PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Check (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Check has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Anderson Silva's chin.

Silva
vs
Check

187 cm
18
189 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

184 cm
22
197 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Dangerous knees
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anderson Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Check!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Frank Dennis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva is looking to clinch but Check is avoiding it.
Silva tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Check swivels and escapes.
Check avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Silva wants to clinch up but Check keeps it at a distance.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but Check shows good takedown defense.

Check drives through with a takedown into guard.

Silva is looking for a triangle but Check pushes his legs off easily.
Check wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Silva keeping full guard, as Check tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Check won't allow Silva to sweep him here.

Check drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Silva dives on top into guard.
Check looking to control but Silva passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Check looking for submissions off his back.
Check wants to get back to full guard.
Check regains full guard. Nicely done.
Check tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Check looks gassed!
Check is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Check keeping full guard, as Silva tries to pass.

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

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Silva tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Silva is looking to clinch.
Silva tries a head kick but it misses.
Anderson Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Silva moves in looking to clinch but Check pushes him off.
Silva doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Check counters with a shoot takedown. Silva fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Check manages to get himself to full guard.
Silva would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Check looking for a guillotine here but Silva defends easily.
Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Check is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Check had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Silva is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Check Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Silva's back instead.

Check is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Silva defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Check working for a choke but Silva reverses nicely into Check 's guard.
Silva slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Check regains half guard.
Check gets full guard.
Silva is pushing down on Check's leg trying to pass to half guard. Check is fighting to maintain full guard but Silva has managed to sneak the leg through.
Check is refusing to be controlled, as Silva sits in half guard.
Check is looking to improve his position.
It looks like Silva is going to stand back up.
Check works his way to full guard. Good work.

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

Silva gets to his feet. Check looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Check 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.

Silva darts in trying to clinch

and Check counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Silva's guard now.

Silva looking for a guillotine here but Check defends easily.
Check lands a couple of elbows.
Check passes Silva's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Silva is trying to get back to full guard.

Check is working for a submission of some sort.
Mike Check has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva is pressing down on Check's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Check doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Check manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Check thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Check tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.
Check passes into half guard.

Check escapes and gets back to his feet.
A clash of legs there as Check blocks the low kick.

Check drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Check tries for a kimura but Silva is defending well.
Check has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Silva is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

Check jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Silva is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Silva and Check has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Silva regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Check wants to take a breather but Silva is having none of it.
Silva moves into full guard.
Silva is trying to control the position but Check postures up.
Check trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.

Check drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Check jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Silva can't keep his opponent in guard - Check advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Silva is staying active underneath Check, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Check trying to pass the guard but Silva defending well.
Silva is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Silva trying to control here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Check darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Check wants to take a breather but Silva is having none of it.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.

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

Check is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Silva knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Check showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Silva clinches but Check breaks the clinch

and Check counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Check 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.
Check is thwarting Silva's attempts to control the position.

Silva looking for submissions off his back.
Silva is looking for a sweep. Check is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva won't allow Check to pass to mount.

Check is working for a kimura but Silva is defending it quite comfortably.

Check wants to work for an arm triangle but Silva is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Silva wants to improve his position but Check is controlling well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Check circles away from the clinch attempt

and Check counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Check.
Check pushes down on Silva's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Check 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Check trying to pass the guard but Silva defending well.

Silva is defending against the submission attempts here by Check.
Silva avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Check.

Check is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Silva is just riding it out for now. Check eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Check is looking for a kimura but Silva is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Check to get the leverage.
Check passes the guard and advances to mount!
Silva regains half guard.

Check is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Silva doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Check.
Check wants to take a breather but Silva is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Check seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Silva is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Mike Check!