PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alexio Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Yelawolf - Run Johnny. 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
Steel

170 cm
20
145 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

165 cm
26
155 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter striker
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Knockout power

1337 ANZAC

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alexio Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gary Steel!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Hirohito Nitta and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silva looking to score a takedown here. Steel is defending well but Silva drives through and ends up in Steel's guard.
Silva working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Steel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Silva is one step ahead there.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Steel not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Silva is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Steel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Silva is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
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.
Silva throws a big right hand that misses.
Silva working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Silva trying to control but Steel is working from the bottom.
Steel looking to control.
Silva is looking to work some ground and pound but Steel has wrist control.
Steel looking for a sweep. Not yet Steel, not yet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Steel trying to keep a closed guard but Silva is proving a slippery customer.
Silva stands up over Steel, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is looking to work some ground and pound but Steel has wrist control.
Silva missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Silva won't allow Steel to sweep him here.
Silva scoring with some ground and pound.
Steel keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Steel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Silva is one step ahead there.
Silva throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Silva wants to control from the top but Steel keeps moving.
Silva preventing the sweep.
Silva is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Steel throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Silva scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to control from the top but Steel keeps moving.

Steel is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Silva postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Steel is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Silva stopping the sweep attempt from Steel.
Steel looks gassed!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Silva drops back looking for a leg! Steel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Steel manages to kick Silva off! Silva jumps back into Steel's guard.
Silva passes Steel's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Silva working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva not doing much here.
Steel has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Silva is working away from the top position though.
Steel gets back to full guard.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Steel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva won't allow Steel to sweep him here.
Silva stands up over Steel, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Steel keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Steel wants to sweep but no luck.
Steel looking to control.
Silva is looking to work some ground and pound but Steel has wrist control.
Silva showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel trying to keep a closed guard but Silva is proving a slippery customer.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Silva displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Steel.
Gary Steel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Silva scores a takedown into full mount!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steel is in a horrible position here. Silva smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Silva raining down shots from the mount!
Silva controlling the pace for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Silva looking for a guillotine from mount but Steel is having none of it.
Silva working away from the top, dropping strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexio Silva dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Steel looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Silva is fending him off so far but Steel persists. Nope, Silva circles away and we're back to standing.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Steel keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A big left from Silva misses.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt

and Steel counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexio Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Silva had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Steel defends it easily.
Steel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Silva pulls Steel in to control the position.
Steel postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Silva working a defensive guard here.
Silva keeping full guard, as Steel tries to pass.
Steel must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Silva controls Steel momentarily but Steel frees himself.

Silva looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Steel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Steel is proving a slippery customer.
Steel tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.
Steelis looking to pass into half guard but Silva pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Silva is in guard.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Steel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Steel trying to keep a closed guard but Silva is proving a slippery customer.
Silva wants to control from the top but Steel keeps moving.

Steel looking for a guillotine here but Silva defends easily.
Steel is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silva wants to control from the top but Steel keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva throwing strikes but missing.
Alexio Silva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Steel 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.
Silva trying to control but Steel is working from the bottom.
Steel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Steel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Alexio Silva.
Steel fails to land the takedown.
Silva scores with a nice head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Silva throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Steel looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Silva is fending him off so far but Steel persists. Nope, Silva circles away and we're back to standing.
Steel misses with a takedown
and Silva connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Silva tries for a takedown but Steel sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Steel misses with an uppercut. Silva saw that one coming.
Steel misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Silva changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Steel looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silva trying to control the action but Steel is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva lands an elbow.
Steel tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Silva wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexio Silva dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Steel stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Steel wants it to stay on the feet.
Silva thuds a left hand into Steel's body.
Steel blocks a jab.
Steel shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Silva but Silva pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Silva stuffs the takedown.
Silva throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Silva moves into the clinch.
Silva is pressed up against the cage. Steel has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Silva down to the mat. Silva avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Alexio Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gary Steel.
Steel doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Silva counters with a straight right hand.
Silva shoots for a takedown but Steel saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Steel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Silva uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Silva throws out the jab.
Steel stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Steel wants it to stay on the feet.

Silva gets caught flat footed, as Steel shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Steel wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.

Silva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Steel doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Silva is tightening it up a little... Steel has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Steel reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Steel taps out! Nice BJJ there by Silva!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Alexio Silva!
Alexio Silva made sure to mention his sponsor, 1337 ANZAC in his post fight interview.