PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kulapu Saga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thiago Silva is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Silva
vs
Saga

185 cm
25
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

190 cm
20
200 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Thiago Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kulapu Saga!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saga looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Silva shoots in and drives through. Saga sprawls well.
Silva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Saga but Saga pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Silva tries to clinch but Saga is having none of it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Saga.
Saga misses with a hook.
Saga throws a combination that misses

and Silva counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Silva thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Saga's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saga keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Silva is looking for a kimura here.
Saga is controlling Silva's trapped leg to prevent Silva from advancing to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Silva tries to stand and escape but Saga is controlling the position.
Saga wants to get back to his feet.
Saga keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Silva wants to work for an arm triangle but Saga is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Silva is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Silva scoring with strikes to the body and head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Saga can do anything to dispel that myth.
Silva uses his free foot to push down on Saga's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Saga.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Saga because Silva loaded up on that one.
Silva throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Silva postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Saga looks a forlorn figure.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saga wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Silva.
Silva thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Saga is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Silva trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Silva is landing with some decent strikes but Saga is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Silva wants to finish this one by submission but Saga is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Silva.
Silva looking to finish Saga with some ground and pound. This is bad for Saga!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva looking to finish Saga with some ground and pound. This is bad for Saga!
Silva lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Saga hang on?
Silva with a couple of short strikes.

Silva is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Saga is surviving well by controlling Silva's body position as best he can.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silva punishing his opponent with strikes.
Silva lands with some strikes.
Saga tries to lock up and control but Silva gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Silva landing strikes from the mount and Saga is in trouble!
Saga looks gassed!
Silva punishing his opponent with strikes.

Saga is rocked!
Silva lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Saga is still in real trouble! Can Silva finish him?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saga is looking to improve his position but Silva isn't that keen on the idea.
Saga seems to have recovered his senses.
Silva has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Saga wants to hold on but Silva pushes him away.
Silva raining down hammerfists from mount.
Silva lands a big shot there that rocks Saga but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Silva is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Saga has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Silva is landing with some decent strikes but Saga is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Saga is squirming around, avoiding Silva's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Silva dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Saga stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Saga wants it to stay on the feet.
Silva tries to clinch up but Saga circles away and keeps his distance.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Saga sprawls well. Saga wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Silva gets slowly back to his feet.
Silva with a poor takedown
and Saga counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva slips a jab and a cross from Saga.
Silva is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saga can do to turn this around?
The fight stays on the outside here - Saga looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Silva keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Saga scores with a nice head shot.
Saga tries to clinch but Silva moves out of range.
Silva has a takedown stuffed.
Saga misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Saga fails with an attempt to clinch.

Saga moves into range and clinches up with Silva.
Silva tries to pull guard but Saga won't allow it.
Saga tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Silva's elbow.
Silva tries to pull guard but Saga won't allow it.
Silva tries to pull guard but Saga won't allow it.
Silva tries for a takedown but Saga manages to get underhooks.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Saga works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Silva changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Saga fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva shoots in but no luck this time.
Danga de danga de dang - Saga scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Thiago Silva has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Saga pushes Silva up against the cage in a clinch.
Silva tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Saga just stands there and leans against the cage.

Saga escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Saga has a takedown stuffed.
Saga is looking to clinch.
Saga fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to clinch but Saga is having none of it.
Saga tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Silva manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Saga throws a body punch but Silva moves out of range.
Saga tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Silva was well out of range. Poor timing from Saga.
Saga slaps away a takedown attempt from Silva, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Saga fails to land the takedown.
Saga looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Silva shoots in but no luck this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saga tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Silva manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Silva feints and as Saga raises his hands in defense, Silva changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Saga looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Silva accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Saga is trying to control the position from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva working some strikes from top position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Saga is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kulapu Saga showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Thiago Silva's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Saga throws a right hand that misses
and Silva counters with a left and a right that stings Saga.
Kulapu Saga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but Saga shows good takedown defense.
Saga is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Saga has managed to clinch.
Saga tries to land knees in the clinch but Silva avoids the damage to the body.
Saga connects with a nasty looking knee right to Silva's face.
Silva managing to block the knees to the body from Saga.
Saga creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Saga wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Silva has him pressed against the cage.
Saga manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to pull guard but Saga holds him up against the cage and eventually Silva drops back down to his feet.
Silva tries to pull guard but Saga holds him up against the cage and eventually Silva drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saga can't find room to land a body shot as Silva controls the action.

Saga breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Some wild striking there from Saga.
Saga jabs Silva to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Thiago Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Horrible takedown by Silva or perhaps it was just good defense by Saga which made him look bad.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saga is looking to clinch but Silva is avoiding it.
Silva blocks the body kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Saga.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
Saga shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Silva as he avoids it easily.

Saga moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saga breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from Saga. No joy for Silva on that attempt.

Saga rushes Silva and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Silva is looking to break free of the clinch but Saga has double underhooks.
Silva jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Saga walks away with a smile on his face. Silva gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Saga swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Silva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Saga but Saga pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Silva dives in and grabs Saga's left leg, looking for a takedown. Saga pushes down on Silva's head and hops out.
Saga looks to score with a jab to the body but Silva is just out of range.
Saga is looking to clinch but Silva is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saga fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Silva manages to avoid it.
Saga looks to score with a jab to the body but Silva is just out of range.
Saga looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Silva is fending him off so far but Saga persists. Nope, Silva circles away and we're back to standing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Saga looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Saga misses with an uppercut. Silva saw that one coming.
Saga is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Silva rather than just go for the knockout.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Silva throws a poor cross that misses

and Saga counters by moving into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Saga's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Saga tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kulapu Saga comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Saga 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kulapu Saga!