PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Felix Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michal Taranowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Taranowski's choice of entrance music: Misfits - Die, Die My Darling. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Silva
vs
Taranowski

176 cm
19
135 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

169 cm
19
130 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Felix Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Michal Taranowski!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Radbod Blank and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Taranowski misses with a takedown attempt - Silva sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Silva has taken the fight to the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Taranowski fails to land.
Silva has Taranowski pressed against the cage, preventing Taranowski from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Silva is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Taranowski breaks the clinch.
Silva tries to clinch up.

Taranowski drives through and clinches with Silva against the cage.
Silva prevents a takedown attempt there.
Felix Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michal Taranowski.

Silva gets control of Taranowski's arms and successfully pulls guard. Silva will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Silva thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Silva trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Taranowski off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Taranowski.

Taranowski drives through and clinches with Silva against the cage.
Taranowski has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Silva is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Silva really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Taranowski continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

Silva jumps into guard, dragging Taranowski to the mat.
Taranowski is fighting to break Silva's control of his arms but Silva is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Silva avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Taranowski wants to stand but Silva has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Taranowski must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Silva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Taranowski doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Taranowski manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Taranowski cracks Silva with a solid left hand.
Taranowski working some strikes from top position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Silva is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Silva avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taranowski wants to stand but Silva has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Silva is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Silva wants to stand but Taranowski is controlling the position.
Taranowski throws an elbow that misses. Silva uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Taranowski's guard. Nice move by Silva!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Taranowski can do anything to dispel that myth.
Silva stops Taranowski from standing up.
Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva stops Taranowski from standing up.
Silva wants to control from the top but Taranowski keeps moving.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Felix Silva just wasn't active enough.
Taranowski tries to clinch up but Silva circles away and keeps his distance.
Taranowski fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Felix Silva will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Silva tries for a takedown but Taranowski circles away easily
letting Taranowski counter with a right hand.
Taranowski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Taranowski is looking to clinch but Silva is avoiding it.
Silva throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Taranowski's waist but Taranowski gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Silva off to one side.
Felix Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Silva looks to clinch

and Taranowski counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Taranowski.
Taranowski is looking to work some ground and pound but Silva has wrist control.
Silva manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Poor strikes thrown by Silva there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Taranowski is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taranowski holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Silva tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Silva stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Taranowski has managed to clinch.
Silva jumps guard but Taranowski stands there with Silva around his waist. Silva gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felix Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taranowski misses with the head strike.
Taranowski working aggressively here.
Silva lands a knee to the body.
Taranowski lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Taranowski is blocking nicely.

Silva breaks from the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Silva.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Silva.
Silva tries to clinch up but Taranowski circles away and keeps his distance.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Taranowski has taken the fight to the clinch.
Silva is trying to break the clinch but Taranowski is controlling him.
Taranowski tries to pull guard but Silva forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silva keeps control of Taranowski as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taranowski pulls guard successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Taranowski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Taranowski is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Silva manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Taranowski connects with a couple of short punches.
Silva controlling Taranowski's posture.
Felix Silva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Taranowski pushing down on Silva's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Silva is pressing down on Taranowski's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Taranowski accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Silva looking to control.
Silva is pulling down on Taranowski's head. It's preventing any offense from Taranowski, at least for the moment.
Taranowski with a flurry of punches that miss.

Taranowski gets to his feet - Silva follows without any prompting.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Taranowski moves into range and clinches up with Silva.
Taranowski lands with a short punch from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Silva pulls Taranowski into guard.
Taranowski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Michal Taranowski will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Taranowski tries to clinch but Silva moves out of range.
Silva tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Taranowski counters by moving into the clinch.
Taranowski taking a breather.
Taranowski fails to pull guard.
Taranowski jumps guard but Silva stands there with Taranowski around his waist. Taranowski gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Silva manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Silva is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taranowski is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Silva lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Taranowski!

Taranowski bucks up and throws Silva to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Silva shoots in for a double leg but Taranowski sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt - Taranowski sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Taranowski is trying hard to land a takedown here. Silva sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Felix Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michal Taranowski.
Taranowski tries to clinch but Silva is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva leaves Taranowski with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Silva tries to clinch there but Taranowski circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Taranowski as Silva shoots in.

Taranowski moves into the clinch successfully.
Taranowski stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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 Taranowski walks away with a smile on his face. Silva gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Taranowski lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Silva circles away quickly and effectively.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but Taranowski shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Silva clinches with his opponent.
Silva landing knees to the body.
Silva blocks an uppercut.
Taranowski tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Taranowski wants to break the clinch but can't.

Silva pulls guard successfully.
Taranowski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Taranowski scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Silva trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taranowski throws a big elbow that misses.
Taranowski throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Silva wants to control the position but Taranowski says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taranowski prevents Silva from standing back up.
Taranowski 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.
Silva avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Taranowski.
Taranowski thows a huge punch but Silva dodges it nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taranowski throws a strike but Silva avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Taranowski wants to get up but he can't break Silva's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Taranowski throws an elbow that misses. Silva uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Taranowski's guard. Nice move by Silva!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva postures up in Taranowski's guard and throws a big left but Taranowski blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Michal Taranowski.
I think Taranowski 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michal Taranowski!
A victorious Michal Taranowski thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.