PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Knees Clinch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Anderson Silva enters the cage!

Clinch
vs
Silva

189 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

189 cm
23
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Knees Clinch!
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, Anderson Silva!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Seu Braga and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clinch changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Silva tries to avoid it but Clinch manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Silva to the ground. Silva escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Silva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Clinch but Clinch pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Silva shoots and misses

and Clinch counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Clinch.
Clinch lands a knee to the head.
Clinch with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Anderson Silva has been cut.
Silva wants to stall.
A knee to the head by Clinch.
Clinch will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Silva up against the cage.
Clinch using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Silva has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Clinch throws a knee to the head but misses.
Clinch with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Clinch lands a knee to the head.
Clinch scores with a knee to the head.
Clinch stalling.
Clinch prevents a takedown attempt there.
Knees Clinch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anderson Silva.
Clinch using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Silva has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clinch misses with a knee strike.
Clinch with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Clinch prevents a takedown attempt there.
Silva misses with a body punch.
Clinch prevents the takedown attempt.
Clinch with a knee to the head.
Clinch is breathing heavily.
Clinch throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Silva blocks it with crossed arms.
Clinch misses with a knee strike.
Silva tries for a takedown. No joy.
Silva has Clinch pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Clinch manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Clinch throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva looking to slow down the pace here.
Silva tries to score a body lock takedown but Clinch shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Clinch gets underhooks to prevent Silva's takedown attempt.
Clinch with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Silva has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Clinch is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Silva wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Silva is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Clinch is keeping busy.
Clinch using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Silva has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Clinch misses with a knee to the head.
Silva has a couple of punches blocked by Clinch.
Silva goes for a takedown attempt but Clinch pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Clinch tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Silva swivels and escapes.

Clinch has closed the distance and engaged Silva in a clinch.
Clinch stalling in the clinch but Silva improves position.
Clinch using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Silva has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Clinch leaning against his opponent.
Silva wants to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Clinch fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Clinch looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Clinch is defended easily by Silva.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Clinch shoots in looking for a takedown. Silva tries to sprawl out of it but Clinch keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Silva manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Silva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Clinch but Clinch pushes him off and we're back to square one.

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.

Clinch fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Silva, pushing him back against the cage.
Silva wants a takedown but no success here.
Clinch tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A knee to the head by Clinch.
Clinch misses with a knee strike.
Silva tries to throw a body punch but Clinch avoids it by throwing Silva back against the cage.
Silva looking to slow down the pace here.
Silva looking for a takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Clinch looking to throw knees to the head but Silva is blocking nicely.
Clinch leaning his opponent against the cage.
Clinch tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Knees Clinch dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Anderson Silva's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Silva fails with the takedown

and Clinch counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Silva looking for a takedown.
Clinch with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Silva takes a knee right on the jaw!
Clinch using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Silva has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Clinch lands a knee to the head.
Silva has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Clinch using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Silva has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A right hook to the body lands for Silva.
Clinch tries to land a knee to the head but Silva blocks with his arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clinch keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Silva's efforts to push away.
Silva is trying to push Clinch away but Clinch has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Silva.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Clinch pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Knees Clinch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anderson Silva.
Silva is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Clinch gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries for a takedown. No joy.
Clinch landing knees to the head.
Clinch throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Silva blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva is trying to drag Clinch to the mat but Clinch just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Clinch tries to land a knee to the head but Silva blocks with his arms.
Clinch stops a takedown attempt from Silva.
Silva being controlled against the cage.
Silva wants a takedown.
Clinch tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Clinch is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Silva is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Clinch is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Clinch tries a knee to the head but Silva blocks it.
Clinch is pressed up against the cage. Silva has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Clinch down to the mat. Clinch avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Silva dives in and grabs Clinch's left leg, looking for a takedown. Clinch pushes down on Silva's head and hops out.
Silva with a lazy takedown attempt

and Clinch counters by clinching up.
A short right from Silva.
Clinch tries a knee to the head but Silva blocks it.
Clinch with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Clinch tries to land a knee to the head but Silva blocks with his arms.
Silva lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Clinch leaning against his opponent.
Clinch using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Silva has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silva is looking to control Clinch's arms but Clinch gets an underhook and turns him. Now Silva has his back to the cage.
Clinch tries a knee to the head but Silva blocks it.
Clinch tries to land a knee to the head but Silva blocks with his arms.

Silva lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Clinch on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Clinch tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clinch is holding on to half guard well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.
Silva wants to control but Clinch is keeping him busy.
Silva is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Clinch is squirming around, avoiding Silva's attempts to control the action.

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.
Silva wants to get back to his feet but Clinch is holding on tight.

Silva gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Silva doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Clinch counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Clinch.
Clinch using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Silva has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Clinch with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Clinch with an attempt at a knee that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Clinch connects with a knee to the head.
Silva is working for takedown but Clinch is calmly controlling the position for now.
Clinch misses with a knee strike.
Clinch misses with a knee strike.
Silva wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
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 Knees Clinch will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Anderson Silva'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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Silva shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Clinch counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Silva takes a knee right on the jaw!
Clinch using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Silva has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Clinch tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Clinch slows down the pace here.
Silva drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Clinch gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Clinch misses with a knee to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Silva tries for a takedown but Clinch manages to get underhooks.
Knees Clinch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anderson Silva.
Clinch is struggling to control the position.
Silva tries to circle away but Clinch has him pinned against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clinch gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Silva.
Silva has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Clinch is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A bit of stalling here from Clinch.
Clinch with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Clinch slowing the pace effectively.
Silva is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Clinch misses with a knee to the head.
Silva wants a takedown.
Silva has Clinch pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Clinch manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Clinch tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Clinch with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Clinch with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

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 can't get the takedown.
Clinch lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Clinch lands a knee to the head.
Silva drops down looking for an ankle pick but Clinch pulls his leg out and moves away.
Silva closes the distance and clinches up with Clinch, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes Clinch against the cage but Clinch circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Clinch fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Silva, pushing him back against the cage.
Clinch is pushing Silva up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Silva tries to work over Clinch's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Clinch gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Clinch stops a takedown attempt from Silva.
Clinch connects with a knee to the head.
Clinch misses with a knee to the head.
Silva wants to stall.
Clinch with a knee to the head.
Clinch is stalling here.
Clinch throws a knee to the head but misses.
Clinch looking to throw knees to the head but Silva is blocking nicely.
Silva is working for takedown but Clinch is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Clinch throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Silva blocks it with crossed arms.
Clinch misses with a knee strike.
Clinch misses with a knee to the head.
Clinch misses with a knee strike.
Clinch with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva drops down looking for an ankle pick but Clinch pulls his leg out and moves away.

Clinch has closed the distance and engaged Silva in a clinch.
Clinch stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Silva is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Clinch effectively controlling the action here.
Anderson Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Knees Clinch is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Clinch gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Silva.

And that's the end of the fight!
Knees Clinch showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Clinch, 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Knees Clinch!