PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Fernando Balestra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ervilha Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Balestra
vs
Silva

177 cm
27
135 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

160 cm
18
147 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fernando Balestra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ervilha Silva!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Mauricio Rocha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crunch! Silva slams his shin into Balestra's torso.
Balestra shoots for a takedown but Silva saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice sprawl there from Silva as Balestra shoots in.
Balestra is looking to clinch.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Balestra really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Balestra fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fernando Balestra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva misses with the combination.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Silva, right into the meat.
A nice inside leg kick there by Silva. That's going to slow Balestra down.

Balestra feints and as Silva raises his hands in defense, Balestra changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Balestra is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Fernando Balestra wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Balestra changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Silva tries to avoid it but Balestra manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Silva to the ground. Silva escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Balestra fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Silva throws a right and a left that both miss.

Balestra drives through with a takedown into guard.
Balestra is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balestra sitting in guard here, content to control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Fernando Balestra.
Silva throws a right hand that Balestra ducks under and follows up with a left that Balestra also avoids with ease.
Silva throws a wild body kick that Balestra sees coming a mile off.
Balestra tries a low kick but Silva avoids it.
Balestra shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Silva but Silva pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Silva slaps away a takedown attempt from Balestra, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Balestra throws a head kick but Silva moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva delivers a nice body kick.
Silva scoring well with a low kick there.
Silva scores with a jab to the body.
Balestra throws a head kick that misses.
Good leg kick by Silva there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Silva misses with a body shot.
Balestra tries for a takedown but Silva sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Balestra has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Silva.
Balestra takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Silva lands with a kick to the temple. Balestra shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Balestra pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Balestra has managed to clinch.
Balestra can't find room to land a body shot as Silva controls the action.
Silva is trying to break the clinch but Balestra has him pressed against the cage.

Balestra successfully pulls guard.
Balestra trying to control the position here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Silva tries a head kick but it misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silva throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
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 Fernando Balestra will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Balestra fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Balestra clinches with his opponent.
Balestra tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Silva smiles and moves away.
Silva scores with a spinning back kick!
Silva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Balestra misses with a hook
and Silva counters with a good low kick that Balestra was not able to check.
Good leg kick by Silva there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Silva checks the leg kick.
Silva cracks Balestra with an open hand slap.
Silva is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Balestra's head.
Nice sprawl there from Silva as Balestra shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fernando Balestra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ervilha Silva seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A right-left combo lands from Silva.
Balestra shoots in and drives through. Silva sprawls well.
Silva lands with a thumping leg kick.
Silva just misses with a punch to the body.
Balestra has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Silva.
Balestra tries to clinch up.
Silva ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Balestra moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balestra misses with a body kick.
No luck for Balestra with that takedown attempt.
Balestra takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Balestra looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Silva plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Balestra shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Silva's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Balestra is stalling in the full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Fernando Balestra.
Balestra tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balestra is looking to clinch but Silva is avoiding it.
Silva dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Balestra. That did some damage!
Silva is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Balestra rather than just go for the knockout.
Silva throws a front kick that sends Balestra stumbling back into the cage.

Balestra shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Silva manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Balestra throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Silva works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Balestra accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Balestra here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balestra is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Balestra 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.
Balestra is stalling in the full guard.
Silva really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Balestra. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balestra throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fernando Balestra dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Balestra closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Silva did well to prevent Balestra getting side control.
Balestra performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Balestra is working for a submission of some sort.
Balestra is pressing down on Silva's thigh, looking to free his foot. Silva is holding on for now.
Silva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balestra is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Fernando Balestra has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Balestra throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's two 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.
Balestra wants to clinch.
Balestra throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Ervilha Silva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Balestra manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Silva on his heels. He'll look to pass Silva's guard now, I'm sure.
Balestra slips nicely into half guard.
Balestra content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Balestra in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Silva tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Balestra!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Fernando Balestra!