PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mikko Rourke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rourke comes to the cage accompanied by Rolling Stones - Paint it black. Silva is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: BLUNT- The Iron Maiden. 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.

Rourke
vs
Silva

182 cm
30
196 lbs
22 - 11 - 1

186 cm
33
195 lbs
27 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Syndicate Nutrition (DUS)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Mikko Rourke!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matt Silva!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, John Mangel and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva looks to land a left hand but Rourke moved out of range nicely.

Rourke looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Silva!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rourke lands with some strikes.
Silva tries to hold on but Rourke postures up.
Rourke misses with a head shot.
Silva tries to hold on but Rourke pushes him away.
Rourke controlling from mount.
Rourke punishing his opponent with strikes.
Silva holds on, trying desperately to control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Silva is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rourke postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Silva looks a forlorn figure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva is trying desperately to improve position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rourke lands a heavy elbow.
Rourke avoids the attempt from Silva to control.
Rourke prevents Silva from getting the reversal.
Rourke dominating with strikes here.
Silva is trying desperately to improve position.
Rourke postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Silva looks a forlorn figure.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
BOOM! Rourke connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Rourke prevents Silva from getting the reversal.
Rourke trying to control but Silva is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rourke putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Silva is trying to escape the mount.
Rourke connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Rourke controlling the pace for now.
Silva tries to hold on but Rourke pushes him away.
Rourke throwing strikes here but Silva is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Silva is in all sorts of trouble here.
Silva is in a horrible position here. Rourke smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Silva regains half guard.
Silva wants to improve his position but Rourke is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rourke trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.
Rourke is thwarting Silva's attempts to control the position.
Silva is looking for a sweep. Rourke is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Rourke seems to be looking for submissions.

Rourke is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Silva as he works his way to full guard.
Rourke throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Rourke is proving a slippery customer.
Silva avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rourke accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rourke in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rourke wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.
Silva seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Silva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Silva holds on and takes a little breather.
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.
Rourke missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rourke throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silva has Rourke pulled in close to control his posture.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Matt Silva wasn't active enough on the ground.
Silva staying out of range there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikko Rourke dominated that round.
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.

Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rourke paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Silva moves out of range of the strikes.
Silva lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Silva swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rourke lands a jab to the nose.
Silva throws a lazy right hand but Rourke sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rourke as he jumps to the side.
Rourke uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Silva.
Silva throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
No joy there for Silva, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Silva thows a left - swing and a miss!
Silva shoots in for a takedown but Rourke shows good takedown defense.
Rourke thows a body shot but no joy.
Rourke throws a series of punches but Silva avoids them all with ease.
Rourke throws a head kick but Silva moves out of range.
Rourke lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rourke loads up on a big right hand but Silva slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rourke waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Silva.
Matt Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rourke shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Silva as he avoids it easily.
Rourke's jab looks to have found its range, popping Silva under the eye.
Silva tries to clinch but Rourke is having none of it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Silva is defended easily by Rourke.
Mikko Rourke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Silva.
Silva takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Silva throws a body punch but Rourke moves out of range.
Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rourke fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rourke throws a lazy right hand but Silva sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Silva throws a shot to the body.
Rourke throws a good cross that connects.
Rourke lands a right hook to the body.
Rourke misses with a hook. Silva ducked under it nicely.
Rourke shoots in but no luck this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva thows a body shot but no joy.
Silva closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva throws a lazy right hand but Rourke sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
That kick from Rourke tenderised Silva's leg. Silva is trying to keep his angry face on.
Mikko Rourke is winning the standup battle so far.
Silva swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rourke circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rourke throws a head kick but Silva moves out of range.
Rourke smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Silva gets a takedown into half guard.
Silva throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rourke to regain full guard.
Rourke looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Silva scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rourke has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Silva off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Rourke staying out of range there.
Rourke throws a sloppy body shot
and Silva counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rourke misses with a straight right.
Silva pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Silva is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rourke sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Silva throws a poor cross that misses
and Rourke counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rourke swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Silva walks into a stiff left hand from Rourke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rourke tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Silva was well out of range. Poor timing from Rourke.
Rourke takes a swing at Silva's ribcage but misses.
Silva throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Silva fails with the takedown.
Silva takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Rourke scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice defenses there by Silva.
Rourke misses with a hook.

Rourke tries to keep at a distance but Silva has taken the fight into the clinch.

