PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sebastiao da Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucas Matos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matos has chosen Linkin Park - New Divide as his entrance music. Lucas Matos told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

da Silva
vs
Matos

175 cm
25
162 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

186 cm
20
179 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sebastiao da Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lucas Matos!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Matheus Silva and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

da Silva shoots in and gets a takedown into Matos's guard.
Matos 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.
da Silva might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Matos keeping full guard, as da Silva tries to pass.
Matos wants to sweep but no luck.
da Silva pushes down on Matos's leg and manages to get into half guard.
da Silva wants to stand up but Matos is controlling the position.

da Silva is working for a kimura but Matos is defending it quite comfortably.
Matos wants to get back to full guard.
da Silva works his way into side control.

da Silva thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Matos is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matos gets back to full guard.
Matos wants to stand and escape but da Silva is having none of it.

da 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.
Matos wants to sweep here but da Silva controlling him for the moment.

da Silva got a little sloppy there for a moment and Matos has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, da Silva has managed to get both his arms back between Matos's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
da Silva advances to half guard.
Matos moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
da Silva sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Matos's guard.
Matos moves into full guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

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

Matos working for submissions but it's allowed da Silva to get to half guard.
Matos looks gassed!

da Silva is looking for a kimura but Matos is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for da Silva to get the leverage.
da Silva prevents Matos from improving his position.

da Silva is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
da Silva wants to pass the guard but Matos is defending well.

da Silva is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
da Silva tries to pass to full mount but Matos defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

da Silva is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

da Silva is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Matos defends it well.
da Silva wants to free his trapped foot but Matos is holding on for dear life with his legs.

da Silva is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Matos is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Matos regains full guard. Nicely done.

da Silva drops back looking for a leg! Matos is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Matos manages to kick da Silva off! da Silva jumps back into Matos's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matos is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. da Silva is aware though and is defending well.
da Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Matos keeping moving, preventing da Silva from controlling successfully.
da Silva stopping the sweep attempt from Matos.
Matos bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in da Silva's guard.
Matos tries to free his leg and advance position but da Silva is retaining full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
da Silva looking to control.
Matos wants to pass the guard but da Silva is keeping the position.
da Silva keeping moving, preventing Matos from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lucas Matos will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Matos misses with a takedown attempt

and da Silva counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Matos manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

da Silva defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Matos.
da Silva is working to get back to half guard.
Sebastiao da Silva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
da Silva sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Matos trying to pass the guard but da Silva defending well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matos prevents da Silva from improving his position.
Matos passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for da Silva!

Matos wants to finish this one by submission but da Silva is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Matos.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matos looking to secure an arm triangle but da Silva defends it well.

Matos is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. da Silva can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
da Silva is looking to get to half guard.
da Silva tries to lock up and control but Matos gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
da Silva manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matos prevents da Silva from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matos looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Matos is looking for a kimura but da Silva is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Matos to get the leverage.

Matos is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and da Silva defends it well.

Matos is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. da Silva doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Matos.
Matos throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Matos is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and da Silva defends it well.
da Silva controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
da Silva is staying active underneath Matos, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
da Silva tries to roll over but Matos keeps him under control.
Matos is keen to just control but da Silva is a slippery customer.
da Silva wants to get back to full guard.

da Silva actively working from the bottom here.

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

Matos seems to be looking for submissions.
da Silva is pressing down on Matos's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
da Silva keeping moving, preventing Matos from controlling successfully.
Matos advances to half guard.
Matos passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for da Silva!

da Silva defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Matos.
da Silva is squirming around, avoiding Matos's attempts to control the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Matos is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. da Silva can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
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!
Matos scoring with strikes but da Silva is staying in there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucas Matos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Matos tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but da Silva swivels and escapes.
Matos tries for a takedown but da Silva circles away easily
and da Silva counters with a nice body kick.
da Silva throws a big shot that misses.
da Silva throws a wild body kick that Matos sees coming a mile off.
Matos shoots and misses

and da Silva counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by da Silva.
Sebastiao da Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucas Matos.

da Silva drops back looking for a leg! Matos is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Matos manages to kick da Silva off! da Silva jumps back into Matos's guard.

Matos has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes da Silva off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Matos enables da Silva to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Matos manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Matos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
da Silva wants to pass the guard but Matos is keeping the position.
da Silva has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
da Silva preventing the sweep.
Matos keeping moving, preventing da Silva from controlling successfully.

Matos throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
da Silva looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Matos had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. da Silva defends it easily.

da Silva thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Matos working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. da Silva doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. da Silva manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

da Silva gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Matos shoots for a double leg takedown but da Silva sprawls well. He's pushed Matos's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Matos with a lazy takedown attempt
and da Silva counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Matos thinking.
da Silva throws a right and a left that Matos avoids nicely.
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!
da Silva misses with a few strikes there.
Matos tries for a takedown but da Silva circles away easily
and da Silva counters with a left and a right that stings Matos.
da Silva keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Matos shoots for a double leg takedown but da Silva sprawls well. He's pushed Matos's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
da Silva will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Matos uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from da Silva.
Matos shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with da Silva but da Silva pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Lucas Matos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
da Silva slaps away a takedown attempt from Matos, before circling back to the center of the mat.
da Silva swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
da Silva tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matos was well out of range. Poor timing from da Silva.
Sebastiao da Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matos fails with a takedown attempt.
Matos takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Lucas Matos is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

da 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.

da 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.
Matos tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Matos manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sebastiao da Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matos tries to control but da Silva wriggling away.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting da Silva here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matos controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
da Silva is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sebastiao da Silva showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Matos has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Lucas Matos!
A relieved looking Lucas Matos thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.