PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Giovani Sobrinho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sobrinho
vs
Silva

192 cm
26
220 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

188 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Giovani Sobrinho!
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, Anderson Silva!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Thiago Cunha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sobrinho's waist but Sobrinho gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Silva off to one side.
A punch combination from Sobrinho misses.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sobrinho throws a right hand that Silva ducks under and follows up with a left that Silva also avoids with ease.
Sobrinho misses with a double jab.

Sobrinho moves into the clinch.
Sobrinho lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Silva tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Silva lands a body punch.
Silva blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sobrinho takes a shot to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Sobrinho fails to land.
Silva tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sobrinho's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva looking to stall.
Silva cracks Sobrinho with a nice body shot.
Silva cracks Sobrinho with a nice body shot.
Silva blocks a body shot from Sobrinho.
Silva fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sobrinho has a couple of punches blocked by Silva.
Silva tries to throw a body punch but Sobrinho avoids it by throwing Silva back against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Sobrinho scores with a nice short uppercut.
Silva digs a right hand into Sobrinho's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sobrinho's gas tank.
A right hook to the body lands for Sobrinho.
Silva tries to throw a body punch but Sobrinho avoids it by throwing Silva back against the cage.
Silva misses with some punches.
Silva is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sobrinho is keeping busy.
Silva goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sobrinho misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sobrinho blocks an uppercut.
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 blocks an uppercut.
Sobrinho tries to work over Silva's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sobrinho goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sobrinho misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sobrinho can't find room to land a body shot as Silva controls the action.
Silva prevents a body shot from Sobrinho.
Sobrinho swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Silva tries to throw a body punch but Sobrinho avoids it by throwing Silva back against the cage.
Silva digs a right hand underneath Sobrinho's ribcage. Sobrinho let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Silva tries to throw a body punch but Sobrinho avoids it by throwing Silva back against the cage.
Silva tries a body shot but Sobrinho blocks it.
Silva pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sobrinho throws a head punch that misses.
Sobrinho tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sobrinho blocks a body shot from Silva.
A bit of stalling here from Sobrinho.
Sobrinho goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Silva tries to throw a body punch but Sobrinho avoids it by throwing Silva back against the cage.
Silva tries a body shot but Sobrinho blocks it.
Sobrinho scores a nice knee to the body.
Nice body punch from Sobrinho.
Sobrinho misses with a punch on the inside.
Silva misses with a body punch.
Sobrinho blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Silva struggles to land a body shot inside as Sobrinho controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Silva.
A short left from Silva.
A nice right hand lands inside from Silva.
Sobrinho throws a head punch that misses.
Silva prevents a body shot from Sobrinho.
Sobrinho tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Silva tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sobrinho's elbow.
Silva misses with a hook to the ribs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sobrinho scores with a shot to the side of Silva's head.
Silva holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Sobrinho goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sobrinho has a couple of punches blocked by Silva.
Sobrinho goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Anderson Silva will probably get the nod.
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.

Sobrinho tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Silva wants to clinch.

Silva gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Silva throws a punch but it's blocked by Sobrinho.
Sobrinho has a couple of punches blocked by Silva.
Sobrinho throws a punch but it's blocked by Silva.
Silva is looking to control Sobrinho's arms but Sobrinho gets an underhook and turns him. Now Silva has his back to the cage.
Anderson Silva seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Sobrinho lands a hook that snaps the head of Silva backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Silva creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Silva prevents a body shot from Sobrinho.
Sobrinho has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobrinho struggles to land a body shot inside as Silva controls his hands.
Sobrinho lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Silva working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Silva misses with a hook from the clinch.
Silva lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sobrinho backwards.
Silva has Sobrinho pressed against the cage.
Sobrinho lands an uppercut.
Sobrinho working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Silva is trying to maintain a safe position but Sobrinho gets an underhook and turns Silva into the cage.
Silva lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Silva can't find room to land a body shot as Sobrinho controls the action.
Silva misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sobrinho blocks an uppercut.
Sobrinho tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sobrinho tries to work over Silva's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sobrinho swings wildly with an uppercut but Silva uses good head movement to avoid it.
Silva tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short left from Sobrinho.

It looks like Anderson Silva has been cut.
Sobrinho works on Silva's body with a couple of short punches.
Silva misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sobrinho working aggressively here.
Sobrinho digs a right hand into Silva's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Silva's gas tank.
Silva blocks a body shot from Sobrinho.
Sobrinho blocks a body shot from Silva.
Sobrinho throws a head punch that misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
The referee calls for Sobrinho to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sobrinho's elbow.
Silva tries to work over Sobrinho's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sobrinho blocks a body shot from Silva.
Sobrinho prevents a body shot from Silva.
Silva can't find room to land a body shot as Sobrinho controls the action.
Sobrinho struggles to land a body shot inside as Silva controls his hands.
Sobrinho tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sobrinho prevents a body shot from Silva.
Sobrinho blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Silva tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch on the inside from Sobrinho fails to land.
Good body shot from Silva.
Sobrinho is trying to stall.
Sobrinho misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Silva misses with a body punch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sobrinho creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Nice body punch from Sobrinho.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sobrinho misses with a punch to the body.
Sobrinho tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Silva's elbow.
Silva tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Silva blocks a body shot from Sobrinho.
Sobrinho blocking some punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sobrinho's elbow.
Sobrinho works on Silva's body with a couple of short punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Silva.
Silva lands a hook that snaps the head of Sobrinho backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Anderson Silva will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Anderson Silva's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Silva steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sobrinho.
Silva fails to land the takedown.
Silva tries to clinch there but Sobrinho circles away.
Silva doesn't manage to clinch there - Sobrinho circles away.
Silva closes the distance looking to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Sobrinho keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sobrinho stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sobrinho wants it to stay on the feet.
Silva slips a jab and a cross from Sobrinho.
Silva wants to clinch but Sobrinho slips to the side
and Sobrinho cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sobrinho misses with a jab, cross combination.

