PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Helio Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Banks (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
Banks

185 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Helio Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vladimir Banks!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Columbo Gatti and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva has a takedown stuffed.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Silva tries to clinch up but Banks circles away and keeps his distance.
Silva looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Banks is fending him off so far but Silva persists. Nope, Banks circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Helio Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Banks closes the distance and clinches.

Silva jumps into guard, dragging Banks to the mat.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Banks is proving a slippery customer.
Banks keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Silva's head.

Silva is looking for a triangle but Banks pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Banks trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Banks must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Banks trying to stand up but can't free himself from Silva's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Silva is on top in guard.

Banks has his foot on Silva's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Silva works his way back into a safe position though.
Banks working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Silva.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva stops Banks from standing up.
Banks looking to hit a scissor sweep but Silva is one step ahead there.

Silva avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Banks really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Silva. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Banks looks gassed!
Silva wants to control from the top but Banks keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Banks stuns Silva with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Banks digs a good body shot into Silva's ribs.

Banks shoots in and bounces Silva off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Banks preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Silva is proving hard to escape from.
Silva manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Silva is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Banks can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Banks defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Silva.
Banks is desperately trying to improve his position but Silva has a good base and remains in mount.
Silva pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Banks keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Silva cracks Banks with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Silva forces the positional change into back control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to get the hooks in deep but Banks pushed the leg off.
Banks is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Banks wants to get back to his feet.
Banks is trying to break free.
Silva doesn't have the hooks in and Banks manages to turn into his guard.
Banks keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Silva's head.
Banks trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Silva is working an open guard so Banks takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Banks shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Banks showed some decent athleticism there.
Banks thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Silva's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vladimir Banks will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Silva slips a straight right by Banks.
Silva misses with a takedown
and Banks counters with a nice body kick.
Silva takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Silva is rocked!

Silva closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Silva lands in his opponent's guard.
Banks tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Banks is keeping the position.
Banks wants to stand up but Silva is controlling him.

Silva thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Banks is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is working hard here to advance position.
Banks wants to sweep but no luck.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A punch combination from Silva misses.

Silva gets caught flat footed, as Banks shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Banks wants to stand but Silva is controlling his posture from full guard.
Helio Silva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Banks gets to his feet. Silva looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Banks throws a right and a left that both miss.

Banks 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.
Banks trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.
Silva trying to control the position.
Silva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Banks is one step ahead there.
Silva keeping full guard, as Banks tries to pass.
Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Banks counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to get back to full guard.

Silva actively working from the bottom here.
Silva is pressing down on Banks's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Silva manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Banks manages to get himself to full guard.
Silva trying to control but Banks is working from the bottom.
Silva advances to half guard.
Banks is trying to control but can't.
Silva wants to control but Banks is keeping him busy.
Banks is trying to stand.
Silva trying to control from half guard but Banks is working away.
Banks is looking for a sweep. Silva is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva controlling the action here.

Silva wants to work for an arm triangle but Banks is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Banks is trying to maintain the position but Silva is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Banks scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Silva taking a bit of punishment here - Banks scoring with strikes.
Silva is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Banks is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Banks controlling from mount.
Banks unloading with bombs!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Banks landing strikes, looking to finish!
Silva gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Banks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Some wild striking there from Banks.
Helio Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Silva shoots and misses

and Banks decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Silva's guard.

Banks stands up from Silva's guard - Banks perhaps looking for a knockout.
Silva misses with a takedown

and Banks counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Banks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Banks looking to pass the guard.

Silva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Banks doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Silva is tightening it up a little... Banks has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Banks reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Banks taps out! nice BJJ there by Silva!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Helio Silva!