PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Cerqueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thalies Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cerqueira comes to the cage accompanied by CPM 22 - Dias Atrás. Silva has chosen Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Cerqueira
vs
Silva

187 cm
20
193 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
20
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Team S.W.A.T.

No Shit Nutrition

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Cerqueira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thalies Silva!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Daniel Cesar and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Cerqueira.

Cerqueira looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Silva!
Silva tries to hold on but Cerqueira postures up.

Cerqueira goes for an armbar but Silva turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Silva.
Cerqueira looking for a sweep. Not yet Cerqueira, not yet.
Silva wants to stand but Cerqueira is controlling his posture from full guard.

Cerqueira is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Cerqueira is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Cerqueira had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Silva is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Cerqueira Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Silva's back instead.
Silva manages to reverse the position and now he's in Cerqueira's guard. Nice work there by Silva.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cerqueira keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.

Silva drops back looking for a leg! Cerqueira is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cerqueira manages to kick Silva off! Silva jumps back into Cerqueira's guard.

Cerqueira throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Silva is looking to stand up but Cerqueira won't let him.
Cerqueira bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Silva's guard.
Cerqueira wanted to stand there but Silva had control of the position.
Cerqueira won't allow Silva to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Cerqueira is proving a slippery customer.

Cerqueira is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Cerqueira is breathing heavily.
Silva manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Cerqueira is looking to improve his position but Silva isn't that keen on the idea.
Silva wants to control the pace but Cerqueira is squirming around nicely.
Cerqueira is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cerqueira blocking the ground and pound.
Cerqueira manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Cerqueira is looking for a sweep. Silva is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cerqueira moves into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cerqueira looking for a guillotine here but Silva defends easily.

Cerqueira is looking for a triangle but Silva pushes his legs off easily.
Cerqueira keeping full guard, as Silva tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva preventing the sweep.
Cerqueira is working hard here to advance position.
Cerqueira manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Silva gets back to half guard.

Silva actively working from the bottom here.

Cerqueira decides to return to a standing position.

Cerqueira has taken the fight to the clinch.
Silva avoids the elbow strike from Cerqueira, against the cage.
Cerqueira has Silva pressed against the cage.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Cerqueira dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cerqueira tries to clinch up.

Cerqueira rushes Silva and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cerqueira looking to throw knees to the head but Silva is blocking nicely.
Cerqueira misses with an elbow strike.
Cerqueira with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva blocks an elbow strike from Cerqueira.
Cerqueira tries a knee to the head but Silva blocks it.
Silva avoids the elbow strike from Cerqueira, against the cage.
Silva crunches a lovely knee into Cerqueira's ribcage.
Silva scores a nice knee to the body.
Cerqueira prevents Silva from breaking the clinch.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Cerqueira misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Silva.
Cerqueira keeps control of Silva as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva looking to stall.
Cerqueira tries to stall but Silva uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Silva avoids the elbow strike from Cerqueira, against the cage.

Cerqueira breaks from the clinch.

Cerqueira closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cerqueira lands in his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Cerqueira drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Silva dives on top into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva won't allow Cerqueira to get back to his feet.
Silva wants to control from the top but Cerqueira keeps moving.

Cerqueira working for a triangle but Silva defends it easily.
Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Cerqueira is retaining full guard.

Cerqueira looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Cerqueira has his foot on Silva's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Silva works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cerqueira is looking to stand up but Silva isn't so interested in that idea.
Silva wants to control from the top but Cerqueira keeps moving.

Cerqueira looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cerqueira wants to stand but Silva is controlling the position.

Cerqueira throws his legs up looking for a submission but Silva uses it to pass to side control.
Cerqueira manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Silva is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Cerqueira pulls his head out easily.

Cerqueira is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
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.
Cerqueira pushes down on Silva's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Cerqueira is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Silva has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cerqueira is looking to advance position but Silva won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Silva tries to get to full guard but Cerqueira has control of the leg.

Cerqueira is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Silva defends it well.

Cerqueira is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Silva doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cerqueira.
Silva is trying to stand up here but Cerqueira is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Cerqueira dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Silva gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Cerqueira drops back, looking for a kneebar! Silva looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Silva looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Silva!
Silva controls the position.
Silva sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Cerqueira is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Cerqueira is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Silva trying to control from half guard but Cerqueira is working away.
Cerqueira is looking to improve his position.
Silva working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Cerqueira's thigh. Cerqueira counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Cerqueira is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cerqueira's guard.
Carlos Cerqueira overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cerqueira wants to sweep here but Silva controlling him for the moment.
Silva throws a strike but Cerqueira rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Cerqueira gets to his feet. Silva looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Cerqueira darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Cerqueira is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to get back to full guard.

Cerqueira is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Silva doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cerqueira.
Silva is trying to get back to full guard.
Cerqueira is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Silva!
Cerqueira works his way to his opponent's back.

Cerqueira looking for the RNC.

Silva fending off the submission attempt from Cerqueira.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Cerqueira's arms.
Silva breaks Cerqueira's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Cerqueira is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Cerqueira working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Silva doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Silva manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cerqueira keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cerqueira lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Silva!

Cerqueira looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Thalies Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Silva tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cerqueira lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Silva hang on?
Silva in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cerqueira stands up from mount. Strange move.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carlos Cerqueira showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cerqueira 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carlos Cerqueira!