PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Silvizzle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leafar Rafael (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Silvizzle
vs
Rafael

200 cm
23
280 lbs
7 - 5 - 1

198 cm
23
297 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 1, fighting out of New York, Anderson Silvizzle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Leafar Rafael!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Dean Styles and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silvizzle lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Horrible takedown by Silvizzle or perhaps it was just good defense by Rafael which made him look bad.
Rafael misses with a body shot.
Rafael misses the shot to the body.
Rafael fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rafael gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Silvizzle holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rafael looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Silvizzle is trying to drag Rafael to the mat but Rafael just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rafael wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rafael tries to break the clinch but Silvizzle is controlling the position.

Rafael pulls Silvizzle into guard.
Rafael trying to strike off his back.
Rafael tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Silvizzle stands and steps away. Rafael gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Rafael shoots and misses

and Silvizzle counters by clinching up.
Anderson Silvizzle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leafar Rafael.
Silvizzle goes for a takedown attempt but Rafael pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silvizzle wants to clinch

and Rafael counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Silvizzle wants to break free but Rafael has control.
Rafael can't break the clinch.
Rafael tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Silvizzle smiles and moves away.
Silvizzle takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Silvizzle tries to clinch but Rafael is having none of it.
Rafael shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Silvizzle defends it nicely.
Rafael closes this distance looking for a takedown but Silvizzle circles away.
Rafael looks gassed!
Rafael shoots and misses
and Silvizzle counters with a head kick. That will keep Rafael thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Silvizzle forces Rafael back against the cage and clinches.
Silvizzle tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rafael just stands there and leans against the cage.
Silvizzle connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Leafar Rafael has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafael stops a takedown attempt from Silvizzle.
Rafael looking to stall.
Silvizzle is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rafael is keeping busy.

Rafael's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Silvizzle leaves Rafael with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rafael throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Rafael throws a left and a right that both miss

and Silvizzle counters by moving into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Silvizzle has picked Rafael up - he's going for a ride! Silvizzle dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Rafael looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rafael wants to control but Silvizzle is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Silvizzle stands up and beckons Rafael to join him on the feet.
Rafael tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Silvizzle counters with a nice leg kick.
Silvizzle fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Silvizzle leaves Rafael with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rafael rushes Silvizzle and presses him up against the cage.
Rafael lands a right hand.

Rafael gets control of Silvizzle's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rafael will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Rafael has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Silvizzle can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Silvizzle stands up and waves to Rafael to follow him.
Rafael will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Silvizzle has closed the distance and engaged Rafael in a clinch.
Rafael changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Silvizzle fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Rafael closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rafael struggles to land a body shot inside as Silvizzle controls his hands.

Rafael breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Silvizzle gets tackled into the cage by Rafael. Rafael maintains the clinch.
Rafael gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Silvizzle.
Silvizzle jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rafael walks away with a smile on his face. Silvizzle gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Silvizzle scores with a takedown into Rafael's guard.
Rafael looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rafael looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rafael looking for a sweep. Not yet Rafael, not yet.
Silvizzle tries to stand but Rafael is controlling from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Silvizzle dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Leafar Rafael's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rafael shoots in looking for a takedown. Silvizzle tries to sprawl out of it but Rafael keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Silvizzle manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck for Silvizzle with that takedown attempt.
Rafael tries to clinch but Silvizzle moves out of range.

Rafael forces Silvizzle back against the cage and clinches.
Silvizzle keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rafael's efforts to push away.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Rafael takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Rafael looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rafael wants to control from the top but Silvizzle keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silvizzle can't keep his opponent in guard - Rafael advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rafael is keen to just control but Silvizzle is a slippery customer.
Rafael prevents Silvizzle from standing back up.
Rafael missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rafael sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Silvizzle defending well though.
Rafael drops an elbow to the side of Silvizzle's head.

