PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gsp Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and CM Punk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Punk is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by CULT OF PERSONALITY. The key to victory for Gsp Silva has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Silva
vs
Punk

189 cm
24
212 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

186 cm
27
215 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gsp Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, CM Punk!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Ian Loll and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Punk stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Punk wants it to stay on the feet.
Silva shoots and misses

and Punk counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Silva's guard now.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Punk drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Punk jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Silva is looking for a triangle but Punk pushes his legs off easily.
Punk wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Punk stays in close to Silva's body and controls the position.
Silva keeping full guard, as Punk tries to pass.

Silva looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Punk trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Punk wanted to stand there but Silva had control of the position.

Punk drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Punk jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Punk from controlling successfully.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punk is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Punk decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Silva closes this distance looking for a takedown but Punk circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gsp Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Punk sprawls well. Punk wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Silva gets slowly back to his feet.
Silva tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Punk is able to avoid easily.

Silva drives through with a takedown into guard.
Punk wants to sweep here but Silva controlling him for the moment.
Punk controls Silva momentarily but Silva frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva with a flurry of punches that miss.

Punk has his foot on Silva's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Silva works his way back into a safe position though.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Punk is keeping the position for now.

Silva drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Punk dives on top into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Punk wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Silva keeping full guard, as Punk tries to pass.
Punk pushing down on Silva's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Punk is keen to just control but Silva is a slippery customer.
Punk lands strikes from half guard.
Punk drops an elbow to the side of Silva's head.
Silva moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Punk 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.

Silva has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Punk can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Punk tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.

Silva throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Punk throws a big elbow that misses.
Punk works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Silva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Silva is looking to get back to full guard here but Punk has managed to pass to side control instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Punk is looking to take a break and control but Silva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Punk controls the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Punk wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Silva, who protects the arm well.
Punk wants to control but Silva is keeping him busy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Silva is looking to reverse the position.
Punk landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Punk is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Silva is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Silva stops Punk from passing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

CM Punk dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Silva shoots and misses
and Punk counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Silva shoots in looking for a takedown but Punk manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Silva's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Silva tries for a takedown but Punk circles away easily

and Punk counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gsp Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva has hold of Punk's hands but Punk slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nice strikes from Punk there.
Punk is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
CM Punk has got the better of the ground game so far.
Silva is staying active underneath Punk, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
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 works his way to full guard. Good work.

Silva has his foot on Punk's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Punk works his way back into a safe position though.
Punk is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva has momentary wrist control but Punk slips an elbow through the middle.
Punk stands up over Silva, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Silva keeping full guard, as Punk tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva wants to sweep here but Punk controlling him for the moment.

Silva is looking for a triangle but Punk pushes his legs off easily.
Punk trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Silva looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Punk connects with a couple of short punches.
Punk wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Punk must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Silva has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Punk is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Silva.

Punk stands up and beckons Silva to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Punk lands a jab.

Punk gets a double leg takedown into Silva's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Punk forces his way into half guard.

Punk is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Silva doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Punk.

Silva actively working from the bottom here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Punk lands a nice short elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva actively working from the bottom here.
Punk is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Punk working over Silva with some ground and pound. Silva looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Silva looking for submissions off his back.

Silva is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Punk pulls his head out easily.

Punk decides to stand up.

Punk drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Punk landing some decent shots from guard.
Punk slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Punk defends it easily.
Punk working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Silva's head.
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!
Punk is stalling in the full guard.

Punk thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Punk from controlling successfully.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Silva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Punk doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Punk manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Punk advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

CM Punk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Punk counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Silva is not content to let Punk control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Silva is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Punk pulls his head out easily.

Silva looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Punk is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Silva doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Punk.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Punk wants to work for an arm triangle but Silva is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punk is keen to just control but Silva is a slippery customer.

Silva is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Punk pulls his head out easily.

Silva is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Punk pulls his head out easily.
Punk lands strikes from half guard.

Silva looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Silva is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Punk pulls his head out easily.

Silva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Silva is refusing to be controlled, as Punk sits in half guard.
Punk slips a nice elbow through Silva's hands, connecting with Silva's forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Punk is nestled in close to Silva, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Silva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Punk trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.

Silva looking for submissions off his back.

Punk seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Silva is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). CM Punk!
CM Punk decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.