PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Navis Sillage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nuco Espino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sillage
vs
Espino

180 cm
22
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Likes ground

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Navis Sillage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nuco Espino!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Seu Braga and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sillage moves into the clinch successfully.
Sillage has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Espino avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Espino wants to break free but Sillage has control.
Sillage drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Espino gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Espino tries to break the clinch but Sillage is controlling the position.
Sillage stops a takedown attempt from Espino.
Sillage drops down looking for an ankle pick but Espino pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Navis Sillage. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sillage scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Sillage tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Espino is looking to regain half guard here but Sillage keeps moving and retains side control.
Sillage throws an elbow but Espino slips to the side and avoids it well.

Sillage wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Espino, who protects the arm well.
Sillage controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espino is not content to let Sillage control the position.
Espino is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Sillage's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Sillage is breathing heavily.
Espino gets back to full guard.
Espino keeping moving, preventing Sillage from controlling successfully.
Sillage won't allow Espino to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Espino looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Espino is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Sillage slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Espino.
Sillage sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Espino defending well though.
Espino moves into full guard.
Sillage passes Espino's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sillage slows the pace down in half guard.
Espino trying to get back to full guard but Sillage takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espino is squirming around, avoiding Sillage's attempts to control the action.
Espino is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sillage wants to get back to his feet but Espino is holding on tight.
Espino regains half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sillage tries to stand but can't do so whilst Espino controls his leg.
Espino moves his hips nicely and gets into full 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.

Espino kicks Sillage off and gets to his feet.
Espino throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Espino throws a big shot that misses.
Sillage throws a body kick that misses.

Espino closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Sillage is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Espino's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Sillage looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sillage is trying to get back to full guard.
Espino wants to control but Sillage is keeping him busy.
Sillage is looking to control Espino's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sillage avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nuco Espino will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sillage tries to clinch but Espino moves out of range.

Sillage 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Espino throws a couple of heel strikes.

Sillage drops back looking for a leg! Espino is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Espino manages to kick Sillage off! Sillage jumps back into Espino's guard.
Sillage postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Espino thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Sillage drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Espino manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Sillage has Espino in his guard.
Espino chips away with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sillage throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Espino landing with the ground and pound.
Espino working some strikes from top position.
Espino wants to control from the top but Sillage keeps moving.

Sillage looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Espino postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sillage wants to get back to his feet but Espino is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sillage is trying to keep Espino in close.

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.
Sillage throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Sillage has Espino pulled in close to control his posture.
Sillage working a defensive guard here.
Sillage is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sillage is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Sillage moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sillage drops down looking for an ankle pick but Espino pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sillage looks for a takedown but Espino sprawls well.
Espino fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sillage gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Espino counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Navis Sillage. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Espino's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

It looks like Navis Sillage has been cut.
Espino stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sillage swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Espino looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Sillage has an active guard here but Espino has managed to pass into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Espino looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Sillage with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sillage tries to kick Espino off but Espino keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Nuco Espino has got the better of the ground game so far.
Espino is thwarting Sillage's attempts to control the position.
Sillage tries to roll over but Espino keeps him under control.
Sillage is controlling Espino's trapped leg to prevent Espino from advancing to side control.
Sillage wants to control but Espino is keeping busy.
Sillage wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nuco Espino showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Navis Sillage's cut.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A nice leg kick lands there from Sillage.
Espino fails to land the takedown.

Espino scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Sillage looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Sillage manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Nuco Espino seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Sillage.
Sillage shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Espino counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Espino uses his free foot to push down on Sillage's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Sillage.
A nice elbow there by Espino.
Sillage is in all sorts of trouble here.
Espino takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sillage is working hard here to advance position.
Sillage wants to control but Espino is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sillage is trying desperately to improve position.
Sillage tries to hold on but Espino pushes him away.
Sillage'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.
Espino landing strikes, looking to finish!

Sillage is rocked!
Espino working the ground and pound effectively.
Oh Sillage is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Navis Sillage's cut is getting worse.
Espino scoring with strikes but Sillage is staying in there.

Navis Sillage's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Espino fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Jeez, Navis Sillage's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Navis Sillage's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Nuco Espino!