PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rousimar Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Fenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Silva
vs
Fenix

179 cm
18
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rousimar Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcus Fenix!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Leandro Rodrigues and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva misses with a head kick.
Silva looks to clinch

and Fenix counters with a shoot takedown. Silva fights it but they end up in guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Fenix tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.
Fenix controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Fenix postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Fenix looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Silva is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Fenix works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Silva knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Fenix on the ground.
Silva pushes Fenix off looking to stand but Fenix dives back in and keeps control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fenix with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Marcus Fenix has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Silva cracks Fenix with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Silva throws a nice looking combination but Fenix bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Silva tries to sprawl but Fenix drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Fenix missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Fenix thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Silva's head.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Fenix seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fenix throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fenix trying to control the pace.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fenix working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Silva's thigh. Silva counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Fenix controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Marcus Fenix wasn't active enough on the ground.
Fenix fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fenix 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.
Fenix sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Fenix throws a big right hand that misses.
Fenix wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fenix controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Fenix works over Silva with some ground and pound from guard.
Fenix is pushing down on Silva's leg trying to pass to half guard. Silva is fighting to maintain full guard but Fenix has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fenix is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Fenix passes to side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fenix cracks Silva with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Fenix controlling the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva prevents Fenix from improving position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Fenix 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.

Fenix shoots for a double leg takedown but Silva sprawls well. He's pushed Fenix's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A punch combination from Silva misses.
Silva throws a combination. Fenix tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Silva stuffs the takedown attempt from Fenix. Fenix gets slowly back to his feet.
Silva lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A combination from Silva does no damage.

Silva clinches up with Fenix and pushes him back against the cage.
Silva has had enough of the clinch but Fenix keeps him there for the moment.
Silva is trying to force a seperation but Fenix has the dominant position.

Fenix manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Silva has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Fenix tries to land a sweep but no joy.
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 avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Fenix is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva trying to control but Fenix is working from the bottom.
Silva is really struggling to control Fenix but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Fenix has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Fenix looking for a sweep. Not yet Fenix, not yet.
Silva passes Fenix's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Silva wants to take a breather but Fenix is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fenix has his hands clasped together around Silva's back. He's all about the action.
Silva performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Rousimar Silva.
Silva lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Silva misses with an uppercut. Fenix saw that one coming.
Silva tries a head kick but it misses.
Fenix shoots for a takedown but Silva saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rousimar Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Fenix.

Fenix gets the takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Fenix is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Silva knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
A lull in the action here as Fenix stalls from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fenix's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Silva is trying to buck Fenix off.
Fenix tries to move into full mount but can't pass Silva's legs.
Silva is trying to buck Fenix off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fenix in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Fenix throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Fenix advances nicely into full mount.
Fenix in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Fenix content just to control the position here.
Marcus Fenix has got the better of the ground game so far.
Silva is trying to stand up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Fenix looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Fenix controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Marcus Fenix will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Silva's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Fenix looking to score a takedown here. Silva is defending well but Fenix drives through and ends up in Silva's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fenix accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fenix controls from within his opponent's guard.
Fenix trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Silva wants to get back to his feet but Fenix is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Marcus Fenix.

Fenix bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fenix is staying tight to Silva's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Fenix trying to control the position but Silva is working away.
Fenix in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Fenix is looking to take a break and control but Silva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Marcus Fenix was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Silva looks to land a combination but Fenix avoids it well.
Fenix shoots in looking for a takedown. Silva tries to sprawl out of it but Fenix keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Silva manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Fenix blocks a low kick nicely.

Silva gets caught flat footed, as Fenix shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fenix content to stall in guard here.
Silva wants to stand and escape but Fenix is having none of it.
Fenix pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Fenix loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Silva being controlled here, momentarily.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Fenix will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Fenix moves out of range of the strikes.
Silva misses with a double jab

and Fenix counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Silva's guard now.
Silva is looking to stand up but Fenix isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Fenix is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fenix won't allow Silva to get back to his feet.
Fenix slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Fenix loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rousimar Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fenix's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Marcus Fenix is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Marcus Fenix wasn't active enough on the ground.
Silva defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Fenix.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Fenix comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Fenix winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Fenix!