PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matt Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hatsu Ishikawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Silva
vs
Ishikawa

184 cm
25
198 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

180 cm
21
182 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Powerful

Tokyo Defiance

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matt Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hatsu Ishikawa!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Ishikawa misses.
Matt Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

It looks like Matt Silva has been cut.

Silva drops Ishikawa with a left right combo! Silva follows him down to the ground into side control.

It looks like Hatsu Ishikawa has been cut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Silva lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Ishikawa down.
You can see the frustration on Ishikawa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ishikawa taking a bit of punishment here - Silva scoring with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ishikawa is trying to buck Silva off.
Ishikawa takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ishikawa keeps working.
Ishikawa managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Silva.
Ishikawa struggling a bit here.
Silva throws a strike aimed at the side of Ishikawa's head but Ishikawa avoids it well.
Silva scoring with punches and elbows.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva lands some shots froms side control.
Silva tries to advance to mount but can't.
Ishikawa tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ishikawa is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ishikawa wants to control but Silva postures up.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Ishikawa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ishikawa tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Silva wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Silva lands a few punches from side control.
Ishikawa is looking to regain half guard here but Silva keeps moving and retains side control.
Silva working the head with strikes.
Ishikawa taking a bit of punishment here - Silva scoring with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva landing a few strikes.
Ishikawa tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Silva in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ishikawa manages to get back to half guard.
Ishikawa moves into full guard.
Silva missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Ishikawa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Silva defends well.

Ishikawa is looking for a triangle but Silva pushes his legs off easily.
Ishikawa looks gassed!

Ishikawa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Ishikawa is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ishikawa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Silva landing with the ground and pound.
Silva scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Ishikawa is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Silva is aware though and is defending well.
Silva working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ishikawa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Ishikawa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Silva scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Silva keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ishikawa's head.
Silva missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ishikawa is trying to keep Silva in close.
Ishikawa working a defensive guard but Silva manages to pass into side control anyway.
Silva scores with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ishikawa is trying to control Silva's posture but Silva avoids it.
Ishikawa is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Ishikawa actively working from the bottom here.
Silva lands strikes from half guard.
Silva slips a nice elbow through Ishikawa's hands, connecting with Ishikawa's forehead.
Ishikawa tries to get to full guard but Silva has control of the leg.
Silva takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ishikawa on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Ishikawa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ishikawa is trying to maintain the position but Silva is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Silva dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Silva.
Ishikawa tries to clinch there but Silva circles away.
Ishikawa tries to clinch but Silva moves out of range.
Silva with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ishikawa to score with a decent uppercut.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but Ishikawa shows good takedown defense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ishikawa counters with a one-two to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva misses with an uppercut
and Ishikawa counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ishikawa scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Silva misses with an uppercut

and Ishikawa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ishikawa presses Silva against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Ishikawa decides to pull guard.
Ishikawa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Silva is one step ahead there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Silva accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Ishikawa working for a triangle but Silva defends it easily.

Ishikawa working for a triangle but Silva defends it easily.
Silva has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ishikawa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Silva.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ishikawa has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Silva can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Silva stands up over Ishikawa, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Silva makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Silva trying to control but Ishikawa is working from the bottom.
Silva is looking to work some ground and pound but Ishikawa has wrist control.
Silva is looking to work some ground and pound but Ishikawa has wrist control.

Ishikawa has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Silva can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Silva landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ishikawa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Silva has managed to get both his arms back between Ishikawa's legs - danger averted.

Ishikawa manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Silva throws an off balance right hand
and Ishikawa counters with an outside leg kick.
Silva lands with a cross.
Silva closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A head kick misses from Ishikawa.
Silva throws a poor cross that misses
and Ishikawa counters with a nice low kick that buckles Silva's knee momentarily.
Ishikawa avoids a punch combination nicely.
Silva misses with a shot to the body

and Ishikawa counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ishikawa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ishikawa lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ishikawa working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Silva's head.
Ishikawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ishikawa is one step ahead there.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Ishikawa from controlling successfully.
Ishikawa stands up over Silva, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ishikawa wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Ishikawa passes into half guard.
Ishikawa winds up and cracks Silva with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hatsu Ishikawa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Ishikawa misses with a hook

and Silva counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ishikawa's guard now.
Silva distracts Ishikawa with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Ishikawa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Ishikawa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Silva gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Silva trying to control but Ishikawa is working from the bottom.
Silva postures up.
Silva working some strikes from top position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva with a flurry of punches that miss.
Silva throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ishikawa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Ishikawa looking for a guillotine here but Silva defends easily.
Silva chips away with some ground and pound.
Silva is looking to work some ground and pound but Ishikawa has wrist control.

Ishikawa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Silva won't allow Ishikawa to get back to his feet.
Silva is working Ishikawa over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ishikawa looking to control.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Ishikawa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ishikawa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Ishikawa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Ishikawa looking for a guillotine here but Silva defends easily.

Ishikawa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Silva defends it easily.
Silva landing some decent shots from guard.
Matt Silva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Silva's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Ishikawa is looking for a triangle but Silva pushes his legs off easily.
Silva connects with a couple of short punches.
Silva lands a couple of digs.

Ishikawa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ishikawa wants to stand but Silva is controlling the position.
Silva makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Silva landing with the ground and pound.

Ishikawa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Silva working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Ishikawa looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ishikawa tries to roll over but Silva keeps him under control.
Silva trying to control the action but Ishikawa is working from the bottom.
Ishikawa won't allow Silva to pass to mount.
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. Silva connects with a nice short shot to Ishikawa's temple.
Ishikawa trying to control from the bottom.
Silva sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ishikawa defending well though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Ishikawa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Ishikawa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Silva looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28

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