PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Will Genia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Afa Sila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Will Genia had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Genia
vs
Sila

176 cm
22
165 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

173 cm
21
163 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best Nutrition

Milwaukee's Best 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Will Genia!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Afa Sila!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sila misses with a takedown attempt - Genia sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Genia connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A clash of legs there as Sila blocks the low kick.
Genia throws a body punch but Sila moves out of range.
Genia throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Genia lands a big head kick that sends Sila tumbling to the mat! Genia takes a step backwards and waves Sila back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Genia has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sila digs a right hand underneath Genia's ribcage. Genia let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Genia missing with knees to the body.
Genia throws an elbow but it misses.
Sila is looking for a takedown.
Sila pushes Genia back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Genia tries to land knees in the clinch but Sila avoids the damage to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Genia with a knee to the head.
Genia effectively controlling the action here.

Genia is fighting off a takedown attempt but Sila is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Genia to the mat. Genia regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Sila seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Genia seems keen to control Sila's posture.
Genia not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Will Genia.
Sila lands the left hand.

Genia has Sila up against the cage in a clinch.
Genia lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Genia lands an elbow inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sila is trying to break the clinch but Genia is controlling him.
Genia looking to stall.
Sila tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Genia's elbow.
A head punch on the inside from Genia fails to land.
Genia tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sila drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Genia gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Will Genia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Afa Sila.
Sila wants a takedown but no success here.
Genia lands a knee to the head.
Genia is pressed up against the cage. Sila has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Genia down to the mat. Genia avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Genia misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Genia tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sila paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Genia is looking to clinch but Sila is avoiding it.
Sila checks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Genia pivots, looking for a leg kick but Sila is out of range and Genia settles back down.
Will Genia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That kick from Genia tenderised Sila's leg. Sila is trying to keep his angry face on.
Genia chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Genia tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
We've been told by Genia's head coaches at Brown House that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Genia misses with a head kick.
Genia tries to close the distance and clinch but Sila swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Genia throws a head kick but Sila moves out of range.

Genia lands a big head kick that sends Sila tumbling to the mat! Genia takes a step backwards and waves Sila back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Sila is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Sila 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.
Sila is still in real trouble! Can Genia finish him?
Genia has control of Sila's left arm, preventing Sila from doing any damage.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Genia is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sila seems to have recovered his senses.
Sila with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sila slips nicely into half guard.
Genia trying to control but Sila postures up.

Sila is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Genia sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Genia is trying to get back to full guard.
Genia is working hard here to advance position.
Sila looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Genia with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Genia wants to get back to full guard.

Sila is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Genia trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Genia dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sila shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Genia counters with a low kick, right behind Sila 's knee.
Nice takedown defense from Genia. No joy for Sila on that attempt.
Genia tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sila swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Genia throws a quick inside leg kick.
Sila looks for a takedown but Genia sprawls well.
Will Genia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Afa Sila.
Sila keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Genia swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Genia throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Sila on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Genia. Genia obviously looking to wear him down.
Good work by Sila as he checks the leg kick.
Sila throws out a loose jab but Genia uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sila punishes Genia's body with a nice straight punch.
Sila blocks a head kick by Genia.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good work by Sila as he checks the leg kick.
Genia goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Genia tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sila paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Genia takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Genia fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sila looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Genia tries to clinch but Sila is having none of it.
Genia connects with a leg kick. Sila looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Genia scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Genia connects with a high kick.
Sila's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Sila checks the leg kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Genia lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Sila has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Sila and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Genia throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sila circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sila shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Genia wants to get back to his feet but Sila is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Genia managing to control the position.
Sila trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sila wants to control from the top but Genia keeps moving.
Sila stays in close to Genia's body and controls the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Afa Sila was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A head kick misses from Genia.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Genia misses with a low kick.
Genia throws a chopping leg kick but Sila manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sila.
Genia tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sila swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sila avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Genia lands a big head kick that sends Sila tumbling to the mat! Genia takes a step backwards and waves Sila back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Will Genia is winning the standup battle so far.
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!
Sila scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Nice defenses there by Sila.
Genia tries to clinch there but Sila circles away.
Sila blocks a low kick nicely.
Sila misses with a wild body shot.
Genia is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sila can do to turn this around?
Genia fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Sila has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Genia tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sila manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Genia misses with a low kick.

Genia moves into the clinch successfully.
Sila looking for a takedown.

Genia drops Sila with a big knee straight up the middle! Sila is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!
Sila fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Genia misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sila.
Nice defenses there by Sila.
Genia throws a nice inside leg kick.
Sila keeps the fight on the outside.
Sila shoots in but no luck this time.
Sila steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Genia.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The fight stays on the outside here - Genia looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A nice leg kick lands there from Genia.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Genia dominated that second round.
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.

