PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rafa Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mr Azure (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva comes to the cage accompanied by UFC Theme Song. Azure has chosen The Show Must Go On as his entrance music. 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
Azure

173 cm
30
142 lbs
30 - 3 - 0

165 cm
32
143 lbs
32 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Hellbent

Mango Nutrition
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafa Silva!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mr Azure!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva pivots, looking for a leg kick but Azure is out of range and Silva settles back down.
Azure lands a jab to the nose.
Silva throws a head kick that half lands.
Silva throws a lazy uppercut

so Azure counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Silva is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Azure looking to pass the guard.
Azure working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Azure loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Azure throws a big elbow that misses.
Azure throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva wants to stand but Azure is controlling the position.
Silva is trying to control the position but Azure postures up.
Azure trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rafa Silva just wasn't active enough.
Azure throws a lazy uppercut

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Silva.
Silva lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Azure tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Silva's elbow.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Azure as Silva tries to tie him up.

Azure is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Silva can't fight it off and eventually Azure manages to take the fight to the floor. Silva looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Azure throwing strikes but missing.
Silva is adopting a defensive guard.
Azure with a flurry of punches that miss.
Azure has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azure throws an elbow that misses. Silva uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Azure's guard. Nice move by Silva!

Azure looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Silva passes into side control.
You can see the frustration on Azure's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Silva moves into full mount!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azure can't escape the position.
Silva controlling the pace for now.
Azure slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Azure wants to control but Silva passes into side.
Azure is letting Silva control him for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azure gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Silva trying to mount his opponent but Azure defends it.
Azure wants to get back to full guard.
Azure is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Silva is trying to control. Azure wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mr Azure will probably get the nod.
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 chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Azure can pounce on him.
Azure moves forwards but Silva connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Azure chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Silva can pounce on him.
Silva moves away from the strike by Azure.
Silva listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Azure attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Azure throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Silva lands with a thumping leg kick.
Silva slips under a jab from Azure.
Silva lands with a cross.
Silva misses with a straight left.
Azure lands with a thumping leg kick.
Silva throws a big shot that misses.
Silva moves out of range as Azure throws a body kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Silva.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Silva fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Azure checks it well.
Silva fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Azure checks it well.
Silva scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Azure doesn't seem bothered though.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Silva walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nice uppercut lands for Silva. That snapped Azure's head back.
Silva looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Azure looks to land a left hand but Silva moved out of range nicely.
Azure looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nice body kick from Azure.
The fighters circling - Silva throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Azure fakes the leg kick and cracks Silva in the body.
Azure looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Silva ducks under a wild hook from Azure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva defending well as Azure loads up on a big left hand.
Azure throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Azure throws a head kick that misses.
Silva stuffs the takedown attempt from Azure. Azure gets slowly back to his feet.
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!
A clash of legs there as Azure blocks the low kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Silva.
Silva avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Azure is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Silva is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Silva throws a shot to the body.
Silva throws a wild body kick that Azure sees coming a mile off.
Crunch! Azure slams his shin into Silva's torso.
Silva misses with a looping right.
Silva gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azure throws a front kick aimed at Silva's knee but Silva avoids it well.
Silva throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Azure drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Azure with a hook.
Azure misses with a body shot.
Silva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A nice inside leg kick there by Azure. That's going to slow Silva down.
Silva blocks the body kick.
Rafa Silva is winning the standup battle so far.
Silva tries to clinch there but Azure circles away.
Azure avoids the head kick by Silva.
Silva connects with a jab.
Azure throws a push kick but Silva slaps the foot to one side.

Silva gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azure is trying to stall.
Silva tries to throw a body punch but Azure avoids it by throwing Silva back against the cage.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Silva tries a body shot but Azure blocks it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Azure creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Azure jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Silva walks away with a smile on his face. Azure gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Azure blocks the body kick.
Azure throws a poor cross that misses
and Silva counters with a good low kick that Azure was not able to check.
Azure moves out of range of the leg kick from Silva.
Azure swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Silva counters with a good low kick that Azure was not able to check.
The fight stays on the outside here - Azure looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva looks to land a right hand but Azure moved out of range.
Silva tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Azure cracks a nice hook into Silva's ribs.
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 Rafa Silva will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Azure slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Silva, right into the meat.
A solid leg kick lands there for Silva.
Azure throws a head kick but Silva moves out of range.
Azure takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Silva throws a head kick that half lands.
Silva connects with a leg kick. Azure looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Azure takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Silva scores with a decent looking hook.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Azure checks a leg kick.
Azure tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Azure's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

Azure tries to keep at a distance but Silva has taken the fight into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Azure breaks the clinch.
A leg kick checked by Silva.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A cross from Silva lands.
Silva lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Silva lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Azure circles away quickly and effectively.
Azure lands with a shot to the body.
Azure dives in and grabs Silva's left leg, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes down on Azure's head and hops out.
Silva moves out of range of the body kick.
Silva buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Azure lands with a nice body punch.
Good work by Azure as he checks the leg kick.
Azure throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Azure misses with a takedown attempt - Silva sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Silva throws a head kick but Azure moves out of range.
Azure swings away with a body shot that misses

