PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ai Za (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexio Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Lonely - The Swedish Magazines. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Za
vs
Silva

181 cm
27
141 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

170 cm
28
145 lbs
14 - 1 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)
Hellbent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ai Za!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Alexio Silva!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Atkins and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Za with a lazy takedown attempt

and Silva counters with a takedown into side control.
We've been hearing good reports from Za's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Silva tries to advance to mount but can't.
Silva is trying to ground and pound but Za uses the momentary lack of control by Silva to regain half guard.
Silva seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Za does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Silva takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Za is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Za has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Silva is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is pressing down on Za's thigh, looking to free his foot. Za is holding on for now.
Silva thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Za's head.

Za looking for submissions off his back.
Silva looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Za looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Za gets full guard.
Silva's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Za is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Silva is aware though and is defending well.
Za looking for a sweep. Not yet Za, not yet.
Za will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Silva stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Za swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Silva slips nicely into half guard.
Silva thows a huge punch but Za dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Za manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Silva postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Za is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Silva, into his guard.
Za works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Silva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Za performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Silva looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Silva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Za is looking for a kimura here.

Silva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Za is looking for a kimura but Silva is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Za to get the leverage.
Silva is staying active underneath Za, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Za seems to be looking for submissions.

Silva actively working from the bottom here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Silva manages to get to full guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Za from controlling successfully.
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.
Za pushes down on Silva's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Za is looking for a kimura but Silva is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Za to get the leverage.
Silva has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Za tries to pass to full mount but Silva defends it.
Za prevents Silva from improving his position.

Za is working for a submission of some sort.
Silva works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Za sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Silva's guard.

Za is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Silva sees it coming and defends easily.
Za is trying to control. Silva wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Silva tries to get to full guard but Za has control of the leg.

Za wants to work for an arm triangle but Silva is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Za is keen to just control but Silva is a slippery customer.

Za is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Silva sees it coming and defends easily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Za wants to work for an arm triangle but Silva is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Za is looking for a kimura but Silva is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Za to get the leverage.

Silva looking for submissions off his back.
Za looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Silva wants to improve his position but Za is controlling well.
Silva wants to get back to full guard but Za has passed into side control.
Silva is looking to reverse the position.

Za thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Silva is looking to regain half guard here but Za keeps moving and retains side control.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Za working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Silva tries to improve position but can't.
Za trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.

Za is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Silva is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

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

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Silva manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Silva tries to get to full guard but Za has control of the leg.
Za really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Za is looking for a kimura but Silva is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Za to get the leverage.
Silva makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Silva.

Silva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Za doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Za manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Za passes into half guard.

Za is looking for a kimura but Silva is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Za to get the leverage.
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 Ai Za will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Za doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Silva counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Za's guard now.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Za is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva passes Za's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Silva passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Za!
Silva looking to ground and pound but Za is blocking nicely.
Za keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Za is controlling an arm, preventing Silva from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Za is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Silva goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Za turns into him and now he's in Silva's guard.
Za works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Za is looking for a kimura but Silva is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Za to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to sweep but Za has passed to side control!
Silva tries to bench press Za off him but Za keeps the position.

Za tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Za wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Silva, who protects the arm well.

Za tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Za wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silva keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is looking to reverse the position.

Za thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Silva manages to get back to half guard.
Silva tries to get to full guard but Za has control of the leg.
Za tries to pass the half guard into mount. Silva knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Za wants to control but Silva is keeping him busy.
Silva is looking for a sweep. Za is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Za is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Za wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silva keeps working.

Za is trying to work for a kimura but Silva is defending well.
Silva wants to improve his position but Za is controlling well.

Silva looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Za tries to pass the half guard into mount. Silva knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Za is looking for a kimura but Silva is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Za to get the leverage.
Silva tries to roll over but Za keeps him under control.
Za trying to control from half guard but Silva is working away.

Silva looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Silva is breathing heavily.

Silva looking for submissions off his back.

Za seems to be looking for submissions.
Za wants to free his trapped foot but Silva is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to get back to full guard.
Za is looking to take a break and control but Silva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Silva is defending against the submission attempts here by Za.
Za works his way into side control.
Silva tries to bench press Za off him but Za keeps the position.
Silva keeps trying to improve his position.
Ai Za overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Za working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Za is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Silva is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Za trying to control the position but Silva is working away.
Silva tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Za wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Za looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Za is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Silva knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Silva is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Za off and has taken his back!

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Silva looking to hold on to the position here but Za rolls and ends up regaining guard.

Za is looking for a triangle but Silva pushes his legs off easily.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Za is keeping the position for now.
Za bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Silva's guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Za from controlling successfully.

Silva is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Za pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.
Za trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Za passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Silva is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
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 Ai Za will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Za misses with a takedown

and Silva counters with a shoot takedown. Za fights it but they end up in guard.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Za is keeping the position.
Silva throws an elbow that misses. Za uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Silva's guard. Nice move by Za!
Silva keeping moving, preventing Za from controlling successfully.
Za pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.

Za got a little sloppy there for a moment and Silva has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Za has managed to get both his arms back between Silva's legs - danger averted.
Silva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Silva has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Za can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Za wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.

Za 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.
Za stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Za trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.

Silva is looking for a triangle but Za pushes his legs off easily.
Silva wants to sweep but no luck.
Za wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Za works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Za wants to pass the guard but Silva is defending well.

Silva is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Za pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Za seems to be looking for submissions.

Za is looking for a kimura here.

Za is trying to work for a kimura but Silva is defending well.
Za is trying to control the action in half guard but Silva is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Silva moves into full guard.
Za wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Za wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Za passes Silva's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Za 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.
Well, if Za is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Za trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to get back to full guard but Za has passed into side control.
Silva is looking to regain half guard here but Za keeps moving and retains side control.
Silva manages to get back to half guard.
Za 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 looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Za trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.

Silva looking for submissions off his back.
Silva is looking to improve his position.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Za is keen to just control but Silva is a slippery customer.
Za looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Za is trying to work for a kimura but Silva is defending well.
Za trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.

Za seems to be working for a kimura but Silva defends the submission attempt.
Silva makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Silva.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Silva had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Za defends it easily.
Za passes into half guard.
Silva is not content to let Za control the position.
Silva tries to roll over but Za keeps him under control.
Za works his way into full mount!
Silva tries to reverse the position but Za maintains control.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Za trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Silva is looking to get to half guard.
Za forces the positional change into back control.
Silva is trying to break free.

Za is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Silva is defending well though. Za let's go of the attempt for now.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Za looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Silva is controlling Za 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Za is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Za is keeping the position for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silva trying to control but Za is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ai Za.
Well Za 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Ai Za!
Judge James Atkins scores the fight for Ai Za!
Judge James Glass scores the fight for Ai Za!

Ai Za wins by unanimous decision!
Ai Za took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Rebel Pride Clothing. Everything in STOCK $5 for their support in the buildup to the fight.