PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Diego Brandao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Junior Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diego Brandao had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 136.8lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Junior Silva has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Diego Brandao's chin.

Brandao
vs
Silva

170 cm
24
145 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

150 cm
22
130 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Diego Brandao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Junior Silva!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Thiago Cunha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
Brandao works the jab nicely.
Brandao avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Silva avoids a punch combination nicely.
Brandao tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Brandao shoots in looking for a takedown but Silva manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Brandao's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Brandao clinches.

Silva gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva trying to control but Brandao is working from the bottom.

Brandao pushes Silva off and scrambles back to his feet.
Brandao keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Brandao closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva working hard to break the clinch.
Silva is trying to stall.

Silva successfully pulls guard.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Brandao from controlling successfully.
Brandao chips away with some ground and pound.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Brandao from controlling successfully.
Silva tries to strike from the bottom.

Brandao is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Silva is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Silva has escaped and now he's on top!

Brandao wriggles free and stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Brandao as he jumps to the side.
Diego Brandao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Junior Silva.
Silva is looking to clinch.
Silva lands with a shot to the body.

Brandao has managed to clinch.
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!
Silva is looking to take this one to the mat.

Brandao breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Brandao breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Silva.
Brandao tries to clinch but Silva is having none of it.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Brandao paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Brandao as he avoids it easily.
Silva ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Brandao throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Brandao feints and then cracks Silva's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Silva down.
Silva throws a quick inside leg kick.
Brandao is breathing heavily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Silva is defended easily by Brandao.

Brandao gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brandao is pressed up against the cage. Silva has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Brandao down to the mat. Brandao avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Diego Brandao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Brandao will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Brandao misses with a combination
and Silva counters with a two punch combo.
Brandao blocks a head kick by Silva.
Silva closes this distance looking for a takedown but Brandao circles away.
Silva tries to clinch up

and Brandao moves into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Brandao jumps guard but Silva turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Brandao tries to circle away but Silva has him pinned against the cage.
Silva has had enough of the clinch but Brandao keeps him there for the moment.

Brandao escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Brandao 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.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Silva.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Brandao shoots in for a double leg but Silva sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Silva avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Brandao stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Brandao wants it to stay on the feet.
Brandao misses with an uppercut
and Silva counters with a good low kick that Brandao was not able to check.
Brandao takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Brandao looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Brandao tries to clinch but Silva moves out of range.
Brandao is looking to score with low kicks.
Silva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Diego Brandao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Junior Silva.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Silva steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Brandao.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brandao stuffs the takedown.
Silva throws a series of punches but Brandao avoids them all with ease.
Silva tries to clinch up.
Silva works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Brandao stuffs the takedown.
Brandao lands with an uppercut that bounces Silva off the cage and back into range.
Brandao swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Brandao closes the distance and clinches.
Brandao with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Brandao breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice sprawl there from Silva as Brandao shoots in.
Silva lands with a slapping head kick.
Diego Brandao is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Brandao tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Silva was well out of range. Poor timing from Brandao.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Silva shoots in looking for a takedown. Brandao tries to sprawl out of it but Silva keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Brandao manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Brandao as he jumps to the side.

Silva gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Brandao to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Silva bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Brandao's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brandao is looking to stand back up but Silva counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Brandao.
Brandao wants to get back to his feet.
Silva trying to pass the guard but Brandao defending well.

Brandao manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Silva closes this distance looking for a takedown but Brandao circles away.
Brandao uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Silva.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brandao loads up on a big right hand but Silva slips the punch.
Silva keeps the fight on the outside.
Silva scores with a three punch combo!
Brandao blocks a head kick by Silva.
Brandao fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Silva.
Silva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Brandao but Brandao pushes him off and we're back to square one.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head kick misses from Silva.
Silva rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Brandao moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Diego Brandao will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Brandao misses with a series of wild punches.
A chopping leg kick lands by Silva.
Silva looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Brandao is fending him off so far but Silva persists. Nope, Brandao circles away and we're back to standing.
Silva is looking to clinch.
Silva throws a nice head kick!
Silva has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Brandao.
Brandao shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Silva defends it nicely.
A head kick misses from Silva.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Brandao stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt - Brandao sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Brandao sprawls well. Brandao wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Silva gets slowly back to his feet.
Diego Brandao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Junior Silva.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brandao fails with a takedown attempt.
Silva moves away from the strike by Brandao.
Silva stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Silva wants it to stay on the feet.
Jab from Silva.
Silva tries to clinch there but Brandao circles away.
Brandao leaves Silva with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Brandao tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Diego Brandao is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brandao doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Silva closes the distance and clinches up with Brandao, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes Brandao against the cage but Brandao circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Silva.
Brandao punishes Silva's body with a nice straight punch.

Brandao gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Silva is trying to pull guard but Brandao has him pressed against the cage.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Brandao is blocking nicely.
Silva stalling in the clinch but Brandao improves position.
Silva takes a knee right on the jaw!
Silva is looking to break free of the clinch but Brandao has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brandao prevents a takedown attempt there.
Brandao is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Silva pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Brandao prevents the takedown attempt.

Brandao breaks the clinch.
Silva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Brandao shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Silva as he jumps to the side.
Silva shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Brandao defends it nicely.
Silva is looking to clinch but Brandao is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to clinch up
letting Brandao counter with a right hand.
Brandao changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Silva tries to avoid it but Brandao manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Silva to the ground. Silva escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Silva comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Silva misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Brandao takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Silva misses with a few strikes there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Brandao drives through and clinches with Silva against the cage.
Brandao avoiding damage.
Junior Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Silva keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Brandao's efforts to push away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Junior Silva.
I think Brandao has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diego Brandao!
Diego Brandao looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'thanks to my camp, my fans, my family, i am going to buy a house for my mother in brazil and help alot of families in brazil'.