PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Diogo Heredia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Emerson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emerson Silva is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Heredia
vs
Silva

190 cm
20
191 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

194 cm
19
190 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Diogo Heredia!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Emerson Silva!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Paulo Santos and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Silva.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Heredia as he jumps to the side.
Diogo Heredia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Emerson Silva.
Silva throws a right and a left that both miss.
Heredia displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Silva.

Silva closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Heredia quickly recovers to half guard.
Silva performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Heredia looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva passes to full mount!
Heredia is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heredia can't escape the position.
Silva controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Emerson Silva wasn't active enough on the ground.

Silva shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Heredia is trying to defend but Silva finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Silva slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Heredia looking for submissions off his back.
Well, if Silva is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emerson Silva dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Heredia fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Silva avoids it really well and circles away.
Silva throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Emerson Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Silva shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Silva seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Silva missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva with the ground and pound but Heredia uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Silva distracts Heredia with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Heredia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Silva gets to his feet - Heredia follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva misses with a series of wild punches.
Silva slaps away a takedown attempt from Heredia, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Silva looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Silva is looking to advance position but Heredia won't allow it.
Silva seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Heredia does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Silva darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Heredia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Silva is taking a breather. Heredia says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva misses with a head shot. Heredia uses the momentum to regain guard.
Silva slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Heredia tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silva controlling the position from side mount.
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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Silva drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Silva trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Heredia is keeping the position for now.
Silva throws a big right hand that misses.

Heredia is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Silva is aware though and is defending well.

Silva gets to his feet - Heredia follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heredia displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Silva.
Heredia avoids the head kick by Silva.

Silva scores with a takedown into Heredia's guard.
Silva with a flurry of punches that miss.

Silva stands and steps away. Heredia gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Silva shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Heredia napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Silva decides to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Silva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Silva shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Silva showed some decent athleticism there.
Silva wants to pass to mount but Heredia is defending the position.
Silva with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Emerson Silva has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Heredia shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Silva but Silva pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Silva shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Heredia's guard.
Silva must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Silva's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Silva slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Heredia is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Silva misses with the ground and pound.

Silva has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Silva with a lazy takedown attempt

and Heredia counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Silva!
Diogo Heredia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Emerson Silva.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva working to try and regain half guard.
Silva manages to control the position for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emerson Silva really dominated that 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.

Heredia shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Silva as he avoids it easily.
Silva goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Heredia will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Heredia closes the distance and clinches up with Silva, looking for a takedown. Heredia pushes Silva against the cage but Silva circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diogo Heredia. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Silva feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Silva postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Silva controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Silva advances to half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Emerson Silva was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Silva shoots in looking for a takedown. Heredia tries to sprawl out of it but Silva keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Heredia manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Silva. No joy for Heredia on that attempt.
Heredia takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Silva misses with a series of wild punches.

Silva closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Heredia to the mat! Heredia manages to get full guard.

Heredia looking for a guillotine here but Silva defends easily.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Silva avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Heredia is retaining full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Silva's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Silva controlling from the top position.

Silva gets to his feet - Heredia follows without any prompting.

Silva rushes Heredia and presses him up against the cage.

Silva wants the takedown. Heredia is fighting it off but Silva persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Heredia's guard against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silva throwing strikes from guard but Heredia blocks nicely.
Silva slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Silva closes the distance and pushes Heredia back into the cage.

Silva manages to break the clinch.
Silva has a takedown stuffed.

Silva shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Heredia's guard.
Silva sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Silva wants to control from the top but Heredia keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Emerson Silva.
Heredia stuffs the takedown attempt from Silva. Silva gets slowly back to his feet.
Heredia looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A head kick misses from Silva.
Silva throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Heredia's waist but Heredia gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Silva off to one side.
Diogo Heredia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Emerson Silva.
Silva is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

Silva closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Heredia's guard.

Heredia looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Silva has picked Heredia up and slammed him! Heredia can't keep hold of the triangle and Silva manages to pass to side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to control the action but Heredia is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Heredia's face as Silva controls the position.

Silva decides to stand back up.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but Heredia shows good takedown defense.

Silva bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heredia is not content to let Silva control the position.
Silva looking to control but instead Heredia has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Emerson Silva has got the better of the ground game so far.
Heredia wants to get back to full guard but Silva has passed into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Horrible takedown by Silva or perhaps it was just good defense by Heredia which made him look bad.

Silva rushes Heredia and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Silva pulls guard.
Diogo Heredia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Emerson Silva is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Heredia drops back, looking for a kneebar! Silva looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Silva looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Silva!

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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 45:50
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 45:50
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 45:50

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