PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wanderlei Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Ko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva comes to the cage accompanied by Sandstorm. Ivan Ko has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Wanderlei Silva's chin.

Silva
vs
Ko

181 cm
34
194 lbs
15 - 4 - 0

225 cm
30
200 lbs
21 - 16 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 15 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Wanderlei Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Ivan Ko!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Micheangelo Fripello and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ko swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Silva works the jab nicely.
Silva lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ko circles away quickly and effectively.
Ko looks to land a left hand but Silva moved out of range nicely.
Wanderlei Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ko lands with a shot to the body.
Silva thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ko missing with a left hand there. Silva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Silva throws a hook to the side of Ko's head but Ko sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Silva is looking to land body kicks.
Silva misses with the combination.
A punch combination from Ko misses.
Decent striking displayed by Ko there.
Ko looks to score with a jab to the body but Silva is just out of range.
Ko lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Silva backs up against the cage.
Ko avoids the head kick by Silva.
Ko throws a nice looking combination but Silva bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Silva misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Silva misses with an uppercut
and Ko counters with a stiff right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ko. Silva does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ko takes a swing at Silva's ribcage but misses.
Ko ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A chopping leg kick lands by Silva.
Nice uppercut lands for Silva. That snapped Ko's head back.
Jab, jab by Silva - just one landing.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Ko checks a leg kick.
Ko thows a body shot but no joy.
Silva wants to land a leg kick but Ko is out of range.
Silva fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ko is out of range.
Ko checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
A nice combination there by Ko.
Silva misses with a body kick.
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!
Ko blocks a low kick nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Ko misses the target.
Silva drops his hands momentarily and Ko takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Silva throws a low kick but Ko moves out of range easily.
Silva takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Ko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Silva moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ko feints a jab promting Silva to slip. Ko then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Silva slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Wanderlei Silva has been cut.
Ko is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Silva showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ko.
Ko swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
Ko slips under a jab.
Ko displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Silva throws out the jab.
Ko scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Ko scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Ko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Silva.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Silva doesn't manage to clinch there - Ko circles away.
Ko takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ko slips a jab and a cross from Silva.
Ko defending well as Silva loads up on a big left hand.
Ko ducks under a wild hook from Silva.
Silva keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ko misses with a double jab.
Silva moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Ko throws a right hand that Silva ducks under and follows up with a left that Silva also avoids with ease.
Silva throws a body kick that misses.
Silva tries to bum rush Ko with a series of wild strikes but Ko uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Silva missing with a left hand there. Ko was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ko throws a right hand that Silva ducks under and follows up with a left that Silva also avoids with ease.
Silva on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Ko avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ko slips under a jab from Silva.
Ko fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ko lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Ko is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Silva throws an off balance right hand
and Ko counters with a lovely shot 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!
Silva jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Ko slips under a jab from Silva.
Silva throws a leg kick but Ko moved away.
Ko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Silva.
Ko keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Silva keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Good shot there by Ko.
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 Wanderlei Silva will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Wanderlei Silva's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Silva circles away quickly and effectively.
Wanderlei Silva is winning the standup battle so far.
The fighters circling - Silva throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ko moves out of range as Silva throws a body kick.
Ko looks to throw the jab but Silva is out of range.
Ko throws a body punch but Silva moves out of range.
Silva throws a right hand that Ko ducks under and follows up with a left that Ko also avoids with ease.
Silva throws a solid leg kick but Ko takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Silva.
A punch lands to the side of Ko 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Silva throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ko counters with a right hand to the body.
Ko on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Silva bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Ko's head backwards.
Silva takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Ko slips under a jab.
Silva looks to land a body kick but Ko moved away.
Ko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ko throws a jab but it's blocked by Silva.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ko throws a right and a left that Silva avoids nicely.
A left and a right from Silva both land. Nice combination.
Ko avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Ko has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Ko thows a body shot but no joy.
A combination from Ko does no damage.
Ko throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Silva.
Silva jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Silva pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ko is out of range and Silva settles back down.
An inside leg kick lands from Silva.
Silva throws a shot from downtown. Ko moves away and avoids it.
Ko ducks under a wild hook from Silva.
Ko avoids the head kick by Silva.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Ko in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Silva does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Ko fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Silva looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Silva moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ko is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Silva.
Ko steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Silva.
Silva avoids the body shot from Ko.
Silva misses with a head kick.
Silva swinging wildly here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ko moves out of range as Silva strikes.
Silva misses with a hook.
Silva misses with a low kick.
Silva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Silva moves away from the strike by Ko.
Silva slips under a jab.
Ko thows a body shot but no joy.
Silva fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ko misses with a hook.
Silva throws a shot from downtown. Ko moves away and avoids it.
Ko throws a right and a left that Silva avoids nicely.
Silva ducks under a wild hook from Ko.
Ko blocks the body kick.
Silva goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Ko thows a body shot but no joy.
Silva throws a chopping leg kick but Ko manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ko paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ko's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Ko duly obliges.
A nice combination there by Silva.
Ko bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Silva throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ko scores with a body shot.
Silva staying out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ko works the jab nicely.
Silva throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sloppy strikes from Ko. Those never looked like landing.
Ko throws a series of punches but Silva moves out of range.
Ko is breathing heavily.
Silva scoring well with a low kick there.
Silva will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Silva misses with a low kick.
Silva tries to clinch there but Ko circles away.
Silva misses with a lunging right hand
and Ko counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Ko throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Silva.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A big left from Silva misses.
Silva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Silva misses with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Silva dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Wanderlei Silva's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Ko throws a shot from downtown. Silva moves away and avoids it.
Silva throws a poor cross that misses
and Ko counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ko just misses with a punch to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Ko. Those never looked like landing.
A decent looking cross lands there for Ko.
Silva throws a series of punches but Ko moves out of range.
Silva turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ko has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Silva.
Silva lets loose with a powerful body kick. Ko will feel that in the morning.
Silva fails to land with a series of punches.
Silva throws a sloppy head kick and Ko moves out of range easily.
Silva throws a head kick that misses.
Ko misses with a straight right.
Ko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Silva uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ko.
A telegraphed right hand from Silva misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Silva was well out of range. Poor timing from Ko.
Ko jabs Silva right on the nose. Silva blinks but takes it well.
Silva swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Silva was well out of range. Poor timing from Ko.
Silva throws a body kick that misses.
Silva misses with a low kick.
Silva staying out of range there.
Ko misses with a body shot.
A punch combination from Ko misses.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ko paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Silva lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Ko avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ko misses with a body shot.
Ivan Ko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a solid leg kick but Ko takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Silva.
Silva lands a two punch combo.

