PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rickson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Falcore Lupin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Falcore Lupin is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Silva
vs
Lupin

175 cm
24
147 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

157 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight 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, Rickson 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, Falcore Lupin!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Alexandre Firmino and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silva looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Silva is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Lupin working a defensive guard here.

Lupin has his foot on Silva's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Silva works his way back into a safe position though.
Lupin keeping full guard, as Silva tries to pass.
Lupin should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Silva keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lupin's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lupin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Silva will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Lupin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Silva is controlling him.

Silva thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Lupin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lupin keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Silva slips nicely into half guard.
Lupin is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Silva's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Silva's back!
Lupin is looking to control Silva but Silva is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Silva trying to control the hands but Lupin breaks the grip.
Lupin trying to control.
Silva covering up well under a series of strikes from Lupin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lupin avoiding Silva 's attempts to control his hands.
Will Lupin go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Silva wants to get back to his feet.
Silva manages to reverse the position and now he's in Lupin's guard. Nice work there by Silva.
Lupin wants to sweep but no luck.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Silva accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Lupin wants to stand but Silva is controlling the position.
Lupin looks gassed!
Lupin throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Silva throws a strike but Lupin rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Silva looking for a sweep. Not yet Silva, not yet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Silva is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Silva is trying to control the action in half guard but Lupin 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.

Rickson Silva dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lupin lands with a nice body kick.

Silva scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Lupin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Silva tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Silva has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Lupin tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lupin is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Silva scoring with punches and elbows.
Lupin wants to control but Silva postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lupin is breathing heavily.

Silva working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Lupin tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lupin regains half guard.
Lupin trying to hold on to Silva's head to control him but Silva postures up.
Lupin works his way to full guard. Good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to control but Lupin is working from the bottom.
Lupin being controlled here, momentarily.

Silva drops back looking for a leg! Lupin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lupin manages to kick Silva off! Silva jumps back into Lupin's guard.
Lupin is looking to sweep but instead, Silva has passed into half guard.

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.
Silva is thwarting Lupin's attempts to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rickson Silva dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Lupin feints and as Silva raises his hands in defense, Lupin changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Silva had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lupin defends it easily.
Lupin trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.

Silva escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lupin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Lupin slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lupin advances position into side control!
Silva gets back to half guard.
Silva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lupin throwing shots but Silva is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Lupin is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Lupin wants to get back to his feet.
Silva is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lupin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lupin's back!

Silva looking for the choke from the back.
Lupin controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Lupin is defending well though. Silva let's go of the attempt for now.
Rickson Silva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Silva is looking for the choke from the back position but Lupin is controlling his hands well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lupin just trying to survive but Silva is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Silva is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Lupin up.
Rickson Silva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lupin is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Silva trying to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lupin rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rickson 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

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