PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Santiago Da Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riku Noitalahti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Da Silva
vs
Noitalahti

201 cm
33
288 lbs
20 - 15 - 0

192 cm
29
269 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Santiago Da Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Riku Noitalahti!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Winston Howard and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Noitalahti throws a left and a right that both miss
and Da Silva cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Da Silva moves out of range of the strikes.
Noitalahti fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Da Silva has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Da Silva is looking to chop away at Noitalahti's legs.
Noitalahti moves out of range as Da Silva strikes.
Da Silva throws a leg kick
and Noitalahti counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Da Silva does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Noitalahti dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Da Silva ducks under a wild hook from Noitalahti.
Da Silva pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Da Silva thows a body shot but no joy.
Noitalahti bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

It looks like Santiago Da Silva has been cut.
Da Silva throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noitalahti scores with the left hand. Da Silva knows he should have avoided that one.
A telegraphed right hand from Noitalahti misses the target.
Noitalahti misses with a right hand
and Da Silva counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Da Silva throws a leg kick but Noitalahti sees it coming and moves out of range.
Noitalahti pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Da Silva tries to clinch but Noitalahti moves out of range.

Da Silva fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Noitalahti sprawls well initially but Da Silva persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Da Silva is pressing down on Noitalahti's thigh, looking to free his foot. Noitalahti is holding on for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Da Silva throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Noitalahti to regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Da Silva throwing strikes but missing.
Noitalahti keeping full guard, as Da Silva tries to pass.
Da Silva postures up in Noitalahti's guard and throws a big left but Noitalahti blocks it.
Da Silva postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Da Silva is looking to work some ground and pound but Noitalahti has wrist control.
Da Silva looking to pass the guard.
Da Silva throwing strikes from guard but Noitalahti blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva wants to control from the top but Noitalahti keeps moving.
Da Silva postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Da Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Da Silva has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Da Silva advances to half guard.
Da Silva trying to pass the guard but Noitalahti defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Noitalahti!
Da Silva throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Noitalahti because Da Silva loaded up on that one.
Da Silva wants to control the pace but Noitalahti is squirming around nicely.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Da Silva throwing strikes but Noitalahti uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Da Silva missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Da Silva is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Noitalahti sees it coming and defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santiago Da Silva dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Santiago Da Silva's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Noitalahti misses with a body kick.
Da Silva looks to land a right hand but Noitalahti moved out of range.
Noitalahti misses with an uppercut.
Noitalahti throws a big shot that misses.
Da Silva blocks the body kick.
Noitalahti misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Da Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Noitalahti swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Noitalahti throws a hook but Da Silva blocks it.
Da Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Noitalahti counters with a nice body kick.
Noitalahti throws a sloppy head kick and Da Silva moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Silva shoots in but Noitalahti avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Da Silva changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Noitalahti tries to avoid it but Da Silva manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Noitalahti to the ground. Noitalahti escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Santiago Da Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Noitalahti throws a series of strikes that have Da Silva backpedaling.
A head kick misses from Da Silva.
Da Silva on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Riku Noitalahti is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Da Silva drops his hands momentarily and Noitalahti takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Noitalahti misses with a wild combination.
Da Silva throws a wild body kick that Noitalahti sees coming a mile off.
Noitalahti moves out of range of the body kick from Da Silva.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Noitalahti ducks under a wild hook from Da Silva.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva blocks a head kick by Noitalahti.
Noitalahti avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Da Silva throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Noitalahti scores with a decent looking hook.
Noitalahti tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Da Silva tries to land a leg kick but Noitalahti saw it coming and moves away.
Noitalahti jabs Da Silva to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Noitalahti lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Santiago Da Silva's cut is getting worse.

Da Silva moves into the clinch successfully.
Da Silva prevents Noitalahti from breaking the clinch.
Noitalahti tries to break free but Da Silva pushes him back against the cage.
Da Silva can't find room to land a body shot as Noitalahti controls the action.
Da Silva avoiding damage as Noitalahti throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Noitalahti tries to break the clinch but Da Silva is controlling the position.
Da Silva stalling against the cage.
A short uppercut from Da Silva.
Da Silva keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Noitalahti's efforts to push away.

Noitalahti breaks the clinch.
Nice shot lands for Noitalahti.
Noitalahti throws a head kick that misses.
Noitalahti swats away the attempt to clinch by Da Silva.
Da Silva doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Noitalahti counters with a three punch combo that has Da Silva backing up. Da Silva nods at Noitalahti to acknowledge the strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Da Silva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Noitalahti as he avoids it easily.
Noitalahti missing with a left hand there. Da Silva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Noitalahti counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Da Silva misses with a leg kick
enabling Noitalahti to counter with a crisp jab.
Noitalahti throws a sloppy head kick and Da Silva moves out of range easily.
Noitalahti digs a good body shot into Da Silva's ribs.
Noitalahti tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Da Silva was well out of range. Poor timing from Noitalahti.
Da Silva swings for the body but Noitalahti moves out of range.
Da Silva connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Noitalahti checks a leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Da Silva looks to land a right hand but Noitalahti moved out of range.
Riku Noitalahti is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Noitalahti lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Da Silva circles away quickly and effectively.
A good leg kick by Da Silva.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riku Noitalahti showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Santiago Da Silva's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Da Silva shoots in for a takedown but Noitalahti shows good takedown defense.
Da Silva finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Noitalahti keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Noitalahti throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Noitalahti is looking to land body kicks.
Noitalahti with a nice cross.
Noitalahti tries to land a front kick but Da Silva steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Noitalahti swats away the attempt to clinch by Da Silva.
Noitalahti throws a sloppy head kick and Da Silva moves out of range easily.
Da Silva moves out of range of the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Silva throws a head kick but Noitalahti moves out of range.
Noitalahti misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Noitalahti tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Da Silva is trying hard to land a takedown here. Noitalahti sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Santiago Da Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Noitalahti throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Noitalahti catches Da Silva with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Noitalahti throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Noitalahti tries a head kick but it misses.
Noitalahti misses with a hook.
Noitalahti goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Santiago Da Silva's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Da Silva throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva slips under a jab from Noitalahti.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Noitalahti jabs Da Silva to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Noitalahti on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Noitalahti throws a series of punches but Da Silva moves out of range.
Noitalahti throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Noitalahti throws a nice looking combination but Da Silva bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Da Silva moves out of range of the body kick from Noitalahti.
Da Silva throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Da Silva steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Noitalahti.
Noitalahti on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Da Silva clinches up against the cage.

Noitalahti breaks the clinch.
Noitalahti fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Da Silva manages to avoid it.
Da Silva throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Noitalahti counters with a nice low kick that buckles Da Silva's knee momentarily.
Da Silva throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Noitalahti sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The crowd cheers as Noitalahti lands an impressive looking overhand right. Da Silva doesn't seem phased though.
Da Silva fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Noitalahti avoids it really well and circles away.
Noitalahti scores with a nice strike.
Da Silva steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Noitalahti.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva looks to land a right hand but Noitalahti moved out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Noitalahti as Da Silva shoots in.
Noitalahti scores with a sloppy right hand. Da Silva should have avoided that one.

Jeez, Santiago Da Silva's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Da Silva pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Noitalahti lands with a cross.
Noitalahti works Da Silva's body with a nice hook.
Noitalahti scores with a jab to the jaw.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Santiago Da Silva's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Riku Noitalahti!