Silva forces Ko back against the cage and clinches.
Ko working aggressively here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Ko tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Silva tries to clinch up.
Ko fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Silva manages to avoid it.
Silva connects with a leg kick. Ko looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Silva misses with a few strikes there.
Wanderlei Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ko swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Silva counters with a body kick.
Silva tries to land a leg kick but Ko saw it coming and moves away.
Silva misses with a head kick.
Ko scores with a decent looking hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
No joy there for Silva, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Silva lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Silva throws a low kick but Ko moves out of range easily.
Silva tries to work over Ko's front leg with a kick but Ko checks it.
Ko scores with a one two! Silva had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Wanderlei Silva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Silva.
Ko displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Silva throws out the jab.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ko throws a series of punches but Silva avoids them all with ease.
Silva throws a jab but it's blocked by Ko.
An inside leg kick lands from Silva.
Silva is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Ko's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Silva throws a head kick but Ko moves out of range.

Silva gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ko misses with a punch on the inside.
Ko swings wildly with an uppercut but Silva uses good head movement to avoid it.
Silva blocks an uppercut.

Silva breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Silva looks to land a combination but Ko avoids it well.
Ko takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Ko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Silva.
Silva darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Ko is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Silva rather than just go for the knockout.
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 sizes up Ko with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Ko throws a series of punches but Silva moves out of range.
Ko uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Silva.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wanderlei Silva showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Silva 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wanderlei Silva!
A pretty intense looking Wanderlei Silva took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.