PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sol Tavarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucas Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva has chosen Metallica - The Unforgiven II as his entrance music. This should be fireworks!

Tavarez
vs
Silva

186 cm
28
204 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

180 cm
26
215 lbs
15 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sublime Supplements

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 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sol Tavarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Lucas Silva !
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Cecil Peabody and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silva pushes Tavarez up against the cage in a clinch.
Tavarez misses with a body punch.
Silva misses with the head strike.
Tavarez has a couple of punches blocked by Silva .
Silva avoids a wild elbow strike from Tavarez.
Tavarez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Silva 's elbow.
Tavarez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Silva 's elbow.
Silva throws a head punch that misses.
Silva can't find room to land a body shot as Tavarez controls the action.
Silva is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Tavarez lands a hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Lucas Silva has been cut.
Tavarez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Silva blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva blocks a body shot from Tavarez.
Tavarez lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Silva backwards.
Tavarez lands a nice elbow.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Tavarez tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Silva avoids it.
Tavarez lands a nice knee to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva dodges an elbow strike from Tavarez.
Tavarez can't find room to land a body shot as Silva controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva takes a shot to the head.

Tavarez wants the takedown. Silva is fighting it off but Tavarez persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Silva 's guard against the cage.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Tavarez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Silva works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tavarez wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Silva avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tavarez throws an elbow that misses. Silva uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tavarez's guard. Nice move by Silva !
Silva missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Silva preventing the sweep.
Silva trying to control but Tavarez is working from the bottom.
Silva postures up in Tavarez's guard and throws a big left but Tavarez blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tavarez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Silva is aware though and is defending well.
Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Tavarez is retaining full guard.
Silva being controlled here momentarily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silva keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tavarez's head.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Tavarez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tavarez pulls Silva in close to his closed guard and prevents Silva from doing any damage or advancing position.

Tavarez looking for a guillotine here but Silva defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Silva throwing strikes but missing.
Silva with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Silva wants to control from the top but Tavarez keeps moving.
Silva throws an elbow that misses. Tavarez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Silva 's guard. Nice move by Tavarez!
Tavarez looking to pass the guard.
Tavarez trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Silva has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tavarez wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Tavarez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tavarez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Silva preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Tavarez from controlling successfully.
Tavarez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tavarez scoring with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sol Tavarez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lucas Silva 's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Silva moves out of range of the strikes.
Silva tries to bum rush Tavarez with a series of wild strikes but Tavarez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tavarez misses with an uppercut. Silva saw that one coming.
Tavarez looks to throw the jab but Silva is out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Tavarez. That snapped Silva 's head back.
Silva throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tavarez takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Tavarez keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Tavarez takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Silva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Silva misses the shot to the body.
Silva defending well as Tavarez loads up on a big left hand.
Silva tries to score a power double leg takedown but Tavarez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Silva somewhat.
Tavarez wants to slow Silva down by chopping away at his legs.
Tavarez throws a hook but Silva avoids it easily.
Silva misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The fighters circling - Silva throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tavarez closes the distance but Silva moves to the side
letting Silva counter with a right hand.
Silva moves out of range of the leg kick from Tavarez.
Silva just misses with a punch to the body.
Silva misses with a wild combination.
Silva dodges the punch combination from Tavarez.
Tavarez throws a poor cross that misses
and Silva counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tavarez misses the shot to the body.
Tavarez throws a big shot that misses.
Tavarez throws a hook to the side of Silva 's head but Silva sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Silva blocks a head kick by Tavarez.
Silva rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tavarez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Silva as Tavarez shoots in.
Tavarez fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Silva checks it well.
Tavarez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Silva scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Tavarez looks to land a right hand but Silva moved out of range.
Tavarez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tavarez wants it to stay on the feet.
Tavarez's jab looks to have found its range, popping Silva under the eye.
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!

Tavarez gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Silva to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Silva throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tavarez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Silva loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tavarez keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Sol Tavarez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Silva won't allow Tavarez to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Silva throws a big right hand that misses.
Silva throws a big right hand that misses.
Silva lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Tavarez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tavarez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Silva .
Tavarez trying to strike off his back.
Silva working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavarez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Silva is one step ahead there.
Silva being controlled here momentarily.
Silva throws an elbow that misses. Tavarez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Silva 's guard. Nice move by Tavarez!
Tavarez throws a big right hand that misses.
Tavarez cracks Silva with a solid left hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucas Silva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lucas Silva 's cut.
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!

Silva fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.
Silva connects with a leg kick. Tavarez looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Tavarez tries to clinch up.
Silva throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Tavarez stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Tavarez misses with a double jab.
Tavarez takes one on the button.
Nice shot lands for Tavarez.
Tavarez throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Silva fails to land with a series of punches.
Tavarez gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Silva throws a body punch but Tavarez moves out of range.
Silva dodges the punch combination from Tavarez.
Silva jabs at Tavarez's body.
Tavarez misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Silva tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tavarez taking a breather.
Silva lands a hook that snaps the head of Tavarez backwards.
Silva tries to stall but Tavarez uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Tavarez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Silva .
Tavarez lands a body punch.
Tavarez is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A right hand to the body from Tavarez.
Tavarez trying to land knees to the body.
Silva throws a punch but it's blocked by Tavarez.
Tavarez tries to work over Silva 's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tavarez is trying to drag Silva to the mat but Silva just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Silva misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Silva tries to work over Tavarez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Tavarez.
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!
Tavarez lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Silva or not.
Tavarez misses with a body punch.
Tavarez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Silva lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Tavarez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Silva .
Silva manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Tavarez misses with a punch to the body.
Silva cracks Tavarez with a nice body shot.
Tavarez lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Silva displaying some good clinch control by pressing Tavarez up against the cage.
Tavarez is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sol Tavarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva keeps control of Tavarez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavarez trying to land knees to the body.
Silva misses with the head strike.

Silva breaks the clinch.
Lucas Silva seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tavarez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Silva .
Good standup being displayed there by Silva as he connects with a hook.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tavarez as he avoids it easily.
Tavarez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Silva tries to avoid it but Tavarez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Silva to the ground. Silva escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Tavarez throws a half hearted mid kick.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Silva on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tavarez. Tavarez obviously looking to wear him down.
Silva misses with a leg kick.
Silva throws a leg kick but Tavarez moved away.
Silva lands a nice shot to the body.
Silva is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Tavarez rather than just go for the knockout.
Tavarez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Silva .
Tavarez thows a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva has closed the distance and engaged Tavarez in a clinch.
Silva stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Silva tries to break the clinch but Tavarez is controlling the position.
Silva wants a takedown but no success here.
Silva throws a head punch that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tavarez is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Tavarez misses with a punch to the body.
Silva tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tavarez's elbow.
Tavarez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Silva avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Silva softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Silva doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Silva taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Silva as Tavarez tries to tie him up.
A right hand to the body from Silva .

And that's the end of the fight!
Lucas Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Silva 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29

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