PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Noah Bennet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bennet comes to the ring accompanied by Unloco - Crashing. Silva is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Anderson Silva enters the ring!

Bennet
vs
Silva

183 cm
35
193 lbs
12 - 16 - 0

188 cm
36
198 lbs
17 - 13 - 2

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 12 - 16 - 0, fighting out of New York, Noah Bennet!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Anderson Silva!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Paul Aken and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bennet takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Noah Bennet has been cut.
Bennet throws a lazy head kick
and Silva counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Bennet is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Bennet has managed to clinch.
Silva pushes off an throws an elbow but Bennet leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Silva tries to land knees in the clinch but Bennet avoids the damage to the body.
Bennet tries to pull guard but Silva won't allow it.
Bennet jumps guard but Silva turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bennet doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bennet looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Noah Bennet. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva has Bennet pushed against the ropes.
Bennet misses with a body punch.

Silva escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bennet moves to clinch but Silva breaks away
and Silva counters with a big head kick but Bennet shrugs it off.
Silva throws a series of punches but Bennet moves out of range.

Silva gets caught flat footed, as Bennet shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Silva wants to stand up but Bennet is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennet throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
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.
Silva wants to get back to his feet but Bennet is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bennet is standing up over Silva. Silva looks to escape but Bennet dives into side control.
Silva pushes Bennet away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Bennet gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Bennet has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Silva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bennet tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Silva gets tackled into the ropes by Bennet. Bennet maintains the clinch.
Silva wants to break the clinch but can't.

Bennet pulls guard successfully.
Silva working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Bennet has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Silva is pushing him up against the ropes, looking to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bennet has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Silva uses from the top position.
Bennet has momentary wrist control but Silva slips an elbow through the middle.
Silva looking to sit in guard and control but Bennet gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Silva is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bennet doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bennet manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bennet throws a strike but Silva rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Silva landing some decent shots from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Silva dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Noah Bennet's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Silva throws a head kick that misses.
Silva bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bennet tries to clinch but Silva moves out of range.

Silva has closed the distance and engaged Bennet in a clinch.
Bennet tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Silva smiles and moves away.
Bennet tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bennet fails to land the takedown.
Bennet tries to land a body kick
and Silva counters with a slapping leg kick.
Bennet throws a head kick that misses.
Silva misses with a head kick.

Bennet pushes Silva up against the ropes in a clinch.
Silva has Bennet pressed against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva lands an elbow inside.
Silva is trying to push Bennet away but Bennet has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Bennet has Silva pressed against the ropes, preventing Silva from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Bennet letting Silva take a breather here.
Silva wants to get back to striking at distance but Bennet won't allow it.
Silva lands an elbow just above Bennet 's eye.

Bennet escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bennet throws a body kick that misses.
Bennet on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Bennet doesn't manage to clinch there - Silva circles away.
Silva misses with a series of wild punches.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva breaks the clinch.

Silva has closed the distance and engaged Bennet in a clinch.
Silva is trying to break free.
Bennet tries to work over Silva's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Silva is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Bennet tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Silva's elbow.
Silva blocks a body shot from Bennet.
Bennet has Silva pressed against the ropes, preventing Silva from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Bennet misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bennet managing to block the knees to the body from Silva.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bennet keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Silva's efforts to push away.
Silva pushes off an throws an elbow but Bennet leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.

Silva manages to break the clinch.
Anderson Silva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Bennet manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Silva accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bennet utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Silva wants to control from the top but Bennet keeps moving.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Noah Bennet has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Silva throws a nice head kick!
Bennet blocks a head kick by Silva.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bennet misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Noah Bennet is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bennet is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Silva.
Silva pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Bennet back to the ropes. Silva follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bennet will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Silva scores with a one two! Bennet had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bennet misses with the combination.
Bennet looks to throw a body kick
and Silva counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Silva closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Silva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Noah Bennet's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Bennet is looking to clinch but Silva is avoiding it.
A head kick misses from Bennet.
Bennet throws a series of punches but Silva moves out of range.
Bennet throws a sloppy head kick
and Silva counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Bennet is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Silva steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bennet.
A head kick misses from Silva.
Silva misses with a head kick.
Silva throws a lazy head kick
and Bennet counters with a left and a right that stings Silva.
Bennet takes a kick to the side of the head.
Noah Bennet seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva throws a head kick but Bennet moves out of range.
Bennet tries a head kick but it misses.
Silva throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Silva.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick from Silva lands but Bennet takes it in his stride.
Silva stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Silva wants it to stay on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bennet will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Anderson Silva seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Silva misses with a two punch combination.
Silva scores with a spinning back kick!
Silva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Silva has Bennet up against the ropes in a clinch.

Silva escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A head kick misses from Bennet.
Bennet avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bennet throws a head kick but Silva moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a series of strikes that have Bennet backpedaling.
Bennet tries a head kick but it misses.
Silva avoids the head kick by Bennet.
Silva throws a head kick that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bennet tries to clinch there but Silva circles away.
Silva throws a head kick but Bennet moves out of range.
Silva throws a head kick but Bennet moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Silva.
Bennet avoids the head kick by Silva.
Bennet throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A head kick misses from Bennet.
Bennet pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva takes a kick to the side of the head.
Bennet throws a lazy head kick
and Silva counters with a head kick.
Silva closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Bennet avoids the head kick by Silva.
Silva tries a head kick but it misses.
Bennet misses with a double jab
and Silva counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Bennet is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Bennet throws out a leg kick but Silva moves out of range and Bennet only half commits.
Silva works over Bennet's head and body with a nice combination.
Bennet slips a jab and a cross from Silva.
Bennet looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Bennet throws a combination that misses
and Silva counters with a head kick. That will keep Bennet thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a nice head kick!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Silva throws a head kick that misses.
Bennet throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bennet shoots in and drives through. Silva sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Noah Bennet. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Silva throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Silva pushes Bennet up against the ropes in a clinch.
Silva is stalling here.

Silva breaks from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Bennet's head.
Bennet tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Noah Bennet has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anderson Silva is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Bennet throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anderson Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Silva has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anderson Silva!
Anderson Silva seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.