PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eduardo Nascimento Silva Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raylan Givens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Nascimento Silva Jr
vs
Givens

183 cm
26
193 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

187 cm
25
195 lbs
9 - 5 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eduardo Nascimento Silva Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raylan Givens!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Cecil Peabody and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Givens dives in and grabs Nascimento Silva Jr's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nascimento Silva Jr pushes down on Givens's head and hops out.
Nascimento Silva Jr tries for a takedown but Givens circles away easily

and Givens counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Givens.
Givens 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.
Nascimento Silva Jr manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Givens manages to get himself to full guard.
Givens trying to control the position.
Givens keeping moving, preventing Nascimento Silva Jr from controlling successfully.
Givens trying to control the position.
Nascimento Silva Jr trying to control but Givens is working from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Givens wants to sweep here but Nascimento Silva Jr controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Eduardo Nascimento Silva Jr just wasn't active enough.
Nascimento Silva Jr misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Nascimento Silva Jr dives in and scores a takedown into Givens's guard.

Nascimento Silva Jr is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Givens is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Givens has escaped and now he's on top!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Nascimento Silva Jr working a defensive guard here.
Givens working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Givens trying to control the position from guard on top but Nascimento Silva Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Givens is working Nascimento Silva Jr over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Givens is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Givens got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nascimento Silva Jr has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Givens has managed to get both his arms back between Nascimento Silva Jr's legs - danger averted.
Nascimento Silva Jr wants to improve his position but instead Givens has moved into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nascimento Silva Jr avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Givens.
Givens lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nascimento Silva Jr wants to improve his position but Givens is controlling well.
Givens is thwarting Nascimento Silva Jr's attempts to control the position.
Givens has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nascimento Silva Jr works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Givens chips away with some ground and pound.

Nascimento Silva Jr is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Givens defends well.
Nascimento Silva Jr is looking to sweep but instead, Givens has passed into half guard.
Givens scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nascimento Silva Jr works his way to full guard. Good work.
Nascimento Silva Jr keeping moving, preventing Givens from controlling successfully.

Nascimento Silva Jr throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Nascimento Silva Jr is looking for a triangle but Givens pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Givens advances position into side control!
Givens wants to control but Nascimento Silva Jr is keeping him busy.
Nascimento Silva Jr is looking to regain half guard here but Givens keeps moving and retains side control.
Nascimento Silva Jr is working hard here to advance 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!
Givens in side control lands a decent elbow.
Nascimento Silva Jr tries to buck Givens off but Givens is having none of it.
Givens landing a few strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Givens working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Nascimento Silva Jr is trying to control Givens's posture but Givens avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raylan Givens dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Horrible takedown by Nascimento Silva Jr or perhaps it was just good defense by Givens which made him look bad.
Givens defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nascimento Silva Jr.
Givens throws a low kick but it's checked well by Nascimento Silva Jr.
Nascimento Silva Jr shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Givens as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eduardo Nascimento Silva Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nascimento Silva Jr keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Eduardo Nascimento Silva Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nascimento Silva Jr doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Givens to counter with a crisp jab.
Nascimento Silva Jr tries for a takedown but Givens circles away easily
and Givens counters with a leg kick.
Givens throws a front kick that sends Nascimento Silva Jr stumbling back into the ropes.

Givens tries to keep at a distance but Nascimento Silva Jr has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nascimento Silva Jr drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nascimento Silva Jr's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Givens gets through Nascimento Silva Jr's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Nascimento Silva Jr drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Givens gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Givens tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nascimento Silva Jr's elbow.
Givens lands a shoulder strike.

Nascimento Silva Jr gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Nascimento Silva Jr is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Givens is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Givens has escaped and now he's on top!
Givens trying to control the position from guard on top but Nascimento Silva Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Givens is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Givens scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Givens landing some decent shots from guard.
Givens throws a big elbow that misses.
Nascimento Silva Jr trying to control the 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!

Nascimento Silva Jr has his foot on Givens's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Givens works his way back into a safe position though.
Givens is looking to work some ground and pound but Nascimento Silva Jr has wrist control.

Nascimento Silva Jr escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Givens gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Givens connects with a couple of short punches.
Nascimento Silva Jr trying to control the position.
Nascimento Silva Jr looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nascimento Silva Jr throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Raylan Givens has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Givens with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Nascimento Silva Jr bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Givens's guard.
Givens trying to control the position.
Givens avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nascimento Silva Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Givens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nascimento Silva Jr won't allow Givens to sweep him here.

Givens looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Nascimento Silva Jr is defending well. Givens quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Nascimento Silva Jr has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Givens celebrates on the ropes, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Raylan Givens!
A very excited looking Raylan Givens made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.