PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Solomon Burke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sully Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burke comes to the cage accompanied by Discoboys - I came for you. Silva is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Can't Believe. The key to victory for Solomon Burke has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Burke
vs
Silva

188 cm
18
192 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
185 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Solomon Burke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sully Silva!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burke shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Silva as he avoids it easily.
Burke lets loose with a powerful body kick. Silva will feel that in the morning.
Burke throws a shot from downtown. Silva moves away and avoids it.
Burke looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Silva slips under a jab from Burke.

Burke instigates a clinch.
Burke tries to score a body lock takedown but Silva shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Solomon Burke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva goes for a takedown in the clinch but Burke prevents it.
Silva drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Burke misses with a knee strike.

Burke breaks the clinch.
Burke misses with a head kick.
Burke checks a leg kick.
Burke tries to clinch up.
Burke tries to close the distance and clinch up but Silva swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Burke looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Burke lands a head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Burke.
Burke shoots for a takedown but Silva saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Burke looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Burke.
Burke pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Burke tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Silva clinches up against the cage.
Silva keeps control of Burke as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Burke connects with a knee to the head.

Burke manages to break the clinch.

Silva changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Burke looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Silva scores with a couple of short elbows.
Silva is working Burke over with some ground and pound from side control.
Burke manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Silva.
Burke wants to sweep but Silva has passed to side control!

Silva decides to stand back up. Silva steps back and let's Burke get back to his feet.
Burke misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Silva changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Burke looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Silva tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Silva has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Burke is looking for a sweep.
Burke gets back to half guard.
Burke makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Burke.
Silva has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burke trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Burke working for a triangle but Silva defends it easily.
Burke is breathing heavily.
Silva prevents Burke from getting back to his feet.
Silva trying to control but Burke is working from the bottom.
Burke wants to sweep but no luck.
Burke trying to keep a closed guard but Silva is proving a slippery customer.
Burke looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Burke looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Silva puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Silva prevents Burke from improving his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Silva circles away from the clinch attempt

and Silva counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Burke!
Silva prevents Burke from getting the reversal.
Burke tries to improve his position but instead Silva has taken his back!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Burke defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Silva doesn't have the hooks in and Burke manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sully Silva dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

No luck for Silva with that takedown attempt.
Burke thows a left - swing and a miss!
Burke lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Burke explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Burke tries a head kick but it misses.
Burke shoots and misses

and Silva counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Burke looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Burke moves into full guard.
Silva pushing down on Burke's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Burke makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Burke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva stopping the sweep attempt from Burke.

Burke is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Burke working a defensive guard here.
Silva connects with a couple of short punches.

Burke had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Silva is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Burke Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Silva's back instead.

Burke has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Burke tries to keep control of the position but Silva is staying busy.

Burke looking to break Silva's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Silva remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Burke will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Burke is controlling the position but Silva somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Burke throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Silva wants to control but Burke is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Burke is looking to advance position but Silva won't allow it.
Silva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burke wants to pass to mount but Silva is defending the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Burke misses with a combination

and Silva counters with a takedown into side control.
Burke is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Burke is trying to work for a sweep but Silva has mounted him!
Silva controlling his opponent.
Sully Silva has got the better of the ground game so far.
Burke is trying to escape the mount.

Silva get's back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Burke throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Silva.
Burke lands with a nice body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Burke shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Silva counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Silva is looking for a kimura here.
Burke on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Burke trying to get back to full guard but Silva takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

Silva stands up from mount. Strange move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sully Silva will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Silva shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Silva wants to pass to mount but Burke is defending the position.
Burke is staying active underneath Silva, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Burke is trying to control but can't.

Burke looking for submissions off his back.
Burke is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Burke.
Silva prevents Burke from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Burke to stand up.
Burke just misses with a punch to the body.
Burke tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Burke looks to land a body kick but Silva moved away.
Solomon Burke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Burke.
Burke tries a head kick but it misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Burke looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A combination from Burke does no damage.

Silva scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Burke keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burke is trying to improve his position.

Silva looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Burke is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Silva asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Burke sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Silva wants to stand up but Burke is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burke wants to control but Silva is keeping busy.
Burke works his way to full guard. Good work.
Burke is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Burke is looking for a kimura here.
Silva is trying to stand up here but Burke is controlling him well.

Silva is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Burke pulls his head out easily.
Silva trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
The fighters are battling for position here. Silva manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Burke 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.
Burke wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.

Silva is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Solomon Burke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Burke throwing strikes but missing.

Silva has his foot on Burke's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Burke works his way back into a safe position though.
Burke wants to stand but Silva is controlling his posture from full guard.

Silva had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Burke is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Silva Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Burke's back instead.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sully Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Silva 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sully Silva!