PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andy Silverson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas R Callahan Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas R Callahan Jr told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Silverson
vs
R Callahan Jr

188 cm
21
186 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

188 cm
23
195 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Andy Silverson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thomas R Callahan Jr!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Mauricio Rocha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silverson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Silverson is pushing down on Callahan Jr's leg trying to pass to half guard. Callahan Jr is fighting to maintain full guard but Silverson has managed to sneak the leg through.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Silverson connects with a nice short shot to Callahan Jr's temple.

Callahan Jr actively working from the bottom here.
Silverson thows a huge punch but Callahan Jr dodges it nicely.
Callahan Jr wants to get back to his feet.

Silverson 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.
Silverson prevents Callahan Jr from improving his position.
Silverson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Callahan Jr with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Silverson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Callahan Jr is defending against the submission attempts here by Silverson.
Silverson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Callahan Jr's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silverson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Callahan Jr's head.
Callahan Jr is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Silverson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Callahan Jr to the mat! Callahan Jr manages to get full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silverson prevents Callahan Jr from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silverson cracks Callahan Jr with a solid left hand.
Silverson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Silverson lands strikes from half guard.
Callahan Jr trying to hold on to Silverson's head to control him but Silverson postures up.
Silverson working the head and body with strikes.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Silverson throwing shots but Callahan Jr is blocking nicely.
Silverson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Callahan Jr pushes Silverson off looking to stand but Silverson dives back in and keeps control.
Silverson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Callahan Jr is trying to get back to full guard.
Silverson trying to control the action but Callahan Jr is working from the bottom.
Callahan Jr wants to control but Silverson is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Silverson lands a head kick. Callahan Jr smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Callahan Jr throws a sloppy head kick and Silverson moves out of range easily.

Silverson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Silverson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Silverson lands strikes from half guard.
Silverson is breathing heavily.
Callahan Jr is trying to control but can't.

Silverson is working for a kimura but Callahan Jr is defending it quite comfortably.
Silverson wants to pass the guard but Callahan Jr is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Callahan Jr wants to get back to his feet.
Callahan Jr tries to get to full guard but Silverson has control of the leg.

Callahan Jr pushes Silverson off and gets back to his feet.
Silverson looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Silverson fails with the takedown.
Silverson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Callahan Jr looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Silverson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Callahan Jr trying to control here.
Silverson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silverson seems to be working for a kimura but Callahan Jr defends the submission attempt.
Silverson prevents Callahan Jr from improving his position.
Silverson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Callahan Jr's head.

Callahan Jr looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Silverson works his way into full mount!
Callahan Jr is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Silverson working for a guillotine from mount but Callahan Jr is in no mood to give up.
Callahan Jr wants to control but Silverson is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Silverson dominated that 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.

Silverson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Silverson lands in his opponent's guard.
Callahan Jr working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Silverson.
Silverson stops Callahan Jr from standing up.
Silverson advances position into side control!

Silverson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Silverson working the ground and pound but Callahan Jr is defending the strikes.
Andy Silverson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Silverson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silverson wants to take a breather but Callahan Jr manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Silverson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silverson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Callahan Jr working for a triangle but Silverson defends it easily.
Callahan Jr not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Callahan Jr being controlled here, momentarily.
Callahan Jr looking to hit a scissor sweep but Silverson is one step ahead there.
Callahan Jr trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Silverson stops Callahan Jr from standing up.

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

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Callahan Jr tries to clinch up.

Silverson moves into the clinch successfully.
A knee to the head by Callahan Jr.
Callahan Jr tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Silverson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Callahan Jr tries to land a knee to the head but Silverson blocks with his arms.
Silverson tries for a takedown but Callahan Jr manages to get underhooks.
Callahan Jr tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Callahan Jr misses with a knee to the head.

Silverson is trying to trip Callahan Jr. He has hold of a leg but Callahan Jr is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Silverson persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Silverson tries to free his leg and advance position but Callahan Jr is retaining full guard.
Silverson trying to control the position from guard on top but Callahan Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silverson stands up over Callahan Jr, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silverson advances to half guard.
Callahan Jr keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Callahan Jr kicks Silverson off and gets back to his feet.
Silverson shoots for a takedown but Callahan Jr saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Callahan Jr throws a head kick that half lands.
Andy Silverson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Callahan Jr wants to clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Callahan Jr as Silverson shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andy Silverson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Callahan Jr, right into the meat.
Silverson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Callahan Jr but Callahan Jr pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Callahan Jr tries to clinch up but Silverson circles away and keeps his distance.
Callahan Jr doesn't manage to clinch there - Silverson circles away.
Callahan Jr tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silverson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Silverson prevents Callahan Jr from getting the reversal.
Silverson landing shots from mount.
Callahan Jr is wriggling around trying to escape.
Callahan Jr is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Silverson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Silverson jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Callahan Jr is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Callahan Jr and Silverson has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Callahan Jr wants to get back to his feet.
Callahan Jr manages to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Silverson dominated that second round.
That's time! Silverson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Silverson scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Silverson lands with a slapping head kick.
Callahan Jr pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Silverson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Callahan Jr tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Silverson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Callahan Jr is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Silverson is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Silverson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Silverson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Silverson breaks from Callahan Jr's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Silverson jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Callahan Jr manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Callahan Jr avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Silverson.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Callahan Jr prevents Silverson from improving position.
Callahan Jr is looking to regain half guard here but Silverson keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silverson sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Callahan Jr is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Callahan Jr is trying to get back to half guard.
Silverson working away.
Callahan Jr tries to buck Silverson off but Silverson is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Callahan Jr avoids the head kick by Silverson.
Callahan Jr misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Silverson takes the fight into the clinch.
Callahan Jr is looking to control Silverson's arms but Silverson gets an underhook and turns him. Now Callahan Jr has his back to the cage.
Callahan Jr tries to break the clinch but Silverson is controlling the position.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Silverson lands a takedown into guard.
Silverson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Silverson is fighting to break Callahan Jr's control of his arms but Callahan Jr is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silverson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Silverson chips away with some ground and pound.
Callahan Jr working a defensive guard here.
Silverson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Callahan Jr works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Callahan Jr wants to sweep but no luck.
Callahan Jr avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Silverson, right into the meat.

Silverson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Callahan Jr looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Silverson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Callahan Jr looking for a sweep. Not yet Callahan Jr, not yet.
Thomas R Callahan Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Callahan Jr is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Silverson wants to pass the guard but Callahan Jr is keeping the position.
Silverson trying to move into half guard but instead Callahan Jr has managed to sweep!

Silverson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Callahan Jr is looking to work some ground and pound but Silverson has wrist control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Silverson misses with a wild combination.
Silverson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Callahan Jr throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Silverson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Callahan Jr tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silverson throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Silverson lands a decent elbow from side control.

Silverson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Callahan Jr knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Callahan Jr avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Silverson.

Silverson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Silverson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Callahan Jr gets back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andy Silverson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Silverson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andy Silverson!