Sobrinho darts in and clinches Silva up against the cage.
Silva tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sobrinho's elbow.
Sobrinho scores with a hook to the body.
Sobrinho blocks a body shot from Silva.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sobrinho.
Silva blocks a body shot from Sobrinho.
Sobrinho tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nice body punch from Sobrinho.
Silva is stalling here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sobrinho.
Silva digs a right hand underneath Sobrinho's ribcage. Sobrinho let out a lung full of air as it connected.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sobrinho throws a head punch that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sobrinho.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sobrinho.
Sobrinho misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sobrinho lands a shot to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Sobrinho.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobrinho misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sobrinho.
Sobrinho lands with a short shot to the head.
Silva lands a body punch in the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Sobrinho as the two fighters clinch.
Sobrinho fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Silva tries a body shot but Sobrinho blocks it.
Sobrinho lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Silva or not.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Sobrinho is struggling to control the position.
Sobrinho goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sobrinho swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva swings wildly with an uppercut but Sobrinho uses good head movement to avoid it.
Silva taking a breather.
Sobrinho misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sobrinho lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Sobrinho looking to throw knees to the head but Silva is blocking nicely.
Sobrinho throws a punch but it's blocked by Silva.
Sobrinho misses with a hook to the ribs.
Silva misses with some punches.
Sobrinho lands with a short shot to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sobrinho.
Silva blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sobrinho goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sobrinho working some nice short punches in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giovani Sobrinho clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Anderson Silva's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Silva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sobrinho but Sobrinho pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Silva slips under a jab.
Sobrinho misses with a wild combination.
Silva avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva closes the distance and clinches up with Sobrinho, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes Sobrinho against the cage but Sobrinho circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobrinho throws a lazy right hand but Silva sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sobrinho throws a series of punches but Silva avoids them all with ease.
Silva looks to clinch

and Sobrinho counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sobrinho.
Silva working aggressively here.
Sobrinho misses with some punches.
Sobrinho throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Silva blocking some punches.
Sobrinho digs a right hand into Silva's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Silva's gas tank.
Silva swings wildly with an uppercut but Sobrinho uses good head movement to avoid it.
Silva misses with the head strike.
Sobrinho lands with a right to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sobrinho blocks a body shot from Silva.
Silva prevents a body shot from Sobrinho.
Sobrinho swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sobrinho doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sobrinho blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Silva blocks a body shot from Sobrinho.
A left hand lands to the body for Silva.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sobrinho wants to stall.
Sobrinho lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Silva misses with a punch to the body.
A short uppercut from Silva.
Sobrinho lands with a light punch inside.
Silva misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Silva.
Silva is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sobrinho.
Sobrinho misses with a punch on the inside.
Silva struggles to land a body shot inside as Sobrinho controls his hands.
A short body shot lands from Silva as the two fighters clinch.
Sobrinho looking to stall.
Sobrinho tries to work over Silva's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short right from Sobrinho.
Silva taking a breather.
Sobrinho has a couple of punches blocked by Silva.
A short body shot lands from Silva as the two fighters clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva misses with a body punch.
Sobrinho has a couple of punches blocked by Silva.
A head punch on the inside from Silva fails to land.
Silva lands a body punch in the clinch.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Silva misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Silva tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sobrinho's elbow.
Sobrinho prevents a body shot from Silva.
Silva tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sobrinho tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Silva avoids it.
Sobrinho goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sobrinho prevents a body shot from Silva.
Sobrinho goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Still in the clinch, Silva scores with a nice short uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Anderson Silva will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Anderson Silva's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Silva tries to clinch but Sobrinho moves away
and Sobrinho counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Silva showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sobrinho.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sobrinho lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Silva circles away quickly and effectively.

Silva fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sobrinho sprawls well initially but Silva persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Silva wants to stand but Sobrinho has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Silva wants to work for an arm triangle but Sobrinho is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sobrinho defends it well.
Sobrinho is trying to control but can't.
Sobrinho holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Silva looks to land a strike but Sobrinho avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Silva trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Sobrinho manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Silva is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sobrinho avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sobrinho postures up and lands a big shot to Silva's brow.
Silva is trying to keep Sobrinho in close.

Silva has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Sobrinho 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.
Sobrinho remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Silva is trying to work for a sweep but Sobrinho has mounted him!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobrinho working the ground and pound effectively.
Silva is looking to improve his position but Sobrinho isn't that keen on the idea.
The referee warns Silva that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Silva is trying to escape the mount.
Sobrinho can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Silva is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sobrinho lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Silva hang on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sobrinho sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Silva is wriggling around trying to escape.
Sobrinho trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sobrinho prevents Silva from getting the reversal.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Giovani Sobrinho.
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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight for Giovani Sobrinho!
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Anderson Silva!
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight for Giovani Sobrinho!

Giovani Sobrinho wins by split decision!
Giovani Sobrinho seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.