PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Simon Manuel Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bigfoot Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manuel Santos comes into the arena with Cypress Hill - Lowrider blaring out of the sound system. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Manuel Santos
vs
Silva

197 cm
21
270 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

207 cm
28
300 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Simon Manuel Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bigfoot Silva!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Luis Engracia and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manuel Santos misses with a series of wild punches.
Silva throws a right hand that Manuel Santos ducks under and follows up with a left that Manuel Santos also avoids with ease.
Silva goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Simon Manuel Santos has been cut.
Silva throws an overhand right that lands on Manuel Santos's shoulder, as Manuel Santos tries to avoid the shot.
The fighters circling - Silva throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Danga de danga de dang - Manuel Santos scores with a four punch combination!
Manuel Santos avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sloppy strikes from Manuel Santos. Those never looked like landing.
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!
Nice shot lands for Manuel Santos.

Manuel Santos has taken the fight to the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Manuel Santos.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Simon Manuel Santos.

Manuel Santos closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Manuel Santos keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Silva's efforts to push away.
The referee is keeping an eye on Manuel Santos - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Manuel Santos for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Manuel Santos prevents Silva from breaking the clinch.
Manuel Santos manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Manuel Santos lands a right hand that snaps the head of Silva backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manuel Santos will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Silva up against the cage.
Silva wants to get back to striking at distance but Manuel Santos won't allow it.
Silva is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Manuel Santos prevents Silva from breaking the clinch.
Manuel Santos is working Silva over against the cage.
Manuel Santos throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Silvas head.
Silva wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Manuel Santos lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Silva wants to break free but Manuel Santos has control.
Manuel Santos prevents Silva from breaking the clinch.

Manuel Santos manages to break the clinch.
Silva misses with a few strikes there.
Silva looks gassed!

Manuel Santos gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Manuel Santos taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is looking to break free of the clinch but Manuel Santos has double underhooks.
Silva is looking to break free of the clinch but Manuel Santos has double underhooks.
Manuel Santos is struggling to control the position.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Manuel Santos.
Manuel Santos is struggling to control the position.

Manuel Santos breaks from the clinch.
Silva throws a jab but it's blocked by Manuel Santos.
Silva doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Manuel Santos moves out of range as Silva strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva misses with a right hand

and Manuel Santos counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Manuel Santos.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Manuel Santos.
Manuel Santos keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Silva's efforts to push away.
Manuel Santos has Silva pushed against the cage.
Manuel Santos scores with a shot to the side of Silva's head.
Manuel Santos is struggling to control the position.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Simon Manuel Santos.

Manuel Santos gets a clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Manuel Santos is pushing Silva up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Manuel Santos dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Simon Manuel Santos's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Manuel Santos throws a right hand that Silva ducks under and follows up with a left that Silva also avoids with ease.
Manuel Santos fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Silva throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Manuel Santos counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Manuel Santos.
The referee calls for Manuel Santos to work.
Manuel Santos scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Manuel Santos breaks the clinch.
Silva will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Manuel Santos throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Silva on the side of the head.

Manuel Santos gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A right hand to the body from Manuel Santos.

Manuel Santos breaks from the clinch.
Manuel Santos avoids a punch combination nicely.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Manuel Santos changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva dodges the punch combination from Manuel Santos.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Manuel Santos moves into the clinch.
Manuel Santos stalling the fight.

Manuel Santos breaks the clinch.
Silva misses with a left hand
and Manuel Santos counters with a left and a right that stings Silva.
Manuel Santos displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Silva gets tackled into the cage by Manuel Santos. Manuel Santos maintains the clinch.
Manuel Santos will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Silva up against the cage.

Manuel Santos pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Manuel Santos clinches with his opponent.
Silva wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manuel Santos just leaning against Silva, taking a breather.
Manuel Santos cracks Silva with a nice body shot.

Manuel Santos breaks from the clinch.
Manuel Santos lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Silva circles away quickly and effectively.
Manuel Santos stuns Silva with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Manuel Santos scores with a three punch combo!

Manuel Santos clinches with his opponent.
Manuel Santos leaning against his opponent.
Silva wants to get back to striking at distance but Manuel Santos won't allow it.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Manuel Santos.
Manuel Santos lands a left hand that snaps the head of Silva backwards.
Manuel Santos scores with a shoulder strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel Santos scores with a hook to the body.
Manuel Santos content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Silva is looking to break free of the clinch but Manuel Santos has double underhooks.

Manuel Santos breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Manuel Santos connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Manuel Santos scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Silva takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Manuel Santos misses with a wild combination.
Manuel Santos feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Silvas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Manuel Santos clinches with his opponent.
Manuel Santos is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Silva can do to turn this around?
Come on Manuel Santos - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Silva is looking to break free of the clinch but Manuel Santos has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel Santos lands a shot to the body.
Silva wants to break free but Manuel Santos has control.
A shot in the inside from Manuel Santos.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Manuel Santos breaks from the clinch.
Manuel Santos throws a nice looking combination but Silva bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Silva ducks right into an uppercut from Manuel Santos.
Silva misses with an uppercut

and Manuel Santos counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Manuel Santos lands a nice uppercut.
Silva has had enough of the clinch but Manuel Santos keeps him there for the moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Manuel Santos breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Manuel Santos dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Simon Manuel Santos's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Manuel Santos gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Manuel Santos is stalling here.
Manuel Santos seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.

Manuel Santos breaks from the clinch.
Silva misses with a series of wild punches.
Manuel Santos lands a slapping body shot.
Silva takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Silva will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Manuel Santos fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Silva, pushing him back against the cage.
Silva wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Manuel Santos lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Silva or not.
Silva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Silva is looking to break free of the clinch but Manuel Santos has double underhooks.

Manuel Santos breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Manuel Santos has Silva up against the cage in a clinch.
Silva being controlled against the cage.
Manuel Santos lands a nice uppercut.
Manuel Santos prevents Silva from breaking the clinch.
Silva is trying to push Manuel Santos away but Manuel Santos has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Manuel Santos avoiding damage.
Silva is looking to break free of the clinch but Manuel Santos has double underhooks.
Manuel Santos has Silva pushed against the cage.
Silva has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Bigfoot Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manuel Santos is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Manuel Santos lands with a right to the head.
Manuel Santos works on Silva's body with a couple of short punches.
Manuel Santos lands a body punch.

Manuel Santos breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Manuel Santos moves into the clinch.
Manuel Santos keeps control of Silva as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Manuel Santos escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Silva takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
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!
Manuel Santos uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Silva has time to react.
Manuel Santos cracks Silva with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Silva throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Manuel Santos counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel Santos punishes Silva's body with a nice straight punch.
Manuel Santos jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Manuel Santos stalks Silva and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Silva's face. Silva staggers backwards, shaken.
Manuel Santos closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Simon Manuel Santos is winning the standup battle so far.
Manuel Santos digs a good hook to Silva's body.
Manuel Santos dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Manuel Santos forces Silva back against the cage and clinches.
Manuel Santos controlling the action here for a moment.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Silva is trying to break the clinch but Manuel Santos is controlling him.
Manuel Santos stalling the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Simon Manuel Santos.

Manuel Santos moves into range and clinches up with Silva.
Manuel Santos content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Manuel Santos breaks from the clinch.
Simon Manuel Santos is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Manuel Santos scores with a punch to the head.
Manuel Santos misses with the combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Manuel Santos works the jab nicely.

Manuel Santos moves into the clinch successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Simon Manuel Santos showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Manuel Santos has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Simon Manuel Santos!
A determined Simon Manuel Santos didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!