PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Roko Ionescu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ionescu
vs
Silva

182 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

174 cm
23
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Roko Ionescu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Randy Silva!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Silva.
Silva is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ionescu sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Silva shoots in looking for a takedown. Ionescu tries to sprawl out of it but Silva keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ionescu manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Roko Ionescu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randy Silva.
Silva thows a left - swing and a miss!
Silva stuffs the takedown attempt from Ionescu. Ionescu gets slowly back to his feet.
Silva shoots in but no luck this time.
Ionescu throws a head kick that misses.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ionescu paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva misses with a straight right.

Ionescu drives through and clinches with Silva against the cage.
Silva has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ionescu avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Ionescu pulls guard successfully.
Ionescu wants to sweep here but Silva controlling him for the moment.

Ionescu escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Silva gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Silva with a flurry of punches that miss.
Silva pushes down on Ionescu's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ionescu missing with punches from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ionescu keeps working.
Ionescu tries to kick Silva off but Silva keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ionescu is trying to get back to full guard.

Silva is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Silva wants to take a breather but Ionescu is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ionescu manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Silva keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ionescu stalls.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ionescu working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Ionescu is pressed up against the cage. Silva has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ionescu down to the mat. Ionescu avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ionescu misses with a double jab.
Silva tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ionescu defends well and Silva ends up having to push Ionescu into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Ionescu stops a takedown attempt from Silva.
Ionescu gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Silva.
Silva looks winded!
Silva is trying to drag Ionescu to the mat but Ionescu just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Ionescu pulls guard effortlessly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ionescu controlling the position.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Ionescu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Ionescu 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.
Silva throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Silva looking to pass the guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ionescu looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ionescu keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Ionescu can't keep his opponent in guard - Silva advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
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 Roko Ionescu will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
Ionescu shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Silva pinned against the cage. Silva gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ionescu is looking to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva swats away the attempt to clinch by Ionescu.
Silva tries to clinch there but Ionescu circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ionescu shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ionescu shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Silva pinned against the cage. Silva gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roko Ionescu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ionescu avoids it really well and circles away.
Roko Ionescu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ionescu tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Silva swivels and escapes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ionescu defends well and Silva ends up having to push Ionescu into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ionescu has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Silva uses from the top position.

Silva drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ionescu dives on top into guard.
Ionescu scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Silva throws his legs up looking for a submission but Ionescu uses it to pass to side control.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying to get back to half guard.
Silva is trying to buck Ionescu off.
Silva is not content to let Ionescu control the position.

That's four 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 sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Ionescu not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Silva is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ionescu pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ionescu slaps away a takedown attempt from Silva, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Ionescu darts in and clinches Silva up against the cage.
Silva is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ionescu gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A frustrated look appears on Ionescu's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Ionescu.

Silva gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Silva seems to be looking for submissions.
Silva is thwarting Ionescu's attempts to control the position.
Silva throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva is working for a submission of some sort.
Silva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ionescu is pressing down on Silva's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ionescu keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Ionescu controls Silva momentarily but Silva frees himself.
Ionescu can't keep his opponent in guard - Silva advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ionescu is holding on to half guard well.
Silva throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Silva tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ionescu knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

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

Silva is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Ionescu is looking to control Silva's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ionescu avoid being mounted?
Silva wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Ionescu uses the opportunity to regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva wanted to stand there but Ionescu had control of the position.

Silva is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ionescu is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ionescu has escaped and now he's on top!
Silva avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva being controlled here, momentarily.

Silva looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ionescu passes into side control.
Ionescu passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Silva!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Randy Silva.
I think Ionescu has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Randy Silva!