PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kim ILJONG (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Silva
vs
ILJONG

195 cm
22
257 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
260 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mark Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kim ILJONG!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
ILJONG takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Silva fails to land the takedown.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
ILJONG throws a body punch but Silva moves out of range.
ILJONG misses with a jab, cross combination.
Silva fails with the takedown.

Silva takes the fight into the clinch.
ILJONG wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
ILJONG tries to break the clinch but Silva is controlling the position.

ILJONG turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Silva wants to control but ILJONG postures up.
Silva manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Silva is looking to take a break and control but ILJONG is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Silva not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is looking to stall here but ILJONG recovers full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva looking to pass the guard.
Silva trying to control but ILJONG is working from the bottom.
Silva is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because ILJONG is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
ILJONG trying to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Silva postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
ILJONG avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Silva trying to control but ILJONG is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
ILJONG misses with a body shot.
ILJONG throws a right and a left that both miss.

Silva rushes ILJONG and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Silva fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva with a knee to the head.
ILJONG wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Silva.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

ILJONG has clasped his hands together around Silva's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Silva tries to buck ILJONG off but ILJONG is having none of it.
Silva is working hard here to advance position.
Silva manages to get back to half guard.
Silva is breathing heavily.
ILJONG performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. ILJONG is working away from the top position though.
ILJONG not doing much here.
Silva tries to get to full guard but ILJONG has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kim ILJONG 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.

The fighters circling - ILJONG throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
ILJONG drops Silva with a beautiful combination! Silva stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - ILJONG is looking for the KO!

It looks like Mark Silva has been cut.
Nice body kick there by Silva.
ILJONG rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Silva moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
ILJONG wants to clinch

and Silva moves into the clinch.
Silva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
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!
ILJONG takes an elbow to the forehead.
Silva jumps guard but ILJONG stands there with Silva around his waist. Silva gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
ILJONG wants to get back to striking at distance but Silva won't allow it.
Silva wants a takedown but no success here.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva tries to score a body lock takedown but ILJONG shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva wants a takedown but no success here.
Silva fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ILJONG wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
ILJONG wants to break free but Silva has control.
ILJONG is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
ILJONG wants to break the clinch but can't.
Silva goes for a takedown attempt but ILJONG pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
ILJONG lands a jab-cross combination.
ILJONG misses with a hook.
ILJONG misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Silva.
A swing and a miss from ILJONG.
Silva uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from ILJONG.
ILJONG swings away with a body shot that misses

and Silva counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Silva is working for takedown but ILJONG is calmly controlling the position for now.
ILJONG wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Silva drops to a knee looking for a takedown but ILJONG gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but ILJONG blocks with his arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
ILJONG takes a knee right on the jaw!
Silva drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Silva pulls guard.
Silva wants to sweep but no luck.
ILJONG wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
ILJONG must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Silva wants to sweep but no luck.
ILJONG wants to stand but Silva is controlling his posture from full guard.

Silva looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but ILJONG is proving a slippery customer.

ILJONG gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Silva blocks a jab.
ILJONG jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Silva wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
ILJONG stuffs the takedown.
ILJONG throws a predictable looking body shot

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Silva.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
ILJONG stops a takedown attempt from Silva.
ILJONG stops a takedown attempt from Silva.
ILJONG is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Silva pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
ILJONG is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Silva changes levels and goes for a takedown here. ILJONG fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Silva will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Silva drives through with a takedown into guard.
Silva wants to control from the top but ILJONG keeps moving.
Silva thows a big elbow that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silva throws a big right hand that misses.

Silva drops back, looking for a kneebar! ILJONG looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. ILJONG looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from ILJONG!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kim ILJONG showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mark Silva's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Silva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with ILJONG but ILJONG pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Silva staying out of range there.

Silva darts in and clinches ILJONG up against the cage.
Silva fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Silva is working for takedown but ILJONG is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
ILJONG wants to break free but Silva has control.
Silva landing knees to the body.
Silva keeps control of ILJONG as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva tries to pull guard but ILJONG holds him up against the cage and eventually Silva drops back down to his feet.
ILJONG takes an elbow to the forehead.
ILJONG stops a takedown attempt from Silva.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
ILJONG blocks an elbow strike.
Silva has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. ILJONG avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Silva is trying to work for a single leg takedown but ILJONG pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ILJONG is trying to break the clinch but Silva has him pressed against the cage.
Silva lands an elbow inside that ILJONG shrugs off.
Silva goes for a takedown attempt but ILJONG pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
ILJONG fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Silva manages to avoid it.

Silva has closed the distance and engaged ILJONG in a clinch.

Silva jumps guard.

Silva escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. ILJONG gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
ILJONG throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Silva works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
ILJONG showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Silva working for a triangle but ILJONG defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
ILJONG has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Silva is proving hard to escape from.
Silva controls ILJONG momentarily but ILJONG frees himself.

Silva has his foot on ILJONG's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. ILJONG works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.
Silva bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in ILJONG's guard.
Silva looking to sit in guard and control but ILJONG gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Silva is trying to keep ILJONG in close.

Silva is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Silva has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. ILJONG 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.
A lull in the action here.
Silva is looking for a sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Silva showed his dominance in that final round.
I think ILJONG 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kim ILJONG!