PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joel Silver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Vargas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Silver might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to My Eyes O.O. Alex Vargas is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Silver
vs
Vargas

166 cm
20
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

167 cm
18
148 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 Los Angeles, Joel Silver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alex Vargas!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vargas misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Silver shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Vargas is trying to defend but Silver finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Vargas won't allow Silver to pass to mount.

Vargas is defending against the submission attempts here by Silver.
Silver is controlling the pace.
Vargas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Silver.
Vargas is looking for a sweep. Silver is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vargas trying to control here.
Silver controlling the action here.

Silver is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silver 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.

Silver is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Vargas trying to control from the bottom.
Vargas is staying active underneath Silver, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Vargas trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silver is controlling the pace.
Vargas is looking to improve his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Vargas tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Silver swivels and escapes.
Vargas shoots in for a takedown but Silver shows good takedown defense.
Joel Silver has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Vargas.

Silver feints and as Vargas raises his hands in defense, Silver changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Silver avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Vargas looking for a guillotine here but Silver defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vargas looks winded!
Silver is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silver has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Vargas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Silver seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Vargas looking for a guillotine here but Silver defends easily.
Silver trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Silver slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Silver advances position into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vargas is trying to control Silver's posture but Silver avoids it.
Silver controls the position.
Silver's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Silver is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Vargas has escaped the position, nice work there.
Vargas managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Silver.
Vargas is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Silver off and has taken his back!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Silver tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vargas fails to advance to Silver's back.
Silver regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joel Silver dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Silver slaps away a takedown attempt from Vargas, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Vargas shoots for a double leg takedown but Silver sprawls well. He's pushed Vargas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Silver misses with a shot to the body

and Vargas counters with a takedown into side control.
Silver manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Vargas wants to get back to full guard.
Silver trying to control the pace.

Silver is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Vargas is just riding it out for now. Silver eventually gives up the hold.
Vargas is looking for a sweep. Silver is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vargas is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vargas is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Silver's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Silver's back!
Silver is in bad spot here.
Vargas gets his hands free as Silver looks to control.

Vargas is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Silver is defending well though. Vargas let's go of the attempt for now.
Joel Silver overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vargas not allowing Silver to control his hands.

Vargas is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Silver has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Silver is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Silver turns into Vargas and is now in his guard.
Silver controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vargas trying to keep a closed guard but Silver is proving a slippery customer.
Silver engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Vargas working for a triangle but Silver defends it easily.
Vargas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Silver drops back looking for a leg! Vargas is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vargas manages to kick Silver off! Silver jumps back into Vargas's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vargas trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silver is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Silver pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vargas is keeping the position for now.
Silver controlling from the top position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Silver swings for the body but Vargas moves out of range.

Silver throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Vargas tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Silver is in Vargas's guard.
Vargas controls Silver momentarily but Silver frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silver postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Silver drops back looking for a leg! Vargas is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vargas manages to kick Silver off! Silver jumps back into Vargas's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silver trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Silver trying to control but Vargas is working from the bottom.
Vargas wants to sweep but no luck.
Vargas is trying to control the position from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silver showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
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 Joel Silver will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Vargas misses with a takedown

and Silver counters with a takedown into side control.

Silver wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Vargas, who protects the arm well.
Silver is looking to take a break and control but Vargas is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Vargas is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Silver's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Silver content to control rather than advance.
Vargas wants to get back to full guard.
Vargas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Silver with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Silver prevents Vargas from improving his position.
Vargas is not content to let Silver control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Joel Silver just wasn't active enough.
Silver misses with the body kick

and Vargas counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Silver!

Vargas is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Silver has escaped the position, nice work there.
Silver gets back to half guard.
Silver won't allow Vargas to pass to mount.
Silver is controlling Vargas's trapped leg to prevent Vargas from advancing to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silver is pressing down on Vargas's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Silver keeping full guard, as Vargas tries to pass.
Silver tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Silver managing to control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Vargas tries to free his leg and advance position but Silver is retaining full guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Joel Silver wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Silver misses with a jab to the body

and Vargas counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Vargas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silver working for a triangle but Vargas defends it easily.
Silver is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Silver has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Vargas can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Vargas wants to pass the guard but Silver is keeping the position.

Vargas avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Vargas passes Silver's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silver is looking for a sweep. Vargas is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Silver has his hands clasped together around Vargas's back. He's all about the action.
Vargas tries to pass to full mount but Silver defends it.
Silver trying to control from the bottom.

Vargas is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silver keeping control of the position.

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 Joel Silver.
Well Silver 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Joel Silver!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Joel Silver!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Joel Silver!

Joel Silver wins by unanimous decision!