pulls Silva in close to his closed guard and prevents Silva from doing any damage or advancing position.
Liddell wants to sweep but no luck.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Liddell is keeping the position for now.
Silva is fighting to break Liddell's control of his arms but Liddell is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Liddell is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Dan Liddell just about did enough to take it.
That's time! Back to the action!

Liddell throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Silva sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A punch combination from Liddell misses.
Silva has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Liddell.
Liddell misses with a combination

and Silva counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Silva throws a big right hand that misses.
Liddell wants to sweep here but Silva controlling him for the moment.
Silva in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Liddell keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Liddell is controlling Silva's posture.
Silva wants to control from the top but Liddell keeps moving.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Liddell pushes Silva off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddell misses with an uppercut. Silva saw that one coming.
Silva shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Liddell pinned against the cage. Liddell gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Liddell connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Liddell lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Liddell lands a nice looking body shot.
Silva dodges the punch combination from Liddell.
Silva scores with a jab to the body.
Liddell lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Liddell lands a right hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva closes the distance and clinches up with Liddell, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes Liddell against the cage but Liddell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Liddell swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Liddell throws a chopping leg kick but Silva manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Silva ducks under a wild hook from Liddell.
Liddell throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Silva counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
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!
The fighters are battling for position here. Liddell manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Liddell is retaining full guard.
Silva preventing the sweep.
Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Liddell is retaining full guard.

Liddell pushes Silva off and scrambles back to his feet.
Liddell misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Silva 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.
Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Liddell is retaining full guard.
Silva throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddell pulls Silva in close to prevent any damage.
Silva content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Silva looking to pass the guard.
Silva postures up in Liddell's guard and throws a big left but Liddell blocks it.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Liddell holds on and takes a little breather.

Silva postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Liddell is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Silva, into his guard.

Silva looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

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.
Liddell controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
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.
Liddell must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Silva looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Liddell stays in close to Silva's body and controls the position.
Liddell postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Liddell stands up from Silva's guard - Liddell perhaps looking for a knockout.
A big left from Liddell misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Dan Liddell will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Silva shoots in but no luck this time.
Silva ducks right into an uppercut from Liddell.
Silva shoots in looking for a takedown. Liddell tries to sprawl out of it but Silva keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Liddell manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Liddell walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Silva checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Silva showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Liddell.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Liddell swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Silva changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Liddell looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
BJ Silva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Silva working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Liddell wants to control but Silva postures up.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddell sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Liddell is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Liddell keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Silva thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Silva stops Liddell from getting back to his feet.
Silva sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Liddell defending well though.
Silva trying to mount his opponent but Liddell defends it.
Liddell is controlling Silva's trapped leg to prevent Silva from advancing to side control.
Liddell keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for BJ Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A combination from Silva does no damage.
Liddell connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Silva's hands.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Liddell as he jumps to the side.

Silva drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Liddell managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Silva.

Silva is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Liddell knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Liddell wants to control but Silva postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva prevents Liddell from escaping the position.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Liddell keeps working.
Silva moves into full mount!
Silva looking to control but Liddell is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Liddell is desperately trying to improve his position but Silva has a good base and remains in mount.
Liddell is in a horrible position here. Silva smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Liddell keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Silva punishing his opponent with strikes.
Silva throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Liddell is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

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.
Silva is landing with some decent strikes but Liddell is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Silva wants to finish this one by submission but Liddell is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Silva.
Liddell is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Silva looking to secure an arm triangle but Liddell defends it well.

Silva is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Silva defending well as Liddell loads up on a big left hand.
Liddell loads up on a big right hand but Silva slips the punch.
Liddell with a jab.
BJ Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Silva looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
BJ Silva showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Liddell has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 47:48
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 47:48
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Liddell!
Dan Liddell is the new light heavyweight champion!