PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jerson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Rodrigo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodrigo has chosen Da Rockwilder as his entrance music. Matt Rodrigo is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Silva
vs
Rodrigo

182 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jerson Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matt Rodrigo!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Matheus Silva and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Rodrigo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A head kick misses from Silva.
Silva throws a right hand that Rodrigo ducks under and follows up with a left that Rodrigo also avoids with ease.

Rodrigo gets a takedown into half guard.
Silva trying to get back to full guard but Rodrigo takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Silva keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rodrigo manages to capitalize on a mistake by Silva to take his back!
Can Silva hold on?! Rodrigo is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodrigo is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
I really don't envy Silva right now.
Rodrigo trying to control momentarily.
Rodrigo is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Silva up.
Good control from Rodrigo.
Silva rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Silva tries to roll over but Rodrigo keeps him under control.
Silva blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rodrigo.
Silva is looking for a sweep. Rodrigo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rodrigo controlling the action here.
Silva moves into full guard.
Silva is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva looking for a sweep. Not yet Silva, not yet.
Silva is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rodrigo is controlling him.

Rodrigo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rodrigo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rodrigo preventing the sweep.
Rodrigo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Silva avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Silva wants to stand but Rodrigo is controlling the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Rodrigo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Silva is trying to keep Rodrigo in close.
Rodrigo passes Silva's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rodrigo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rodrigo's guard.
Silva throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rodrigo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Silva wants to get up but he can't break Rodrigo's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Rodrigo is retaining full guard.

Rodrigo kicks Silva off and gets to his feet.
Silva has his takedown stuffed

so Rodrigo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rodrigo won't allow Silva to sweep him here.

Rodrigo decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Silva falls off balance throwing a combination

and Rodrigo counters with a single leg into guard. Silva didn't expect that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Rodrigo cracks Silva with a solid left hand.
Silva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rodrigo is one step ahead there.
Silva has a closed guard, preventing Rodrigo from standing up.
Rodrigo working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Silva will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Silva is looking to stand up but Rodrigo isn't so interested in that idea.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Silva throws a left and a right that both miss

and Rodrigo counters by moving into the clinch.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Rodrigo blocks it.
Silva wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rodrigo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rodrigo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Silva is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Rodrigo dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Silva misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Silva misses with a double jab.
Jerson Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva misses with a few strikes there.

Rodrigo scores with a takedown into Silva's guard.

Rodrigo decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Silva, up you get!

Rodrigo forces Silva back against the cage and clinches.
Silva stalling in the clinch but Rodrigo improves position.
Silva goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rodrigo prevents it.
Rodrigo stalling the fight.
Silva trying to stall but Rodrigo improves his position.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rodrigo is keeping busy.
Silva pushes Rodrigo back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Silva is looking to break free of the clinch but Rodrigo has double underhooks.

Rodrigo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Rodrigo gets a clinch.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rodrigo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silva wants to stall.
Come on Rodrigo - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Rodrigo pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigo pulls Silva in close to prevent any damage.
Rodrigo trying to control the position.
Rodrigo trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Rodrigo wants to sweep here but Silva controlling him for the moment.
Silva postures up.
Silva working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Silva throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A combination from Silva does no damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Rodrigo scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Silva is trying to stand up here but Rodrigo is controlling him well.
Rodrigo performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo is looking to take a break and control but Silva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Silva tries to roll over but Rodrigo keeps him under control.
Rodrigo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Silva moves into full guard.
Rodrigo trying to stand up but can't free himself from Silva's guard.
Silva manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rodrigo manages to get himself to full guard.
Rodrigo wants to improve his position but instead Silva has moved into half guard.
Silva trying to control from half guard but Rodrigo is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo punching from the bottom.
Silva is looking to stall here but Rodrigo recovers full guard.
Silva has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rodrigo is proving hard to escape from.
Rodrigo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rodrigo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Silva.
Silvais looking to pass into half guard but Rodrigo pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Rodrigo is in guard.
Silva is looking to stand up but Rodrigo isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Silva fails to land with a series of punches.

Rodrigo closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Silva is looking to escape.
Silva won't allow Rodrigo to pass to mount.
Rodrigo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva moves into full guard.
Rodrigo won't allow Silva to sweep him here.
Rodrigo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Silva trying to control the position.
Silva wants to sweep but no luck.
Silva thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rodrigo's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Rodrigo duly obliges.
Rodrigo dodges the punch combination from Silva.

Rodrigo closes the distance and clinches.
Silva looking for a takedown.
Silva wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rodrigo has him pressed against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Silva.
Silva prevents the takedown attempt.
Silva tries to break the clinch but Rodrigo is controlling the position.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A bit of stalling here from Rodrigo.
A short body shot lands from Rodrigo as the two fighters clinch.

Rodrigo gets a trip takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Rodrigo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Silva will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Silva tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Rodrigo closes the distance and clinches.

Rodrigo manages to break the clinch.
Silva wants to clinch

and Rodrigo counters by clinching up.
Silva tries to land knees in the clinch but Rodrigo avoids the damage to the body.

Rodrigo breaks the clinch.
Rodrigo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Silva misses with a double jab

and Rodrigo counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Silva is trying to get back to full guard.
Rodrigo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Silva. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rodrigo slows the pace down in half guard.
Rodrigo's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Rodrigo is controlling the pace.
Silva is looking for a sweep. Rodrigo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Silva scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Rodrigo manages to mount him!
Rodrigo blocks Silva's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Silva is working to get back to half guard.
Rodrigo tries to control but Silva wriggling away.
Silva regains half guard.
Silva missing with punches from the bottom.

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 wants to improve his position but Rodrigo is controlling well.
Rodrigo is looking to take a break and control but Silva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rodrigo keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Silva is looking to improve his position.
Silva is refusing to be controlled, as Rodrigo sits in half guard.
Silva wants to get back to full guard.
Silva is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rodrigo scores with a couple of nice shots.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rodrigo instigates a clinch.
Rodrigo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Silvas head.
Silva stalling the fight.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.

Rodrigo drags the fight down to the ground.
Silva wanted to stand there but Rodrigo had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva passes into half guard.
Silva working the head and body with strikes.
Silva working over Rodrigo with some ground and pound. Rodrigo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Silva passes the guard and advances to mount!
Rodrigo wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Silva.
Rodrigo really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Silva postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rodrigo looks a forlorn figure.
Silva lands with some strikes.
The referee warns Rodrigo that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Silva lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rodrigo hang on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Silva lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Silva avoids the attempt from Rodrigo to control.
Silva pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Silva tries to control but Rodrigo wriggling away.
Rodrigo wants to control but Silva is having none of it.
Silva lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Silva avoids the attempt from Rodrigo to control.
Silva punching from mount but Rodrigo doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Silva avoids the attempt from Rodrigo to control.
Rodrigo bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Matt Rodrigo.
Well Rodrigo has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Rodrigo!