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Silva.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Silva blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Azure's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Azure blocks a body shot from Silva.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Azure.
Silva blocking some punches.
Silva throws a head punch that misses.
Silva has a couple of punches blocked by Azure.
Azure tries to work over Silva's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Azure makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Silva blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Silva lands a body punch.
Azure works on Silva's body with a couple of short punches.
Azure is looking to control Silva's arms but Silva gets an underhook and turns him. Now Azure has his back to the cage.
Silva lands an uppercut.
Azure lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Silva backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva lands a nice uppercut.
Silva blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Silva.
Nice body punch from Silva - that landed with a thud.
Silva prevents a body shot from Azure.
Azure is working for takedown but Silva is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rafa Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mr Azure.
Azure lands a shot to the body.
Azure looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Azure as Silva tries to tie him up.
Silva taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Azure tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Silva goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A frustrated look appears on Azure's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Azure misses with the head strike.
Azure tries to break the clinch but Silva is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azure blocks a body shot from Silva.
Silva lands an uppercut.
Azure looking for a takedown.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silva looking to stall.
Azure lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Silva backwards.
Azure misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Silva pushes Azure back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Silva working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Silva tries to work over Azure's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Azure lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Silva backwards.
Silva stalling the fight.
I was talking to Silva's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Azure trying to control the position but instead, Silva has worked for underhooks and has pushed Azure into the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Azure creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Silva blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafa Silva clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Azure lands a nice looking body shot.
Azure uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Silva.
Azure swings for the body but Silva moves out of range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Azure.
Azure wants to land a leg kick but Silva is out of range.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Silva.
Silva takes one on the button.
Azure scores with a jab to the jaw.
Silva lands a jab to Azure's midsection.
Silva keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Azure.

Silva gets a clinch.
Azure can't break the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Azure.
Azure wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Silva prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azure is trying to pull guard but Silva has him pressed against the cage.
Azure blocks the elbow strike.

Azure breaks the clinch.
Silva bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A nice leg kick lands there from Azure.
Silva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Azure misses with a low kick.
Silva misses with a combination

and Azure counters with a single leg into guard. Silva didn't expect that.
Azure tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.
Mr Azure has got the better of the ground game so far.
Azure is looking to pass into half guard but Silva pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Silva is in guard.
Silva wants to control from the top but Azure keeps moving.
Silva slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Azure trying to control but Silva flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Azure trying to control the hands but Silva breaks the grip.
Silva keeps control of the position as Azure tries to break free.
Azure is keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Azure looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva doesn't have the hooks in and Azure manages to turn into his guard.
Silva is trying to control the position but Azure postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Azure throws an elbow that misses. Silva uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Azure's guard. Nice move by Silva!

Azure isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Silva stacks Azure on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Silva!
Silva working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to control the action but Azure is working from the bottom.
Azure gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Azure trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Silva looking to control but Azure is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva is stalling here but it's allowed Azure to get half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mr Azure dominated that fourth round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A big left from Silva misses.
Silva moves out of range as Azure throws a body kick.
Azure misses with a looping right.

Azure bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Silva tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Azure easily slips into full mount!
Azure prevents Silva from getting the reversal.
Silva wants to hold on but Azure pushes him away.
Azure has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Silva's face.
Azure thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
BOOM! Azure connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azure lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Silva is rocked!
Azure with shots to the head and body - Silva looks very uncomfortable down there.
Oh Silva is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Silva is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Azure lands a couple of good shots and Silva has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Silva covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.

Silva fending off the submission attempt from Azure.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Azure scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Silva is looking for a way out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azure tries to get the hooks in deep but Silva pushed the leg off.
Azure misses with an elbow to the head.
Silva seems to have got his legs back now.
Azure tries to get the hooks in deep but Silva pushed the leg off.
Azure is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Silva up.
Azure is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Silva. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Silva is covering up but some of the strikes from Azure are getting through and doing damage.
I really don't envy Silva right now.
Silva is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Silva is trying to remain composed but Azure is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Silva covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Azure is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Silva. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva manages to escape to a better position under a series of strikes. Azure is now in side control.
Azure tries to move into full mount but can't pass Silva's legs.
Silva gets back to half guard.
Azure throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Azure thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Azure lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Silva regains full guard. Nicely done.
Silva looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azure stopping the sweep attempt from Silva.
Azure passes into half guard.

Azure is working for a kimura but Silva is defending it quite comfortably.
Silva moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mr Azure comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Azure has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 47:48
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 47:48
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mr Azure!
Mr Azure is the new bantamweight champion!
A relieved looking Mr Azure thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.