Silva pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rourke scores with a crisp jab that stopped Silva in his tracks.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Silva moves out of range as Rourke strikes.
Rourke missing with a left hand there. Silva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Silva checks a low kick from Rourke.
Rourke throws a jab when Silva was well out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mikko Rourke will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Silva missing with a left hand there. Rourke was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Rourke.
A looping hook to the body misses from Silva. Rourke does a little dance to reset his feet.
Silva misses with a body shot.
Silva throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rourke moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Rourke ducks under a wild hook from Silva.
Silva throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rourke sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Silva lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rourke circles away quickly and effectively.
Rourke swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Silva.
Silva works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Silva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Silva on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rourke. Rourke obviously looking to wear him down.
Silva throws a hook to the side of Rourke's head but Rourke sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Silva takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A jab from Rourke misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Rourke swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Silva misses with an uppercut
and Rourke counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Silva blocks a head kick by Rourke.
Rourke throws out a loose jab but Silva uses good head movement to avoid it.
Silva misses with a wild body shot.
Rourke swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
Rourke ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
That kick from Rourke tenderised Silva's leg. Silva is trying to keep his angry face on.
The fighters circling - Rourke throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Silva looks to score with a jab to the body but Rourke is just out of range.
Rourke throws a nice looking combination but Silva bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rourke lands a nice leg kick that just misses Silva's sensitive parts.
Rourke blocks a jab.
Rourke darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Rourke connects with a jab.
Silva moves out of range as Rourke strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rourke connects with the punch.
Rourke with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Silva to score with a decent uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A jab from Rourke misses.
Rourke with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Silva tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Rourke scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
A swing and a miss from Rourke.
Rourke swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Silva moves out of range of the strikes.
Rourke throws a jab but it's blocked by Silva.
A jab from Rourke does it's job there.
Rourke missing with a left hand there. Silva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Silva looks to land a right hand but Rourke moved out of range.
Silva throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rourke sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A big right from Rourke misses.
Rourke catches Silva with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to clinch.
Silva throws a body punch but Rourke moves out of range.
Rourke connects with a solid leg kick.
Silva walks into a jab.
Rourke misses with a hook. Silva ducked under it nicely.
Silva swinging wildly here.
Silva's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Rourke keeps Silva at a distance using the push kick.
Silva showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rourke.
Silva looks to throw the jab but Rourke is out of range.
Rourke fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Silva manages to avoid it.
Rourke slips a straight right by Silva.
Rourke defending well as Silva loads up on a big left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Rourke.
Silva on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Silva looks to score with a jab to the body but Rourke is just out of range.
Silva misses with a jab to the body
and Rourke connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Rourke.
Silva tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rourke was well out of range. Poor timing from Silva.
Rourke fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rourke blocks the body kick.
Silva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rourke lands a slapping body shot.
Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice defenses there by Silva.
Silva on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Silva misses with an uppercut
and Rourke counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Silva on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Rourke throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Rourke keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikko Rourke clearly takes that round.
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.

No luck for Rourke with that takedown attempt.
Rourke misses with a looping left.

Silva shoots in and bounces Rourke off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Rourke looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Silva looking to sit in guard and control but Rourke gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Silva pulls Rourke in to control the position.
Silva is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rourke is looking to control Silva's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rourke avoid being mounted?
Silva thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Silva winds up and cracks Rourke with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Silva prevents Rourke from improving his position.
Rourke is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Silva's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Silva's back!
Silva tries to break free.
Silva tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Silva sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rourke looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Rourke is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rourke seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Silva does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Silva tries to get to full guard but Rourke has control of the leg.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rourke throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rourke slips a nice elbow through Silva's hands, connecting with Silva's forehead.
Nice strikes from Rourke there.
Rourke throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Rourke looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Silva is pressing down on Rourke's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rourke throws a big right hand that misses.
Rourke slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rourke looking to pass the guard.
Rourke throws a big elbow that misses.
Silva has Rourke pulled in close to control his posture.
Rourke missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rourke trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rourke trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rourke trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Silva takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Silva blocks a jab.
Rourke slips under a jab.
Rourke connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Silva crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Rourke - the referee stops the clock and Silva gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Rourke. Silva manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Rourke ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Silva paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rourke throws a hook but Silva avoids it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva drops his hands momentarily and Rourke takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Silva ducks under a wild hook from Rourke.
No luck for Silva with that takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Mikko Rourke will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Rourke moves forwards but Silva connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rourke throws out a loose jab but Silva uses good head movement to avoid it.

Silva clinches up with Rourke and pushes him back against the cage.
Rourke has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Rourke breaks the clinch.

Silva gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Silva has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

Silva breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rourke uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Silva.
A big right from Rourke misses.
Silva shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Silva closes the distance and clinches.
Rourke wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Rourke gets control of Silva's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rourke will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Rourke is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Silva defends well.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Rourke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva cracks Rourke with a solid left hand.
Rourke utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Silva loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Rourke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Rourke kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Matt Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rourke is looking for a triangle but Silva pushes his legs off easily.
Silva in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Silva throws a big elbow that misses.
Rourke preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Silva throwing strikes from guard but Rourke blocks nicely.
Silva throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Rourke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Silva thows a huge punch but Rourke dodges it nicely.
Silva working Rourke over with strikes.
Silva thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rourke's head.
Silva looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Silva throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rourke is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Silva lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rourke is trying to get back to full guard.
Mikko Rourke is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silva missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Silva throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rourke tries to get to full guard but Silva has control of the leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rourke has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 49:46
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 49:46
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikko Rourke!
Mikko Rourke is the new middleweight champion!
Mikko Rourke very nearly forgot to thank Perkele! amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.