PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alberto Da Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tipene Rawhiti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tipene Rawhiti has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Da Silva
vs
Rawhiti

195 cm
25
258 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

186 cm
18
266 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alberto Da Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tipene Rawhiti!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Jorge Garcia and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rawhiti has taken the fight to the clinch.

Rawhiti breaks from the clinch.

Rawhiti looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Rawhiti is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rawhiti cracks Da Silva with a solid left hand.

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

Rawhiti postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Da Silva is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rawhiti, into his guard.
Rawhiti manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Da Silva squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rawhiti trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rawhiti takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Rawhiti is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Da Silva has managed to escape the submission attempt.
You get the feeling that Da Silva really doesn't like being in this position too much.
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.
Da Silva is looking to get to half guard.
Da Silva is squirming around, avoiding Rawhiti's attempts to control the action.
Rawhiti lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rawhiti looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Rawhiti 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.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rawhiti looking to control and managing it successfully.

Rawhiti working for a guillotine from mount but Da Silva is in no mood to give up.
Rawhiti sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Da Silva wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rawhiti landing strikes, looking to finish!
Rawhiti unloading with bombs!
Da Silva is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Rawhiti has eaten all the pies!
Rawhiti lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Da Silva is breathing heavily.
Da Silva throwing hammer fists to the chest of Rawhiti. What's that going to do exactly?
Rawhiti landing strikes, looking to finish!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Rawhiti has hold of Da Silva's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Da Silva manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Rawhiti with the ground and pound from mount.
Rawhiti with shots to the head and body - Da Silva looks very uncomfortable down there.
Rawhiti with a couple of short strikes.

Da Silva is rocked!
Rawhiti tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Oh Da Silva is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Da Silva tries to buck Rawhiti off but he can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rawhiti lands a big elbow.
Da Silva takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Rawhiti's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tipene Rawhiti!