PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Juha Tappio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eduardo Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tappio comes to the cage accompanied by Kari Tapio - Juna kulkee vaan. Silva has chosen X is Coming as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tappio
vs
Silva

180 cm
24
165 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

182 cm
25
166 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juha Tappio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eduardo Silva!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva with a lazy takedown attempt
and Tappio counters with a stiff right hand.

Silva closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Tappio did well to prevent Silva getting side control.
Silva tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tappio knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Tappio is refusing to be controlled, as Silva sits in half guard.
Tappio looks like he's trying to stand up.
Silva not doing much here.
Silva prevents Tappio from standing back up.
Silva wants to take a breather but Tappio is having none of it.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Eduardo Silva hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Silva takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Eduardo Silva has been cut.
Silva has his takedown stuffed

and Tappio counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Juha Tappio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eduardo Silva.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tappio content to control rather than advance.
Tappio drops an elbow to the side of Silva's head.
Silva tries to roll over but Tappio keeps him under control.
Silva is not content to let Tappio control the position.
Tappio lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tappio wants to control but Silva is keeping him busy.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Silva trying to control but Tappio postures up.
Tappio keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

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.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Juha Tappio just wasn't active enough.
Silva uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tappio.
Tappio will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Silva avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tappio misses with a combination

and Silva counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Tappio's guard now.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Tappio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tappio wants to get back to his feet but Silva is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Tappio wants to get back to his feet but Silva passes into half guard.
Tappio is refusing to be controlled, as Silva sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Tappio has managed to free his arm - good work.
Silva prevents Tappio from standing back up.

Silva is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Silva seems to be looking for submissions.
Silva moves into full mount! Tappio won't be happy about that!
You get the feeling that Tappio really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's four 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva wants to take Tappio's back here but Tappio is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Tappio is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

Silva is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Tappio to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Tappio shrugs it off.
Tappio knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Silva on the ground.
Silva controlling his opponent.

Silva is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Tappio is surviving well by controlling Silva's body position as best he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silva trying to control but Tappio is having none of it.
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 Juha Tappio will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Eduardo Silva's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tappio has his takedown stuffed
enabling Silva to counter with a crisp jab.
Silva uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tappio.
Juha Tappio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tappio on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Silva with a poor takedown

and Tappio counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Tappio won't allow Silva to sweep him here.

Silva is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tappio is aware though and is defending well.
Tappio stands and throws Silva's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Tappio decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt

and Tappio counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva keeping moving, preventing Tappio from controlling successfully.
Juha Tappio overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tappio is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Tappio is proving a slippery customer.

Silva is working an open guard so Tappio takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Silva tries for a takedown but Tappio circles away easily
and Tappio counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Juha Tappio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eduardo Silva.
Tappio swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Silva counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Tappio!
Tappio is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

Silva is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Tappio to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Tappio shrugs it off.
Silva controlling the position easily from mount.
Tappio's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Silva wants to take Tappio's back here but Tappio is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Tappio is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Silva trying to control but Tappio is having none of it.

Silva is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Tappio to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Tappio shrugs it off.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tappio trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tappio is controlling an arm, preventing Silva from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.

Silva is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Tappio can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Tappio is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

Silva is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Tappio is surviving well by controlling Silva's body position as best he can.

Silva looking for a guillotine from mount but Tappio is having none of it.

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.
Tappio is squirming around, avoiding Silva's attempts to control the action.
Tappio wants to try and get back to his feet.

Silva has hold of Tappio's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Tappio manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Silva looking to control and managing it successfully.
Silva can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tappio is looking to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tappio is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juha Tappio dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Eduardo Silva's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Tappio misses with a body shot.
Tappio will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Silva shoots in and gets a takedown into Tappio's guard.
Tappio keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Tappio wants to get back to his feet but Silva is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Silva is pushing down on Tappio's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tappio is fighting to maintain full guard but Silva has managed to sneak the leg through.
Tappio is trying to stand back up but Silva is controlling him
Silva controlling the action here.
Tappio is looking to escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Silva is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Tappio is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Silva trying to control the pace.
Tappio is trying to stand up here but Silva is controlling him well.
Silva works his way into side control.
Tappio is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Silva is controlling him well.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tappio keeps working.
Tappio pushes Silva away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Silva gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tappio keeps working.

Silva tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tappio is pushing Silva's head away, looking to escape. Silva manages to hold on to the position though.
Tappio prevents Silva from moving into mount.

Silva tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Silva tries to advance to mount but can't.
Silva prevents Tappio from escaping the position.
Silva trying to control the position but Tappio is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tappio is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Silva asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Tappio is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tappio is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Silva asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Silva is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Tappio is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four 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 is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Tappio has escaped the position, nice work there.
Tappio is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Silva is controlling him well.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tappio keeps working.
Tappio wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Tappio bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Eduardo Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Juha Tappio is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tappio shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Silva as he jumps to the side.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eduardo Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tappio has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Juha Tappio!