PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Junior Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hempii Sapponen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hempii Sapponen is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Silva
vs
Sapponen

185 cm
21
220 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

180 cm
27
213 lbs
12 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

XTREME PWNAGE

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Junior Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hempii Sapponen!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Damien Edna and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva scores with a jab to the body.
Silva closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sapponen circles away.

Sapponen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Silva!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Sapponen unloads with some shots from mount but Silva bucks and avoids them well.
Silva keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Silva tries to hold on but Sapponen pushes him away.
Silva can't escape the position.
Silva blocking the ground and pound.
Silva keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Sapponen wants to finish this one by submission but Silva is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Sapponen.
Sapponen throwing strikes here but Silva is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silva tries to lock up and control but Sapponen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sapponen prevents Silva from getting the reversal.
Silva gets back to half guard.
Silva wants to improve his position but Sapponen is controlling well.
Silva is trying to control but can't.
Sapponen tries to pass to full mount but Silva defends it.
Silva wants to get back to full guard.

Sapponen is looking for a kimura but Silva is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sapponen to get the leverage.

Sapponen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Silva is just riding it out for now. Sapponen eventually gives up the hold.
Silva manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sapponen trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Sapponen trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Sapponen stopping the sweep attempt from Silva.
Sapponen trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sapponen works over Silva with some ground and pound from guard.
Silva bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sapponen's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sapponen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws and elbow that misses. Sapponen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Silva's guard. Nice move by Sapponen!

Silva working for a triangle but Sapponen defends it easily.
Sapponen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sapponen preventing the sweep.
Sapponen thows a big elbow that misses.
Sapponen pushing down on Silva's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Silva wants to control but Sapponen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Silva wants to get back to full guard.
Silva moves into full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Silva is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sapponen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silva works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sapponen preventing the sweep.
Sapponen trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Sapponen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sapponen trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Silva keeping full guard, as Sapponen tries to pass.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Silva looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Junior Silva will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Silva keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sapponen.
Silva slips a straight right by Sapponen.
Silva bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A big left from Sapponen misses.
Silva misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Sapponen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Silva has closed the distance and engaged Sapponen in a clinch.

Silva pulls guard effortlessly.
Sapponen wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Sapponen might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Silva kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Silva seems keen to control Sapponen's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Sapponen trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Hempii Sapponen wasn't active enough on the ground.
A jab from Sapponen misses.
Sapponen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Silva momentarily.
Sapponen misses with an uppercut.
Sapponen missing with a left hand there. Silva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sapponen misses with a looping left.

Sapponen shoots in and bounces Silva off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Silva seems keen to control Sapponen's posture.
Sapponen wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sapponen trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Silva working a defensive guard here.
Sapponen 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.

Silva is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sapponen is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Silva is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sapponen trying to control from the bottom.
Silva drops an elbow to the side of Sapponen's head.

Silva seems to be working for a kimura but Sapponen defends the submission attempt.
Silva takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapponen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Silva with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Sapponen trying to control but Silva postures up.
Sapponen is looking to improve his position.
Silva is thwarting Sapponen's attempts to control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sapponen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Silva.
Sapponen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Silva moves out of range as Sapponen strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sapponen cracks Silva with an open hand slap.

Sapponen manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Silva on his heels. He'll look to pass Silva's guard now, I'm sure.
Silva pulls Sapponen in close to his closed guard and prevents Sapponen from doing any damage or advancing position.
Sapponen trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.

Sapponen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Silva has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sapponen has managed to get both his arms back between Silva's legs - danger averted.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sapponen thows a big elbow that misses.
Silva bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sapponen's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Silva avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Silva lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hempii Sapponen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sapponen misses with a looping left.
Some wild striking there from Sapponen.
Sapponen keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Sapponen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sapponen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Silva throws a shot from downtown. Sapponen moves away and avoids it.
Sapponen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Silva sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Sapponen drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sapponen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sapponen is pushing down on Silva's leg trying to pass to half guard. Silva is fighting to maintain full guard but Sapponen has managed to sneak the leg through.
Sapponen trying to control from half guard but Silva is working away.
Silva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sapponen 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.
Silva is looking to improve his position.

Silva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Silva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Silva trying to hold on to Sapponen's head to control him but Sapponen postures up.
Silva regains full guard. Nicely done.
Silva trying to control the position.
Sapponen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Sapponen is defending well. Silva quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Sapponen has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Silva celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Junior Silva!
Junior Silva seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.