PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Demian Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Emerson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emerson Silva has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Maia
vs
Silva

183 cm
25
186 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

194 cm
18
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Demian Maia!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Emerson Silva!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Luis Engracia and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maia defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Silva.
Silva throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Silva misses with a takedown

and Maia counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Silva throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Maia advances position into side control!
Silva prevents Maia from moving into mount.
Silva struggling a bit here.
Maia wants to control but Silva is keeping him busy.
Silva tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Maia presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to control Maia's body but Maia pushes him off. Silva squirms to his side and now Maia has his back!
Maia gets his hands free as Silva looks to control.
Silva is in bad spot here.
Silva is trying to get back to his feet but Maia has full control of the position and if anything, Silva has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Maia is hanging on to Silva's back as he tries to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva breaks Maia's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Silva being controlled here momentarily.
Maia trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Silva keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Maia's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Maia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Silva gets to his feet. Maia looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Silva is looking to clinch but Maia is avoiding it.
Maia will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Maia swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
Maia tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Silva shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Maia manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to control but Maia is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva tries to stand but Maia is controlling from the bottom.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Maia is keeping the position.
Maia trying to control the position.
Silva in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Silva looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to stand but Maia is controlling from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Silva closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Maia wants to get back to striking at distance but Silva won't allow it.
Silva tries to pull guard but Maia won't allow it.
Demian Maia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Emerson Silva.

Silva tightens his grip and picks Maia up, before dumping him to the ground. Maia manages to land in guard.
Maia working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Silva.
Silva postures up in Maia's guard and throws a big left but Maia blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maia is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
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 stand but Maia is controlling from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emerson Silva dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Silva gets the takedown into side control.
Maia wants to control but Silva postures up.

Silva is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Maia is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maia keeps working.
Silva moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Silva wants to control but Maia is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva working away.

Silva decides to stand back up. Silva steps back and let's Maia get back to his feet.
Silva fails with the takedown.
Silva closes the distance and clinches up with Maia, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes Maia against the cage but Maia circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Silva with a poor takedown

and Maia counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Demian Maia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Emerson Silva.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.
Maia 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying to control the position but Maia postures up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The fighters circling - Silva throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Maia stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Maia wants it to stay on the feet.
Silva shoots in looking for a takedown but Maia manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Silva's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Maia keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Silva fails to land the takedown.
Silva closes the distance and clinches up with Maia, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes Maia against the cage but Maia circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Silva as Maia shoots in.
Emerson Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a series of punches but Maia avoids them all with ease.
Maia fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Silva gets caught napping as Maia dives in and scores a takedown. Silva manages to retain guard.
Maia trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Emerson Silva has got the better of the ground game so far.
Silva controlling Maia's posture.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Silva is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Silva tries for a takedown but Maia sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Maia slips a straight right by Silva.
Maia tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Silva is defended easily by Maia.

Maia gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
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 wants to control from the top but Maia keeps moving.
Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emerson Silva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Silva.

Silva shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Silva blocks Maia's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Maia manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Silva not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Silva throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Maia wants to get back to his feet.
Silva keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maia keeps working.

Silva is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Maia has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva wants to control but Maia is keeping him busy.

Silva is working for a kimura but Maia is defending it quite comfortably.
Silva trying to pass the guard but Maia defending well.
Maia is looking to control Silva's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Maia avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Maia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Silva looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Maia might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Emerson Silva.
Silva ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maia moves away.
Silva throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Maia moves into the clinch.
Maia is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Silva has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Maia after a bit of a struggle.
Silva is trying to drag Maia to the mat but Maia just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Demian Maia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Emerson Silva.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia stalling in the clinch but Silva improves position.
Maia gets underhooks to prevent Silva's takedown attempt.

Maia breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maia slaps away a takedown attempt from Silva, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Maia shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Silva manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Silva wants to sweep but no luck.
Maia trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Maia would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

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

Silva uses the cage to get back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Silva.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maia tries to close the distance and clinch up but Silva swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Maia 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 makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Emerson Silva just about did enough to take it.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Silva closes the distance and clinches.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Silva breaks from the clinch.
Maia defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Silva.
Maia tries to clinch there but Silva circles away.

Silva decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Silva is thwarting Maia's attempts to control the position.
Still in half guard, Silva seems content to control.
Silva thows a huge punch but Maia dodges it nicely.
Maia tries to roll over but Silva keeps him under control.

Silva is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva wants to stand up but Maia is controlling the position.

Silva decides to stand and escape the position.

Maia gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maia is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Maia looking to control.
Silva throws a big right hand that misses.
Silva sitting in guard here, content to control.

Emerson Silva has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Maia will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Silva drives through with a takedown into Maia's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Silva stays in close to Maia's body and controls the position.
Silva throws a strike but Maia rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Silva holds on and takes a little breather.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.
Maia stopping the sweep attempt from Silva.
Silva has a closed guard, preventing Maia from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Maia!
Silva landing strikes, looking to finish!
Silva trying to control but Maia is having none of it.
Silva landing shots from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Silva is in the full mount, landing strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emerson Silva dominated that fourth round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Silva looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Maia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Emerson Silva.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maia swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Silva forces Maia back against the cage and clinches.
Silva can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

Maia shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Silva slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Silva actively working from the bottom here.
Silva is not content to let Maia control the position.
Maia is stalling here. Silva is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Maia seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Silva has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Silva misses with the ground and pound.
Silva postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva swings around for an armbar but Maia sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Silva's guard.
Maia wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.

Silva working for a triangle but Maia defends it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Silva is trying to control the position but Maia postures up.

Maia avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Silva has his hands on Maia's head, controlling the position.
Silva is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Maia is controlling him.
Maia throws a strike but Silva rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Maia keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Silva controlling from the top position.
Silva passes Maia's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Maia keeping control of the position.
Maia keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Emerson Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Silva 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 45:50
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 45:50
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emerson Silva! Emerson Silva retains his middleweight title!