PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rickson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jarppi Virne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, system of a down - violent pornography. Virne comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Jeff van Dyck - Soldier's Chant kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Rickson Silva has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Silva
vs
Virne

200 cm
36
233 lbs
30 - 28 - 2

187 cm
35
262 lbs
18 - 22 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Heavy handed

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 30 - 28 - 2, fighting out of London, Rickson Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 22 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarppi Virne!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Paul Tew and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Virne feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Silva escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Virne gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Virne passes Silva's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Silva wants to improve his position but Virne is controlling well.

Virne is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Silva trying to hold on to Virne's head to control him but Virne postures up.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva actively working from the bottom here.
Silva has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Silva wants to control but Virne is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Silva tries to roll over but Virne keeps him under control.

Virne is trying to work for a kimura but Silva is defending well.
Virne is looking to advance position but Silva won't allow it.

Silva is defending against the submission attempts here by Virne.
Silva is not content to let Virne control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to improve his position but Virne is controlling well.
Silva has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Virne is working away from the top position though.
Virne looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Still in half guard, Virne seems content to control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Silva is trying to get back to full guard.
Silva is not content to let Virne control the position.

Virne is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virne trying to control from half guard but Silva is working away.
Silva is concentrating on defense, preventing Virne from advancing position.
Virne passes the guard and advances to mount!
Virne looking to control but Silva is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to hold on but Virne pushes him away.
Silva can't escape the position.
Virne is trying to control here but Silva has managed to regain half guard.
Silva trying to control from the bottom.
Silva is looking for a sweep. Virne is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Virne is looking to take a break and control but Silva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Virne is controlling the pace.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Silva is in trouble now - Virne has advanced to mount!
Silva tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Virne looking to control but Silva is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Silva is trying desperately to improve position.
Silva gets back to half guard.
Silva trying to control here.
Silva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Silva manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Virne wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Silva is trying to control the position but Virne postures up.
Virne is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Silva has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Virne is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Silva.
Silva regains half guard.
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.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Silva is not content to let Virne control the position.

Silva looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Virne in particular looking to stall.
Virne is keen to just control but Silva is a slippery customer.

Jarppi Virne has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Virne misses with a takedown

and Silva counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Virne's guard now.
Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Virne is retaining full guard.
Silva looking to sit in guard and control but Virne gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Silva looking for a sweep. Not yet Silva, not yet.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Virne looking to sit in guard and control but Silva gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Virne keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Our spies down at at LOD Gym Now with StandUP inform us that Virne has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Silva pushes down on Virne's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Silva seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Virne does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Silva is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Virne works his way to full guard. Good work.
Silva wants to control from the top but Virne keeps moving.
Virne looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Virne is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Silva slips nicely into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Virne has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Silva is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jarppi Virne will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Virne is defended easily by Silva.
Virne fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Virne looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Silva is fending him off so far but Virne persists. Nope, Silva circles away and we're back to standing.
Rickson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jarppi Virne.

Virne bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Silva tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Virne wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Silva seems a little lost for a moment, as Virne dominates the positioning.
Silva is trying to control Virne's posture but Virne avoids it.
Virne moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Virne wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silva keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is trying to get back to half guard.
Virne tries to advance to mount but Silva denies him.
Virne controls the position.
Silva is not content to let Virne control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jarppi Virne was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Virne will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Virne changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Silva looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Virne wants to control for a moment but Silva uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Virne wants to take a breather but Silva is having none of it.
Silva tries to get to full guard but Virne has control of the leg.
Silva has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Virne is working away from the top position though.
Silva tries to get to full guard but Virne has control of the leg.
Virne is pressing down on Silva's thigh, looking to free his foot. Silva is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Virne 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. Virne eventually gives up the hold.
Virne is trying to control the action in half guard but Silva is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Virne is thwarting Silva's attempts to control the position.
Virne looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Virne shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Silva as he avoids it easily.
Virne shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Silva counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Virne keeping full guard, as Silva tries to pass.

Silva drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Silva jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silva wants to control from the top but Virne keeps moving.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Virne is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Silva will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Virne keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Virne not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Virne is keeping the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Silva leaves Virne with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Virne shoots in but no luck this time.
Virne looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Virne is breathing heavily.
Silva keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Virne closes this distance looking for a takedown but Silva circles away.
Virne shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Silva counters with a single leg into guard. Virne didn't expect that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Silva wants to control from the top but Virne keeps moving.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Virne keeping full guard, as Silva tries to pass.
Silva wants to control from the top but Virne keeps moving.
Silva passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Silva trying to control the position but Virne is working away.
Silva is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Virne is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Virne is trying to improve his position.
Virne manages to get back to half guard.
Virne is not content to let Silva control the position.
Silva trying to control the pace.
Silva is trying to control the action in half guard but Virne is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Rickson Silva.
Silva defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Virne.
Virne fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Virne gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Silva counters with a single leg into guard. Virne didn't expect that.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Virne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Virne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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 Rickson Silva will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Horrible takedown by Virne or perhaps it was just good defense by Silva which made him look bad.
Virne misses with a takedown

and Silva counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Silva.
Virne keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Silva is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Silva looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virne keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rickson Silva just wasn't active enough.

Silva gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Virne trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Virne engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virne trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jarppi Virne.

Silva tries to sprawl but Virne drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Silva is trying to get back to full guard.
Virne is trying to control. Silva wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Virne seems to be looking for submissions.
Virne takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Virne with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Virne is looking to stall here but Silva recovers full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Virne avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Silva is looking for a triangle but Virne pushes his legs off easily.
Silva can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Virne controls the pace.
Silva not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Silva throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virne trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Virne controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Silva is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Virne is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Virne from controlling successfully.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Virne tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jarppi Virne wasn't active enough on the ground.
Virne has his takedown stuffed

and Silva counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rickson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jarppi Virne.
Silva trying to control but Virne is working from the bottom.
Silva is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Virne is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Silva is fighting to break Virne's control of his arms but Virne is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Silva leaves Virne with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Virne gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Silva counters with a nice double leg into side control. Virne won't be happy with that.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Silva goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Virne rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Silva's guard! Nice work there by Virne!

Silva is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Virne works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Silva gets full guard.
Virne wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.

Silva is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Virne is aware though and is defending well.
Virne content to stall in guard here.
Virne is pushing down on Silva's leg trying to pass to half guard. Silva is fighting to maintain full guard but Virne has managed to sneak the leg through.
Silva tries to get to full guard but Virne has control of the leg.
Virne passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Silva!
Virne controlling from mount.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Virne wants to control the pace but Silva is squirming around nicely.

Virne goes for an armbar but Silva turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Silva.
Silva passes Virne's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Virne moves into full guard.

Silva drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Silva jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Silva wants to control from the top but Virne keeps moving.
Virne keeping full guard, as Silva tries to pass.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva looking to sit in guard and control but Virne gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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 Rickson Silva.
I think Silva 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Rickson Silva!
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight for Rickson Silva!
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight for Rickson Silva!

Rickson Silva wins by unanimous decision!
A relieved looking Rickson 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.