PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Felipe Pontes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roberto Silva (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.

Pontes
vs
Silva

180 cm
26
199 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

189 cm
24
190 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

ANABOLIC **160** and LAUNDRY 95%

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Felipe Pontes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Roberto Silva!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pontes takes the fight into the clinch.
Silva tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pontes softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Silva tries to stall but Pontes uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Silva scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Pontes drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Silva gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Silva is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Pontes lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Silva backwards.
Silva has a couple of punches blocked by Pontes.
Silva pushes Pontes back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Pontes has a couple of punches blocked by Silva.
Pontes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Silva misses with an elbow strike.
Silva swings wildly with an uppercut but Pontes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Silva tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Pontes just stands there and leans against the cage.
Silva looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pontes blocks an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Pontes - that landed with a thud.
Pontes blocks an uppercut.
Pontes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pontes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pontes blocks the elbow strike.
Silva takes a shot to the head.
Silva has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Pontes avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Felipe Pontes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roberto Silva.
Silva has Pontes pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Pontes manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Pontes misses with a punch on the inside.
Pontes lands a body shot in the clinch.
Silva blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Silva stalling in the clinch but Pontes improves position.
Silva doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pontes lands a right hand that snaps the head of Silva backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pontes blocking some punches.
Silva misses with the head strike.
Silva drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pontes working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Pontes just stands there and leans against the cage.
Pontes misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pontes misses with some punches.
Pontes pushes Silva back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Pontes lands a body shot.
Silva looks gassed!
Pontes stops a takedown attempt from Silva.
Pontes lands a left hand that snaps the head of Silva backwards.
Silva is trying to maintain a safe position but Pontes gets an underhook and turns Silva into the cage.
Silva blocks a body shot from Pontes.
A right handed body shot lands from Pontes.
Pontes lands a right hand.
A short uppercut from Pontes.
Pontes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Silva's elbow.
Pontes is looking for a takedown.
Pontes lands on the inside with an uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pontes creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Silva.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pontes working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Pontes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nice body punch from Silva - that landed with a thud.
Silva goes for a takedown in the clinch but Pontes prevents it.
A head punch on the inside from Pontes fails to land.
Pontes lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Silva backwards.
Pontes lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Silva swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pontes lands a body punch.
Pontes throws a head punch that misses.
A short right from Pontes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Pontes has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Silva regains guard immediately.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Pontes trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pontes is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pontes is pushing down on Silva's leg trying to pass to half guard. Silva is fighting to maintain full guard but Pontes has managed to sneak the leg through.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Silva is not content to let Pontes control the position.
Silva taking some punishment here, with Pontes in his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felipe Pontes dominated that round.
That's time! Pontes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Pontes shoots in for a takedown but Silva shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Silva moves into the clinch successfully.
A short uppercut from Silva.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Silva is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Pontes gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Pontes.
Silva lands with a light punch inside.
Silva prevents a body shot from Pontes.
Pontes drops down looking for an ankle pick but Silva pulls his leg out and moves away.
Pontes looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Silva is fending him off so far but Pontes persists. Nope, Silva circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felipe Pontes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pontes misses with a straight right.
Pontes's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Pontes duly obliges.

Silva closes the distance and clinches.
Pontes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Silva misses with a short punch on the inside.
Silva is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Pontes has a couple of punches blocked by Silva.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva has Pontes pressed against the cage.
Silva lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Silva prevents a body shot from Pontes.
Silva looking to stall.
Pontes misses with a hook to the ribs.
Silva wants a takedown but no success here.
Pontes lands a right hand that snaps the head of Silva backwards.
Silva tries to stall but Pontes uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Silva blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pontes blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Silva tries to score a body lock takedown but Pontes shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Silva.
Silva struggles to land a body shot inside as Pontes controls his hands.
Silva throws a punch but it's blocked by Pontes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Pontes can't find room to land a body shot as Silva controls the action.
A left hand lands to the body for Pontes.
Felipe Pontes has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Silva is looking for a takedown.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Silva scores with a shot to the side of Pontes's head.
Pontes gets through Silva's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Silva blocks an uppercut.
Pontes tries to work over Silva's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Silva lands with a left to the head.
Pontes gets through Silva's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Pontes wants the takedown. Silva is fighting it off but Pontes persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Silva's guard against the cage.
Pontes trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pontes working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Pontes tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pontes is controlling him.
Silva looking to control.
Pontes trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Silva wants to stand but Pontes is controlling the position.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pontes won't allow Silva to sweep him here.
Silva wants to stand up but Pontes is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Pontes throws a big elbow that misses.
Pontes pushes down on Silva's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Pontes thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.
Pontes scoring with strikes to the body and head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pontes scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Pontes looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felipe Pontes dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Pontes will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pontes tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Silva swivels and escapes.

Silva drives through and clinches with Pontes against the cage.
Pontes scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Pontes tries to work over Silva's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Silva blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pontes misses with a punch on the inside.

Pontes is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Silva can't fight it off and eventually Pontes manages to take the fight to the floor. Silva looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Pontes postures up in Silva's guard and throws a big left but Silva blocks it.
Pontes trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Pontes advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pontes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Silva's head.
Pontes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Silva can do to turn this around?
Silva wants to get back to his feet.
Pontes throwing shots but Silva is blocking nicely.
Pontes not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pontes tries to pass to full mount but Silva defends it.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.
Pontes landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Felipe Pontes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pontes is controlling the pace.
Silva is trying to get back to full guard.
Silva regains full guard. Nicely done.
Pontes is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Silva escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pontes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pontes looking to pass the guard.
Pontes slips nicely into half guard.
Silva moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Pontes works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pontes is trying to control. Silva wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Pontes connects with a nice short shot to Silva's temple.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Roberto Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pontes works his way into full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Felipe Pontes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Pontes has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Felipe Pontes!
A relieved looking Felipe Pontes thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.