PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brock Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Handle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Jaicko Lawrence - Caribbean Girl . 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.

Silva
vs
Handle

188 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

170 cm
19
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Brock Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Max Handle!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Silva lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Handle circles away quickly and effectively.

Handle closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Silva did well to prevent Handle getting side control.
Handle throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Silva is staying active underneath Handle, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Handle tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Handle perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Handle wants to take a breather but Silva is having none of it.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Max Handle hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Handle throws a left and a right that both miss
and Silva counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Silva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Silva showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Handle.
Silva displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Handle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Handle stuffs the takedown attempt from Silva. Silva gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brock Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Handle shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Silva as he jumps to the side.

Silva shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Silva will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Handle is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Silva is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Handle trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva 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.
Handle trying to control but Silva postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Handle might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Silva haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Silva wants to control but Handle is keeping him busy.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Handle wants to improve his position but Silva is controlling well.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Silva wants to take a breather but Handle is having none of it.
Silva throwing shots but Handle is blocking nicely.
Handle is in trouble now - Silva has advanced to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva raining down shots from the mount!
Silva trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Handle in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Handle is looking to improve his position but Silva isn't that keen on the idea.
Handle should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Silva landing strikes, looking to finish!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Silva working for a guillotine from mount but Handle is in no mood to give up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brock Silva 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.

Handle shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Handle really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Silva. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Silva controlling the position.
Handle trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Handle is looking to stand up but Silva won't let him.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Handle from controlling successfully.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Handle scoring with punches to the head and body.
Silva looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Handle throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.
Handle must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Handle sitting in guard here, content to control.

Handle postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Silva is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Handle, into his guard.
Handle is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Handle looking to control.
Silva distracts Handle with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Handle has his feet on Silva's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Handle misses with a double jab
and Silva counters with a head kick. That will keep Handle thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Silva is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Handle's half guard.
Brock Silva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Silva takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Handle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Silva seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Silva moves nicely into side control.
Handle pushes Silva away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Silva gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Handle trying to remain calm as Silva controls from the top position.
Handle is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Silva is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Handle knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Handle is trying to buck Silva off.
Silva lands an elbow.
Handle is not content to let Silva control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva lands a nice forearm strike.
Silva scoring with punches from side control.
We've been informed that Handle has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Handle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brock Silva dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Handle blocks a head kick by Silva.
Handle throws a lazy right hand but Silva sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Silva tries to clinch there but Handle circles away.
Silva bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Handle's head.
Some wild striking there from Handle.
Handle misses with a two punch combination.
Handle looks for a takedown but Silva sprawls well.
Silva throws a sloppy head kick and Handle moves out of range easily.
Handle takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Handle misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Silva.
Nice sprawl there from Handle as Silva shoots in.
No joy there for Handle, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Handle shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Silva sprawls well. Silva wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Handle gets slowly back to his feet.
Handle misses with a jab, cross combination.
Handle checks a leg kick.
Silva fails to land the takedown.

Silva throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Handle tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Silva is in Handle's guard.
Silva won't allow Handle to sweep him here.
Silva trying to control but Handle is working from the bottom.
Handle not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Handle wants to stand but Silva is controlling the position.
Silva sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Brock Silva has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Handle swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Silva will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Silva scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Handle misses with a few strikes there.

Handle gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Handle working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Silva doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Silva manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Handle has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Silva can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Silva gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Handle as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brock Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Brock Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Handle drives through with a takedown into guard.
Handle tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.

Handle decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Silva, up you get!
Handle throws a left and a right that both miss
and Silva counters with a left and a right that stings Handle.
A punch combination from Handle misses.

Silva looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Handle preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Handle keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brock Silva showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Silva 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight for Brock Silva!
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight for Brock Silva!
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight for Brock Silva!

Brock Silva wins by unanimous decision!
A relieved looking Brock Silva thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.