Genia dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sila. That did some damage!
Genia tries a low kick but Sila avoids it.
Sila looks to score with a jab to the body but Genia is just out of range.
Genia attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Genia throws a half hearted mid kick.
Genia tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Genia throws a sloppy head kick and Sila moves out of range easily.
A jab from Sila finds it's way through Genia's defenses.
Genia throws a looping overhand right but Sila ducks down to avoid it.
Genia wants to clinch but Sila slips to the side

and Sila counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sila.
Sila trying to control but Genia is working from the bottom.
Sila is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Sila is fighting to break Genia's control of his arms but Genia is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Genia wants to control but Sila passes easily into half guard.
Genia is refusing to be controlled, as Sila sits in half guard.
Genia wants to get back to full guard.
Genia regains full guard. Nicely done.
Genia avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sila trying to control but Genia is working from the bottom.
Genia has control of Sila's left arm, preventing Sila from doing any damage.
Genia looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sila's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sila preventing the sweep.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sila is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Genia.
Sila shoots in but Genia avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Genia scores with a head kick. Sila tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Genia connects with a solid leg kick.
Genia lands with a thumping leg kick.
Genia takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Sila closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Genia to the mat! Genia manages to get full guard.

Genia had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sila defends it easily.
Sila postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Genia is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Genia seems keen to control Sila's posture.
Genia looking to control.
Sila pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Genia is keeping the position for now.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Sila slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Will Genia wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Genia tried to score with a low kick but Sila checks it.
Sila fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Genia keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A nice leg kick lands there from Genia.
Good leg kick by Genia there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Genia misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Genia fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sila takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Genia misses with an attempted mid kick.
Sila tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Genia swivels and escapes.
Will Genia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Afa Sila.
Sila takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sila looks to score with a jab to the body but Genia is just out of range.
Sila shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Genia defends it nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Genia tries to clinch but Sila moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Genia throws a head kick that misses.
Genia uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sila.
Genia lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sila's sensitive parts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Genia clearly takes that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Genia lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Genia tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so Sila counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Genia pulls Sila in close to prevent any damage.
Genia is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sila controls from within his opponent's guard.
Genia is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

We're going to have a standup here because Will Genia wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Genia is looking to chop away at Sila's legs.
Genia tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sila paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Genia tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sila was well out of range. Poor timing from Genia.
Sila scores with a jab to the jaw.
Sila fails to land the takedown.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Genia lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Sila has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Sila and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A leg kick checked by Sila.
Sila misses with a right hand
and Genia counters with a nice low kick that buckles Sila's knee momentarily.

Sila gets the takedown into side control.
Sila wants to control but Genia is keeping him busy.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Genia dodges the ground and pound from Sila.
Genia is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Sila off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Genia is hanging on to Sila's back as he tries to escape.
Sila keeps trying to improve his position.
Genia biding his time, looking for the opening.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sila tries to roll but Genia sticks to his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Genia trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Sila tries to roll but Genia sticks to his back.
Afa Sila has got the better of the ground game so far.

Genia is persistently looking for the submission but Sila is defending it well.
Genia tries to get the hooks in deep but Sila pushed the leg off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sila tries to roll but Genia sticks to his back.
Genia avoiding Sila 's attempts to control his hands.
Will Genia go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Genia controlling the position well here. Sila rolled but Genia kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sila looking very determined here, making life difficult for Genia.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Afa Sila will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sila digs a good body shot into Genia's ribs.
Genia tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sila paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Genia throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sila has a takedown stuffed.
Sila swats away the attempt to clinch by Genia.
Genia is looking to wear down Sila with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Genia takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Genia tries to work over Sila's front leg with a kick but Sila checks it.
Sila cracks Genia with a right hand to the side of the head.
Sila misses with an uppercut. Genia saw that one coming.
Genia connects with a looping right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Genia fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Sila checks it well.
Sila misses the shot to the body.
Genia thows a body shot but no joy.
Genia tries to land a leg kick but Sila saw it coming and moves away.
Genia tries to clinch up but Sila circles away and keeps his distance.

Genia gets caught napping as Sila dives in and scores a takedown. Genia manages to retain guard.
Genia trying to keep a closed guard but Sila is proving a slippery customer.
Genia looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sila is one step ahead there.
Genia seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Will Genia is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Sila is in close to Genia's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Genia utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Genia is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sila stopping the sweep attempt from Genia.
Genia is trying to control the position but Sila postures up.

We're going to have a standup here because Will Genia wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Sila moves out of range of the body kick.
Genia throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A good leg kick by Genia.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sila darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Genia is looking to control Sila's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Genia avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sila is trying to control the action in half guard but Genia is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Genia keeping control of the position.
Sila seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Sila is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Genia sees it coming and defends easily.
Genia has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sila is working away from the top position though.

Sila is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Genia keeping control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sila is thwarting Genia's attempts to control the position.
Genia has his hands clasped together around Sila's back. He's all about the action.

We're going to have a standup here because Will Genia wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Genia on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sila. Genia does a little dance to reset his feet.
Genia buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sila shoots in for a double leg but Genia sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Genia throws a push kick but Sila slaps the foot to one side.
Afa Sila has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sila swats away the attempt to clinch by Genia.

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 Will Genia.
I think Genia 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 49:47
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 49:46
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 49:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Will Genia!
Will Genia retains his lightweight title!
Will Genia was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.