PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Damien Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Thunder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Bring Da Ruckus. Thunder is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: 2PAC-"GET UP" REMIX. 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
Thunder

189 cm
31
212 lbs
21 - 11 - 0

185 cm
25
205 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 21 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Damien Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnny Thunder!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Alan Glass and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thunder defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Silva.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thunder.
Thunder fails to land the takedown.
Silva shoots for a takedown but Thunder saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but Thunder shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damien Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thunder scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Thunder slaps away a takedown attempt from Silva, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nice body punch from Thunder.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Thunder misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Thunder fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd cheers as Thunder lands an impressive looking overhand right. Silva doesn't seem phased though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Thunder, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Silva dodges the punch combination from Thunder.

Thunder looking to score a takedown here. Silva is defending well but Thunder drives through and ends up in Silva's guard.
Silva working a defensive guard here.
Silva wants to sweep but no luck.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Thunder from controlling successfully.
Thunder keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Silva's head.

Silva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Thunder doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Thunder manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Thunder sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Silva's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Thunder is working away from the top position though.
Thunder controlling the action here.
Silva has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Thunder is working away from the top position though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thunder looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Thunder is keen to just control but Silva is a slippery customer.
Silva is looking to improve his position.
Thunder seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Silva does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Johnny Thunder.
Silva fails to land the takedown.
Thunder throws a right hand that Silva ducks under and follows up with a left that Silva also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
Thunder looks to score with a jab to the body but Silva is just out of range.
Thunder throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thunder changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Thunder is defended easily by Silva.

Thunder shoots in and bounces Silva off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Silva controls Thunder momentarily but Thunder frees himself.
Thunder wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunder wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Silva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Johnny Thunder wasn't active enough on the ground.
Silva shoots in but no luck this time.
Thunder misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Thunder drives through with a takedown into Silva's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thunder showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Silva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thunder is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Thunder dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

No luck for Silva with that takedown attempt.

Silva tries to sprawl but Thunder drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Silva wants to sweep but no luck.
Thunder trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Thunder!
Thunder is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva wants to finish this one by submission but Thunder is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Silva.

Silva swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Thunder is now in Silva's guard. A big mistake from Silva there, giving up the dominant position!
Thunder working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Johnny Thunder has got the better of the ground game so far.
Silva lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Thunder looking to pass the guard.
Thunder trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Thunder looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Silva working a defensive guard here.
Thunder trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Silva is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Thunder trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Silva looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
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!
Thunder wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Thunder from controlling successfully.

Silva looking for a guillotine here but Thunder defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Silva has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Thunder 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.
Thunder takes a little break here. Silva wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Thunder tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Silva struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunder happy to just control the position for now.
Thunder moves into full mount!
Thunder dominating with strikes here.
Silva regains half guard.
Silva wants to improve his position but Thunder is controlling well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva is not content to let Thunder control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Johnny Thunder will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Thunder closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Thunder shoots in looking for a takedown but Silva manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Thunder's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Thunder shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Silva napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Thunder blocks the strikes from Silva.
Silva manages to work his way to half guard, despite Thunder's best efforts.
Silva gets full guard.
Thunder engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Thunder postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Thunder must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Silva being controlled here, momentarily.

Johnny Thunder has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Silva dodges the punch combination from Thunder.
Silva stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Silva wants it to stay on the feet.
Thunder looks to land a combination but Silva avoids it well.
Thunder takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Silva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thunder but Thunder pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thunder avoids the head kick by Silva.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Silva defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Thunder.
Damien Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Thunder.
Thunder shoots in looking for a takedown. Silva tries to sprawl out of it but Thunder keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Silva manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Silva shoots in looking for a takedown but Thunder manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Silva's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Silva walks into a left hand.
Thunder misses with a wild body shot.
Thunder swings for the body but Silva moves out of range.

Thunder closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Silva quickly recovers to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Silva wants to get back to full guard.
Thunder slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is looking for a sweep. Thunder is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Silva trying to control from the bottom.
Thunder controlling the action here.
Silva tries to roll over but Thunder keeps him under control.
Silva slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Thunder is stalling in the full guard.
Thunder pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva has his foot on Thunder's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Thunder works his way back into a safe position though.
Thunder trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thunder seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Thunder trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Thunder is proving a slippery customer.
Damien Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thunder keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Silva's head.
Thunder wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Thunder comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Thunder has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Thunder!