PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Favalas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anderson Silva has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Silva
vs
Favalas

185 cm
22
175 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

176 cm
21
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anderson Silva!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Favalas!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Daniel Cesar and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Favalas fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Silva tries for a takedown but Favalas sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Silva stuns Favalas with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Silva ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Silva shoots for a takedown but Favalas saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Silva throws a shot to the body.
Thiago Favalas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Favalas throws a series of punches but Silva avoids them all 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.
Favalas takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Silva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Favalas as he avoids it easily.
Favalas takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Silva throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Silva fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Favalas swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Silva counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva moves out of range of the strikes.
Nice body punch from Silva.
Silva throws a combination. Favalas tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Favalas shoots in and bounces Silva off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Silva had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Favalas is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Silva Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Favalas's back instead.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Silva keeps control of the position as Favalas tries to break free.

Silva looking for the RNC.
Silva is trying to stick to Favalas's back but Favalas is turning into Silva. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Silva's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Favalas.
Favalas postures up in Silva's guard and throws a big left but Silva blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Favalas tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.
Silva avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Silva looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Favalas slips nicely into half guard.
Silva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Favalas is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Favalas missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Favalas throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Favalas sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Silva defending well though.
Favalas throwing shots but Silva is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Favalas not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Silva shoots in but Favalas avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Favalas.
Favalas misses with a double jab

and Silva counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Favalas wants to get back to his feet.

Silva is trying to work for a kimura but Favalas is defending well.
Favalas missing with punches from the bottom.
Favalas wants to get back to full guard.
Silva tries to pass to full mount but Favalas defends it.

Silva wants to work for an arm triangle but Favalas is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
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 looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Favalas is not content to let Silva control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Favalas misses with a head kick.
Favalas swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Silva counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A shot to the body from Favalas misses

so Silva counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Favalas keeping full guard, as Silva tries to pass.
Favalas is trying to control the position but Silva postures up.
Silva passes Favalas's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Silva is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Favalas is looking for a sweep. Silva is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Silva dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Silva tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Favalas swivels and escapes.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Favalas.
Silva is trying to get back to half guard.
Favalas tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Silva gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Silva slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Favalas lands a couple of digs.
Favalas stopping the sweep attempt from Silva.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Silva looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Favalas thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Favalas throws and elbow that misses. Silva uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Favalas's guard. Nice move by Silva!
Favalas wants to sweep here but Silva controlling him for the moment.
Favalas lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Silva!
Favalas sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Favalas prevents Silva from getting the reversal.
Favalas fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Favalas throwing strikes here but Silva is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Favalas throwing strikes here but Silva is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Favalas looking to ground and pound but Silva is blocking nicely.
Favalas connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Silva tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Silva regains half guard.
Silva gets full guard.
Favalas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Silva works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Silva has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Favalas can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Favalas with a flurry of punches that miss.

Silva pushes a forearm under Favalas's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Favalas is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Anderson Silva!
Anderson Silva is the new middleweight champion!