PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cub Swanson (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
Swanson

170 cm
22
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodrigo Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cub Swanson!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Emerson Jorge and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Swanson slips a jab and a cross from Silva.
Silva lands the left hand.
Swanson connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

It looks like Rodrigo Silva has been cut.
Swanson scores with a body shot.
Swanson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Silva moves into range and clinches up with Swanson.
Swanson wants to take the fight to the mat but Silva manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Swanson missing with knees to the body.
Swanson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Swanson dodges an elbow strike from Silva.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Swanson blocks with his arms.
Silva goes for a takedown attempt but Swanson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Swanson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Swanson closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Swanson jumps guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Swanson is keeping the position.

Silva is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Swanson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Swanson has escaped and now he's on top!
Silva wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Swanson tries to stand but Silva is controlling from the bottom.
Silva controls Swanson momentarily but Swanson frees himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rodrigo Silva wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Swanson looks to land a combination but Silva avoids it well.
Swanson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Swanson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Swanson tries a knee to the head but Silva blocks it.
Swanson stops a takedown attempt from Silva.
Swanson tries to land knees in the clinch but Silva avoids the damage to the body.
Silva avoids a wild elbow strike from Swanson.
Swanson 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.
Swanson connects with a knee to the head.

Swanson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Swanson scores with a spinning back kick!
Silva swats away the attempt to clinch by Swanson.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Swanson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A head kick from Silva lands but Swanson takes it in his stride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Swanson is defended easily by Silva.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Silva. Swanson shrugs it off though.
Swanson wants to clinch up but Silva keeps it at a distance.
A head kick from Swanson lands but Silva takes it in his stride.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silva lands a nice looking body kick.
Swanson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Swanson tries a head kick but it misses.

Silva scores a takedown into full mount!
Silva is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Swanson is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Swanson moves in looking to clinch but Silva pushes him off.

Silva rushes Swanson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Swanson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Silva.
Swanson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Swanson prevents Silva from breaking the clinch.
Swanson lands a knee to the body.

Silva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Silva throws a lazy right hand but Swanson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Swanson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Rodrigo Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Silva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Silva tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Swanson moves to clinch but Silva breaks away
and Silva counters with a thumping low kick.
Silva throws out a loose jab but Swanson uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva misses with a body shot.

Silva gets tackled into the cage by Swanson. Swanson maintains the clinch.
Silva trying to control the position but instead, Swanson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Silva into the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Swanson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Silva.
Swanson tries to throw a body punch but Silva avoids it by throwing Swanson back against the cage.
Swanson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Silva is trying to pull guard but Swanson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Swanson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Silva avoiding damage as Swanson throws knees to the body.
Swanson lands a knee to the body.
Swanson tries a knee to the head but Silva blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Swanson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Silva wants to get back to striking at distance but Swanson won't allow it.

Swanson breaks the clinch.
Silva sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Swanson throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Swanson clinches.
Swanson is pressed up against the cage. Silva has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Swanson down to the mat. Swanson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Swanson clinches.
Swanson stalls.
Cub Swanson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Good body shot from Swanson.
Silva misses with the head strike.
Swanson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Silva fails to pull guard.
Silva takes an elbow to the temple.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Swanson obliges.
Swanson looking to throw knees to the head but Silva is blocking nicely.
Silva jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Swanson walks away with a smile on his face. Silva gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Silva avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Silva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Silva dodges the punch combination from Swanson.

Swanson clinches up against the cage.
Silva changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Swanson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Swanson fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Swanson clinches with his opponent.
Silva is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Swanson just leaning against Silva, taking a breather.
Silva trying to control the position but instead, Swanson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Silva into the cage.
Swanson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Silva avoids it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Swanson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Swanson lands a knee to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Swanson unloads a knee to the mid-section.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cub Swanson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rodrigo Silva's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Swanson moves into the clinch successfully.
Swanson stalling in the clinch but Silva improves position.
Swanson missing with knees to the body.
Silva looking for a takedown.
The referee is keeping an eye on Swanson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Silva tries to pull guard but Swanson holds him up against the cage and eventually Silva drops back down to his feet.

Silva drags the fight down to the ground.
Silva wants to control the position but Swanson says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Silva is looking for a sweep. Swanson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Silva wants to control but Swanson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Swanson decides to stand up.
Silva scoring well with a low kick there.
Silva attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Swanson clobbers Silva with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Silva throws a body punch but Swanson moves out of range.
Swanson throws a nice head kick!
Swanson throws a sloppy head kick and Silva moves out of range easily.
Silva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cub Swanson seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Swanson darts in and clinches Silva up against the cage.
Swanson scores with a knee to the head.
Swanson works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Rodrigo Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Swanson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva takes a head kick and keeps coming.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Swanson connects with a jab.
Silva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Swanson shoots in for a takedown but Silva shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Silva moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Silva cracks the inside of Swanson's front leg.
Swanson throws a nice looking combination but Silva bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Silva throws a leg kick
and Swanson counters with a big head kick but Silva shrugs it off.
Silva takes one to the chin there.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Swanson sprawls well. Swanson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Silva gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Swanson moves into the clinch successfully.
Silva creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Swanson crunches a lovely knee into Silva's ribcage.
Swanson just leaning against Silva, taking a breather.
Swanson tries to land knees in the clinch but Silva avoids the damage to the body.
Silva is trying to pull guard but Swanson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Swanson crunches a lovely knee into Silva's ribcage.
Swanson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Silva after a bit of a struggle.
Swanson tries a knee to the head but Silva blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to control the position but instead, Swanson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Silva into the cage.
Silva throws an elbow but it misses.
Silva has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Swanson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Silva jumps guard but Swanson stands there with Silva around his waist. Silva gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Swanson scores a nice knee to the body.
Knees to the body from Swanson.
Swanson is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
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!
Swanson landing knees to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Swanson lands a shoulder strike.
Swanson working Silva over with knees to the body.
Cub Swanson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Swanson scores a nice knee to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cub Swanson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Swanson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cub Swanson!