PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miroslav Samoltsev (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.

Silva
vs
Samoltsev

188 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Anderson Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Miroslav Samoltsev!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Patrick Alders and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Samoltsev gets tackled into the cage by Silva. Silva maintains the clinch.
Silva looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Silva is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Silva wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Samoltsev wants the takedown. Silva is fighting it off but Samoltsev persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Silva's guard against the cage.
Samoltsev wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.

Samoltsev stands and steps away. Silva gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Samoltsev drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Silva is pushing Samoltsev's head away, looking to escape. Samoltsev manages to hold on to the position though.
Silva is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Samoltsev working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Samoltsev tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Samoltsev has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Silva sneaks back into half guard.
Silva is looking to control Samoltsev's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Silva avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to improve his position but Samoltsev is controlling well.
Samoltsev is just content to waste time from the top position. Silva takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Samoltsev distracts Silva with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Samoltsev 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 Samoltsev, into his guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Silva has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Samoltsev is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Samoltsev not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Samoltsev keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Silva looking to sit in guard and control but Samoltsev gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Samoltsev trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Samoltsev throws a strike but Silva rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Samoltsev 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.
Samoltsev looks gassed!
Silva passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Samoltsev sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
It looks like Silva is going to stand back up.

Silva is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miroslav Samoltsev dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Silva has taken the fight to the clinch.

Samoltsev drags the fight down to the ground.
Samoltsev has a closed guard, preventing Silva from standing up.
Samoltsev is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Silva trying to stand up but can't free himself from Samoltsev's guard.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Samoltsev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Silva darts in and clinches Samoltsev up against the cage.
Samoltsev holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Silva successfully pulls guard.

Samoltsev stands up from Silva's guard - Samoltsev perhaps looking for a knockout.

Silva closes the distance and clinches.

Samoltsev has clasped his hands together around Silva's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Samoltsev is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Silva is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Silva is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Samoltsev is working for a kimura but Silva is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are battling for position here. Silva manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Samoltsev wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Samoltsev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Silva wants to get back to his feet but Samoltsev is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Samoltsev 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 Samoltsev, into his guard.
Silva slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Samoltsev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Silva tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Silva has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
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 Anderson Silva will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Samoltsev looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Silva!
Samoltsev throwing strikes but Silva bucks up and reverses the position. He's now in guard on top.

Samoltsev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Silva had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Samoltsev defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Samoltsev from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva keeping full guard, as Samoltsev tries to pass.
Samoltsev preventing the sweep.
Samoltsev wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.

Silva has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Samoltsev is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Silva.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva misses with an elbow from the bottom.

Samoltsev goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Silva rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Samoltsev's guard! Nice work there by Silva!

Silva drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Samoltsev manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Silva has Samoltsev in his guard.
Samoltsev is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Samoltsev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Samoltsev gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Samoltsev 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.
Samoltsev not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Samoltsev wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Samoltsev looking to sit in guard and control but Silva gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Samoltsev is looking for a triangle but Silva pushes his legs off easily.

Samoltsev had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Silva defends it easily.
Silva tries to stand but Samoltsev is controlling from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Miroslav Samoltsev.
I think Samoltsev 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Miroslav Samoltsev!