PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Toby Diaby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaby comes to the cage accompanied by Trying'da hold me down. Silva comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Dirty Hous' kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Diaby
vs
Silva

185 cm
25
198 lbs
16 - 2 - 0

178 cm
24
182 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

5th Round Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Toby Diaby!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mauricio Silva!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaby swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Diaby paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Silva closes the distance and clinches.
Silva landing knees to the body.
Silva misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Diaby.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Silva misses with an elbow over the top.
Diaby drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Silva misses with a hook from the clinch.
Diaby lands a nice uppercut.
Silva misses with a hook from the clinch.
Silva pushes off an throws an elbow but Diaby leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Diaby managing to block the knees to the body from Silva.
Silva prevents Diaby from breaking the clinch.
Diaby looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Silva throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Diaby's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Silva is looking to slow Diaby down with leg kicks.
Silva throws a head kick but Diaby moves out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Silva throws a leg kick but Diaby moved away.
Diaby blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaby misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Silva.
Silva gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Diaby cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Silva takes one to the side of the head.
Diaby throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Silva.
A jab from Silva misses.
Diaby uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Silva darts in and clinches Diaby up against the cage.

Diaby ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Diaby no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Diaby looking to control.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Diaby is keeping the position.
Diaby is trying to control the position but Silva postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Toby Diaby has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Silva swings for the body but Diaby moves out of range.
Silva looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Silva moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Silva lands a lovely overhand right.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Silva loads up on a big right hand but Diaby slips the punch.
Silva throws a head kick that misses.
Some wild striking there from Diaby.
Diaby throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Silva throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva blocks a jab.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Diaby slips under a jab.
Silva dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Diaby. That did some damage!
Silva goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Silva lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Diaby throws out a loose jab but Silva uses good head movement to avoid it.
Silva misses with an attempted mid kick.
Diaby sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Diaby blocks a head kick by Silva.

Diaby closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Diaby is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Silva has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaby misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sloppy strikes there by Diaby.
The strikes coming from Diaby are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Diaby.
Silva sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Silva dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Silva tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Silva throws a nice looking combination but Diaby bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Silva misses with the combination.
Diaby walks into a jab.
Silva throws a wild body kick that Diaby sees coming a mile off.

Silva gets tackled into the cage by Diaby. Diaby maintains the clinch.
Silva lands with a short shot to the head.

Diaby lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva trying to control here.
Diaby wants to control but Silva is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaby sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Silva defending well though.
Diaby tries to pass to full mount but Silva defends it.
Silva trying to control here.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mauricio Silva wasn't active enough on the ground.
Diaby avoids the head kick by Silva.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaby getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Silva takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Diaby takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Diaby.
Silva with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Mauricio Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diaby.
Silva lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Diaby at a distance.
Silva lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Diaby shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Silva napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Silva controls the position for a moment.
Diaby wants to control but Silva is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaby just content to control the position.
Silva is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Diaby is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

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.
Poor strikes thrown by Diaby there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Diaby trying to control but Silva is having none of it.

Diaby is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Silva is surviving well by controlling Diaby's body position as best he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Toby Diaby will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Silva takes a swing at Diaby's ribcage but misses.
Good shot there by Silva.
Diaby blocks a leg kick.
Diaby takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Diaby misses with a series of wild punches.
Diaby lands a right hook to the body.
Mauricio Silva seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Silva loads up on a big right hand but Diaby slips the punch.
Silva takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Diaby misses with a body shot

and Silva holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Silva with a knee to the head.
Diaby lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Silva looking to slow down the pace here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Silva.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Diaby is defending well for now.
Nice elbow from Silva.

Diaby gets control of Silva's arms and successfully pulls guard. Diaby will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Toby Diaby overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Silva engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Diaby looking to control but Silva passes into half guard.
Diaby is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaby is trying to get back to full guard.
Silva is keen to just control but Diaby is a slippery customer.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Silva works his way into side control.

Silva stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaby throws a hook but Silva avoids it easily.
Diaby swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
Silva moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Silva lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Silva lands an overhand right.
Silva throws a head kick that Diaby semi-blocks.

