PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Skilt (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
Skilt

197 cm
19
184 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

200 cm
24
189 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Paulo Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mike Skilt!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yukihiro Shimada and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Skilt misses with a series of wild punches.
Skilt throws a one two combo.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Skilt swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Skilt throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Skilt swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Skilt swings for the body but Silva moves out of range.
Silva slips a jab and a cross from Skilt.
Skilt swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
Skilt fails to land with a series of punches.
Silva is looking to clinch but Skilt is avoiding it.
Skilt missing with a left hand there. Silva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Skilt swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Skilt swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Skilt swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva wants to clinch.
Silva really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Skilt looks to land a combination but Silva avoids it well.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Skilt paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Silva tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Skilt manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Skilt fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mike Skilt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to clinch up but Skilt circles away and keeps his distance.
Skilt avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Skilt misses with a double jab.
Skilt looks gassed!
A combination from Skilt does no damage.
Silva tries to clinch but Skilt is having none of it.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Skilt misses with a series of wild punches.

Silva clinches up against the cage.
Skilt wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Silva has him pressed against the cage.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Skilt takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Mike Skilt has been cut.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Skilt is blocking nicely.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Skilt takes a knee right on the jaw!
Skilt takes a knee right on the jaw!
Silva landing knees to the head.
Skilt is trying to force a seperation but Silva has the dominant position.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Skilt has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Skilt blocks it.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Skilt's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skilt working hard to break the clinch.
A knee to the head by Silva.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Skilt's efforts to push away.
Skilt wants to break free but Silva has control.
Skilt tries to circle away but Silva has him pinned against the cage.
Silva landing knees to the head.
Skilt wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Skilt is blocking nicely.
Skilt tries to circle away but Silva has him pinned against the cage.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Skilt blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Skilt is blocking nicely.
Skilt wants to break free but Silva has control.
Skilt looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Skilt has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Skilt is blocking nicely.
Skilt takes a knee right on the jaw!
Silva landing knees to the head.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Skilt wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Skilt blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva with a knee to the head.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Skilt has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Skilt has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Silva has Skilt pressed against the cage, preventing Skilt from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Skilt blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Skilt blocks with his arms.
Skilt tries to circle away but Silva has him pinned against the cage.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Skilt has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Skilt is blocking nicely.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Skilt looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Skilt has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Silva with a knee to the head.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Skilt blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Skilt's efforts to push away.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Skilt tries to circle away but Silva has him pinned against the cage.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Skilt's face.
Silva keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Skilt's efforts to push away.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Skilt blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Skilt blocks with his arms.
Skilt is trying to push Silva away but Silva has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Skilt blocks it with crossed arms.
Skilt can't break the clinch.
A knee to the head by Silva.
Skilt wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Silva has him pressed against the cage.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Skilt is blocking nicely.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Skilt blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Skilt blocks it.
Skilt is trying to push Silva away but Silva has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Skilt blocks with his arms.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Skilt blocks with his arms.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Skilt has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Skilt tries to circle away but Silva has him pinned against the cage.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Skilt blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Skilt is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Skilt throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Skilt avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Silva tries to clinch but Skilt moves out of range.
Skilt fails to land with a series of punches.
Skilt swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
Skilt throws a series of punches but Silva moves out of range.
Silva wants to clinch.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Skilt swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Silva is looking to clinch.
Silva tries to clinch there but Skilt circles away.
Silva tries to clinch but Skilt moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva tries to clinch up but Skilt circles away and keeps his distance.
Skilt fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Skilt swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Silva clinches with his opponent.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Skilt has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Skilt is blocking nicely.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Skilt is blocking nicely.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva connects with a knee to the head.
Skilt is trying to force a seperation but Silva has the dominant position.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Skilt has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Skilt wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Silva has him pressed against the cage.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Skilt blocks it.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Skilt blocks it with crossed arms.
Skilt has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Skilt is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Skilt blocks it.
Silva keeps control of Skilt as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Skilt is looking to break free of the clinch but Silva has double underhooks.
Silva connects with a knee to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Skilt's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Skilt wants to break the clinch but can't.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A frustrated look appears on Skilt's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Skilt is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Skilt is blocking nicely.
A knee to the head by Silva.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Skilt has had enough of the clinch but Silva keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Skilt tries to break free but Silva pushes him back against the cage.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Skilt blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Skilt working hard to break the clinch.
Silva prevents Skilt from breaking the clinch.
Skilt has had enough of the clinch but Silva keeps him there for the moment.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Skilt is blocking nicely.
Skilt can't break the clinch.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Skilt is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Silva keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Skilt's efforts to push away.
Skilt is trying to break free.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Skilt blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Skilt blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Skilt is blocking nicely.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Skilt blocks it.
Skilt has had enough of the clinch but Silva keeps him there for the moment.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Skilt blocks with his arms.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Skilt tries to break the clinch but Silva is controlling the position.
Skilt can't break the clinch.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Skilt blocks with his arms.
Skilt is trying to break the clinch but Silva has him pressed against the cage.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Skilt blocks it with crossed arms.
Skilt is trying to break free.
Skilt tries to break the clinch but Silva is controlling the position.
Silva keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Skilt's efforts to push away.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Skilt blocks it.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Skilt blocks it.
Silva keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Skilt's efforts to push away.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Skilt blocks it.
Skilt is trying to break the clinch but Silva has him pressed against the cage.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.