Rafael seems to be working for a kimura but Silvizzle defends the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silvizzle is staying active underneath Rafael, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rafael trying to pass the guard but Silvizzle defending well.
Rafael trying to control the action but Silvizzle is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rafael connects with a nice short shot to Silvizzle's temple.
Rafael works his way into side control.
Rafael remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Rafael tries to advance to mount but can't.
Silvizzle wants to control but Rafael postures up.
Rafael tries to move into full mount but can't pass Silvizzle's legs.
Rafael has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Rafael is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Silvizzle knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rafael stands up and beckons Silvizzle to his feet.
Rafael lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Rafael.
Rafael shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Silvizzle as he avoids it easily.
Rafael shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Silvizzle but Silvizzle pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Anderson Silvizzle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leafar Rafael.
Rafael slaps away a takedown attempt from Silvizzle, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Silvizzle throws a series of punches but Rafael moves out of range.
Rafael is looking to clinch but Silvizzle is avoiding it.
Rafael is looking to clinch.
Silvizzle tries to clinch but Rafael is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silvizzle doesn't manage to clinch there - Rafael circles away.
Rafael shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Silvizzle sprawls well. Silvizzle wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rafael gets slowly back to his feet.
Silvizzle displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rafael.

Silvizzle clinches with his opponent.
Rafael tries to land knees in the clinch but Silvizzle avoids the damage to the body.
Silvizzle tries a body shot but Rafael blocks it.
Rafael is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rafael tries to pull guard but Silvizzle holds him up against the cage and eventually Rafael drops back down to his feet.

Silvizzle manages to break the clinch.
Rafael misses with a takedown attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Rafael gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Silvizzle counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leafar Rafael showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Leafar Rafael's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rafael throws a head kick that misses
and Silvizzle counters with a nice leg kick.
Rafael lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Rafael gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Silvizzle makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Rafael really felt that one!

Silvizzle pushes Rafael up against the cage in a clinch.

Silvizzle breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Leafar Rafael seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silvizzle closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rafael circles away.
Rafael misses with a takedown attempt - Silvizzle sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Silvizzle shoots for a takedown but Rafael saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Silvizzle shoots in and drives through. Rafael sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Silvizzle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rafael fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Silvizzle lands with a kick to the ribs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rafael throws a leg kick but Silvizzle sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Silvizzle misses.
Rafael misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rafael misses with a takedown

and Silvizzle counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rafael won't be happy with that.
Silvizzle prevents Rafael from escaping the position.

Silvizzle decides to stand back up.
Rafael tries to clinch but Silvizzle moves away
and Silvizzle counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rafael's knee momentarily.
Rafael misses with a takedown attempt

and Silvizzle holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rafael throws a head punch that misses.
Rafael blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Stalling in the clinch from Rafael.
Silvizzle slows down the pace here.
Rafael tries to pull guard but Silvizzle holds him up against the cage and eventually Rafael drops back down to his feet.
Rafael is trying to break the clinch but Silvizzle is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rafael breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A right-left combo lands from Silvizzle.
A right-left combo lands from Rafael.
Rafael will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rafael misses with a takedown attempt

and Silvizzle holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Silvizzle tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rafael has Silvizzle pushed against the cage.

Rafael pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Silvizzle avoids a punch combination nicely.
Silvizzle throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rafael's waist but Rafael gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Silvizzle off to one side.

Silvizzle has closed the distance and engaged Rafael in a clinch.

Rafael breaks from the clinch.
Rafael moves to clinch but Silvizzle breaks away

and Silvizzle counters with a shoot takedown. Rafael fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silvizzle is looking to stand up but Rafael won't let him.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rafael is on top in guard.
Rafael wants to get up but he can't break Silvizzle's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Rafael missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rafael stopping the sweep attempt from Silvizzle.
Silvizzle is trying to control the position but Rafael postures up.
Silvizzle is wriggling around but Rafael manages to pass to half guard.

Rafael decides to return to a standing position.

Rafael has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rafael lands a shoulder strike.
Rafael has Silvizzle pushed against the cage.
Rafael tries to break free but Silvizzle pushes him back against the cage.

Silvizzle breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rafael tries a head kick but it misses.
Rafael shoots and misses

and Silvizzle holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Silvizzle has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Rafael uses from the top position.
Silvizzle wants to sweep but no luck.
Rafael wants to control from the top but Silvizzle keeps moving.
Rafael controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rafael wants to stand but Silvizzle has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Silvizzle is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anderson Silvizzle showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Silvizzle has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anderson Silvizzle!