Diaby is rocked!
Nice shot by Diaby.
Oh Diaby is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Silva smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Silva blocks a leg kick.
Silva is looking to clinch but Diaby is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Silva lands a knee to the body.
Diaby seems to have got his legs back now.
Silva landing knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Diaby lands with a left to the head.
Diaby takes an elbow to the forehead.
Mauricio Silva seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Silva unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Diaby takes an elbow to the forehead.
Silva unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Silva looking to slow down the pace here.
Diaby takes a knee to the side of the body.
Silva scores a nice knee to the body.
Silva unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Diaby drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Silva tries to land knees in the clinch but Diaby avoids the damage to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Diaby tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Diaby managing to block the knees to the body from Silva.
Diaby takes an elbow to the temple.
Silva blocks an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Silva really dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Good standup being displayed there by Silva as he connects with a hook.
A decent looking cross lands there for Silva.
Silva defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Diaby.
Silva works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Silva throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Diaby throws a hook but Silva avoids it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Silva misses the target.
A telegraphed right hand from Diaby misses the target.
Silva feints and then cracks Diaby's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Diaby down.
Silva throws a body kick that misses.
That kick from Silva tenderised Diaby's leg. Diaby is trying to keep his angry face on.
Diaby walks into a straight right hand from Silva.
Diaby fails with a takedown attempt.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva connects with an inside leg kick.
A head kick misses from Silva.
Diaby throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Silva throws a solid leg kick but Diaby takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Silva.
Silva moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Some wild striking there from Silva.
Mauricio Silva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Silva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Diaby tries to keep at a distance but Silva has taken the fight into the clinch.
A knee to the head by Silva.
A head punch on the inside from Diaby fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva misses with a hook to the ribs.
Silva tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Diaby avoids it.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.
Diaby goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Diaby fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Toby Diaby. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head punch on the inside from Diaby fails to land.
Silva throws an elbow but it misses.
Diaby blocks an elbow strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silva lands an elbow inside that Diaby shrugs off.
Silva comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Diaby trying to stall but Silva improves his position.
Silva creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Diaby tries to work over Silva's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Diaby is blocking nicely.
Diaby tries for a takedown but Silva manages to get underhooks.
Silva lands a left hand.
Silva lands a knee to the head.
Silva trying to control the position but instead, Diaby has worked for underhooks and has pushed Silva into the cage.
Diaby blocks a body shot from Silva.
Diaby wants to get back to striking at distance but Silva won't allow it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Diaby creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Silva is trying to maintain a safe position but Diaby gets an underhook and turns Silva into the cage.
Silva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Diaby is defending well for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Silva tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Diaby avoids it.
Silva misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Diaby.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Diaby blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva pushes off an throws an elbow but Diaby leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Silva blocks a body shot from Diaby.
Diaby tries to pull guard but Silva holds him up against the cage and eventually Diaby drops back down to his feet.
Knees in the clinch landing for Silva.
Diaby working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Diaby managing to block the knees to the body from Silva.
Diaby lands a nice uppercut.
Silva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Diaby is defending well for now.
Silva being controlled against the cage.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Diaby blocks with his arms.

Diaby lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Diaby is trying to control the action in half guard but Silva is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Diaby looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Silva moves into full guard.
Diaby trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Silva dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Diaby's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Diaby walks forward, straight into a front kick from Silva.
A head kick misses from Silva.
Silva throws a leg kick but Diaby sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Silva throws a half hearted mid kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Silva.
Silva's corner calls for a 1-2. Silva obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Silva is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Diaby.
Silva throws a jab when Diaby was well out of range.
Silva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Diaby keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Silva throws a leg kick that is checked

and Diaby counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Diaby missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaby is stalling here. Silva is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Diaby 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.
Diaby wants to control but Silva postures up.
Silva is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaby is trying to work for a sweep but Silva has mounted him!
Toby Diaby has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Diaby is looking to improve his position but Silva isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva content just to control the position here.
Let's hope that Silva has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Diaby tries to hold on but Silva pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaby is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Silva is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Diaby tries to reverse the position but Silva maintains control.
Silva tries to control but Diaby wriggling away.
Diaby wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mauricio Silva.
I think Silva has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 45:50
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 46:49
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mauricio Silva!
Mauricio Silva is the new middleweight champion!