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.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Skilt's face.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Skilt blocks with his arms.
Silva keeps control of Skilt as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Skilt blocks with his arms.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Skilt blocks it.
Silva landing knees to the head.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Skilt is blocking nicely.
Silva landing knees to the head.
Skilt is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Silva with a knee to the head.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Skilt is trying to force a seperation but Silva has the dominant position.
A frustrated look appears on Skilt's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Skilt can't break the clinch.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Skilt looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Silva dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mike Skilt's cut.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Silva doesn't manage to clinch there - Skilt circles away.
Skilt lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Silva circles away quickly and effectively.
Skilt circles away from the clinch attempt.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Skilt swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Silva ducks under a wild hook from Skilt.
Silva tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Skilt manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Silva wants to clinch up but Skilt keeps it at a distance.
Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Skilt fails to land with a series of punches.
Skilt swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Skilt swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Skilt paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Silva moves in looking to clinch but Skilt pushes him off.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Skilt circles away from the clinch attempt.
A big right from Skilt misses.
Silva tries to clinch up.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Silva moves in looking to clinch but Skilt pushes him off.
Silva tries to clinch but Skilt moves out of range.
Silva tries to clinch but Skilt moves out of range.
Silva tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Skilt manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Silva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Skilt lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Silva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Skilt lands with an uppercut that bounces Silva off the cage and back into rage.
Skilt throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Skilt tries to bum rush Silva with a series of wild strikes but Silva uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Skilt looks to land a combination but Silva avoids it well.
Silva is looking to clinch.
Skilt lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Silva circles away quickly and effectively.
Mike Skilt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Skilt throws a nice looking combination but Silva bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Silva tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Skilt manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Skilt swinging wildly here.
Silva tries to clinch there but Skilt circles away.
Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.
Silva moves in looking to clinch but Skilt pushes him off.
Silva tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Skilt manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Skilt throws a right and a left that Silva avoids nicely.
Skilt keeps the fight on the outside.
Silva looks for a takedown but Skilt sprawls well.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Skilt throws a right and a left that Silva avoids nicely.
Silva takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Skilt rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Silva moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Skilt will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Skilt swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.
No joy there for Skilt, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Skilt misses with a looping left.
Skilt scores with a punch to the head.
Silva is looking to clinch but Skilt is avoiding it.
Mike Skilt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Skilt misses with a wild body shot.
Silva is looking to clinch.
Silva moves in looking to clinch but Skilt pushes him off.
Silva doesn't manage to clinch there - Skilt circles away.
Skilt will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Skilt throws a right and a left that both miss.
Skilt throws a series of punches but Silva moves out of range.
Skilt swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
Skilt avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Skilt swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
Silva tries to clinch up but Skilt circles away and keeps his distance.

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.
The fighters circling - Skilt throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Silva clinches.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Skilt wants to get back to striking at distance but Silva won't allow it.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Skilt tries to break free but Silva pushes him back against the cage.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Skilt blocks it.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Skilt has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Skilt is trying to break the clinch but Silva has him pressed against the cage.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Skilt blocks it.
Silva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Skilt is looking to break free of the clinch but Silva has double underhooks.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Silva landing knees to the head.
Skilt lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
A knee to the head by Silva.
Paulo Silva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Skilt is blocking nicely.
Skilt misses with a hook from the clinch.

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 Paulo Silva.
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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

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