PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wanderlei Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yashihiro Tony (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Silva
vs
Tony

180 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

172 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Wanderlei Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yashihiro Tony!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Sano and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tony.
Tony looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Silva feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

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.

Silva drops back looking for a leg! Tony is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Tony manages to kick Silva off! Silva jumps back into Tony's guard.

Silva drops back, looking for a kneebar! Tony looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Tony looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Tony!

Tony swings around for an armbar but Silva sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Tony's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Silva drops back looking for a leg! Tony is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Tony manages to kick Silva off! Silva jumps back into Tony's guard.

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.
Tony 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.
Tony is looking to stand up but Silva isn't so interested in that idea.

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.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Silva drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Tony manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Silva has Tony in his guard.
Tony throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Silva works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tony accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tony is looking to work some ground and pound but Silva has wrist control.
Silva can't keep his opponent in guard - Tony advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tony is just content to waste time from the top position. Silva takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Tony throws and elbow that misses. Silva uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tony's guard. Nice move by Silva!
Silva prevents Tony from getting back to his feet.

Silva drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Tony manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Silva has Tony in his guard.

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.
Tony throws a strike but Silva rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Silva postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Tony is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Silva, into his guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Tony from controlling successfully.
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 Wanderlei Silva will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Silva misses with a takedown

and Tony counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Silva working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tony.
Silva keeping full guard, as Tony tries to pass.
Silva working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tony.
Tony throws a big right hand that misses.
Tony thows a big elbow that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Tony is proving a slippery customer.
Tony trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tony postures up.
Tony content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Tony postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Silva is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Tony, into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tony advances to half guard.

Tony is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Tony thows a huge punch but Silva dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tony.

Tony is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Silva is just riding it out for now. Tony eventually gives up the hold.
Tony thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Silva's head.
Silva regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Tony.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tony throws a strike but Silva rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Silva drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Tony dives on top into guard.
Tony 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.
Tony throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tony thows a big elbow that misses.
Tonyis looking to pass into half guard but Silva pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Silva is in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tony shoots in and drives through. Silva sprawls well.

Silva scores a takedown into full mount!

Silva looking to secure an arm triangle but Tony defends it well.

Silva goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Tony is on top in guard.

Tony postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Silva is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Tony, into his guard.

Silva has gone for a leg lock! Tony slips out almost immediately though and dives into Silva's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva has control of Tony's left arm, preventing Tony from doing any damage.
Tony wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Tony throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Silva trying to control the position here.
Silva trying to control the position.
Silva working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tony.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Tony drops back, looking for a kneebar! Silva looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Silva looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Silva!

Silva goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Tony has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Silva but great work by Tony.
Tony is trying to ground and pound but Silva uses the momentary lack of control by Tony to regain half guard.

Tony is working for a submission of some sort.
Yashihiro Tony has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tony trying to mount his opponent but Silva defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Tony missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tony not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tony is stalling here. Silva is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Tony seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Silva has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Silva passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Tony!

And that's the end of the fight!
Wanderlei Silva showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Silva 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Wanderlei Silva!