PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Afa Sila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Will Genia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sila
vs
Genia

173 cm
23
163 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

176 cm
23
165 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Afa Sila!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Will Genia!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Ren Mimura and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Genia uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sila.
Sila swings widly with a right hand
and Genia counters with a thumping low kick.
Sila scores with a nice head shot.
A jab from Sila misses.
Afa Sila seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Genia tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sila avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Genia is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Sila connects with a body shot that sends Genia's belly button to the back.
Genia misses with a head kick.
Sila with a hook.
Genia uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sila.
Genia throws a low kick but Sila moves out of range easily.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Genia.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sila throws a body shot but no joy.
Sila throws out a powerful jab.
Genia connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sila bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Genia's head.
Sila takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Genia takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Genia clinches up against the cage.
Sila digs a right hand underneath Genia's ribcage. Genia let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Genia taking a breather.
Genia lands with a left to the head.
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 tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sila blocks an elbow strike from Genia.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Genia softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Genia lands with a right to the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Sila.
Sila lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Sila is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Genia lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Genia comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Sila blocks an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sila.
Genia lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Genia wants to stall.
A head punch on the inside from Sila fails to land.

Sila pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sila lunges at Genia with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Genia's hand.
Genia throws out a loose jab but Sila uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sila shoots in but Genia avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sila takes a kick to the side of the head.
Genia uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sila.
Genia takes a swing at Sila's ribcage but misses.
Sila listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Sila shoots in for a takedown but Genia shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Afa Sila. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Genia throws an off balance right hand

and Sila counters with a shoot takedown. Genia fights it but they end up in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Sila wants to pass the guard but Genia is keeping the position.
Sila postures up.
Genia preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sila has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sila being controlled here momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sila is looking to work some ground and pound but Genia has wrist control.
Genia working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sila.
Sila trying to control the position from guard on top but Genia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Genia is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Sila postures up in Genia's guard and throws a big left but Genia blocks it.
Genia trying to control the position.

Will Genia has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Sila swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Genia counters with a nice uppercut.
Genia tries to work over Sila's front leg with a kick but Sila checks it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Genia tries a head kick but it misses.
Genia throws a leg kick which misses Sila's front leg but catches the back leg as Sila tries to avoid it.
Sila shoots in looking for a takedown but Genia manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sila's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Afa Sila will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Genia swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sila misses with a wild body shot.
Genia doesn't manage to clinch there - Sila circles away.
Genia is looking to clinch.
Genia takes one to the chin there.
Will Genia seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sila takes a swing at Genia's ribcage but misses.
Sila misses with a looping right.
Genia scores with a kick to the body.
Sila connects with a body shot.
Sila shoots in looking for a takedown but Genia manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sila's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sila throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Genia sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Genia stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Genia wants it to stay on the feet.
Genia misses with a jab, cross combination.
Genia ducks under a wild hook from Sila.
Genia swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sila throws a big shot that misses.
Sila throws a body punch but Genia moves out of range.
Sila looks to score with a jab to the body but Genia is just out of range.
Sila slips a jab from Genia.
Genia swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Genia throws a sloppy head kick and Sila moves out of range easily.
A cross from Genia lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sila throws an overhand right that lands on Genia's shoulder, as Genia tries to avoid the shot.
Will Genia is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sila. Genia does a little dance to reset his feet.
Genia tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sila swings for the body but Genia moves out of range.
Genia takes a swing at Sila's ribcage but misses.
Genia takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Genia wants to clinch.
Sila dives in and grabs Genia's left leg, looking for a takedown. Genia pushes down on Sila's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Afa Sila. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Genia is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sila with a lazy takedown attempt
and Genia counters with a nice body shot.
Genia doesn't manage to clinch there - Sila circles away.
Sila misses with a body punch
and Genia counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Sila is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Sila blocks a head kick by Genia.
Sila scores with a jab to the head.
Sila checks a low kick from Genia.
A punch lands to the side of Sila 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Genia lands a leg kick that knocks Sila off balance momentarily.
Genia tries to clinch but Sila is having none of it.
Sila dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sila jabs at Genia's body.
Sila is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Genia.
Genia throws a leg kick but Sila checks it.
Will Genia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A big left from Sila misses.
Sila's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Genia connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Sila scrambles back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Genia pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Genia lands a head kick. Sila smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Sila just misses with a punch to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sila misses with a hook.
Genia throws a solid leg kick but Sila takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Genia.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Will Genia will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Genia pivots, looking for a leg kick but Sila is out of range and Genia settles back down.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sila. Genia does a little dance to reset his feet.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sila lands a jab.
Genia tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sila misses with a wild body shot.
Sila swings for the body but Genia moves out of range.
Sila misses the jab.
Genia tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A good leg kick by Genia.
Genia tries to bum rush Sila with a series of wild strikes but Sila uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Genia misses with a low kick.
A good leg kick by Genia.
Genia staying out of range there.
Sila throws a shot from downtown. Genia moves away and avoids it.
Genia throws a low kick but Sila moves out of range easily.
Genia moves in looking to clinch but Sila pushes him off.
Sila lands a nice looking body shot.
Genia throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Sila's head.
Genia tries to close the distance and clinch but Sila swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A jab lands there for Sila.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Genia throws a head kick but Sila moves out of range.
Sila throws a shot from downtown. Genia moves away and avoids it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sila checks a leg kick.
Sila misses with an uppercut. Genia saw that one coming.
Sila throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Genia throws a low kick but Sila avoids it.
Genia takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Genia throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sila thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sila tests Genia's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Genia keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sila.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Genia throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sila misses with a wild body shot.
Genia throws a quick inside leg kick.
Sila jabs Genia to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Sila throws a big shot that misses.
Genia displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sila.
Sila throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Genia misses with a straight left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Genia throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sila. Genia does a little dance to reset his feet.
Genia throws a nice head kick!
Sila shoots in and drives through. Genia sprawls well.
Sila throws a body punch but Genia moves out of range.
Sila tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Genia defends well and Sila ends up having to push Genia into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Afa Sila. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Genia trying to control the position but instead, Sila has worked for underhooks and has pushed Genia into the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Genia fails to land.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sila lands a hook to the side of the head.
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!
Genia controlling the action here for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Will Genia just about did enough to take it.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Genia tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sila throws out a loose jab but Genia uses good head movement to avoid it.
Genia pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Genia closes the distance looking to clinch

and Sila counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Genia's guard now.
Genia working a defensive guard here.
Genia is adopting a defensive guard.
Sila passes Genia's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Genia trying to hold on to Sila's head to control him but Sila postures up.
Sila throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sila is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Genia slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Sila is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sila stops Genia from getting back to his feet.
Sila trying to control the action but Genia is working from the bottom.
Genia slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sila wants to control from the top but Genia keeps moving.
Sila won't allow Genia to sweep him here.
Genia not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sila wants to control from the top but Genia keeps moving.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Genia pulls Sila in close to prevent any damage.
Genia wants to sweep here but Sila controlling him for the moment.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Will Genia hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Sila checks a leg kick.
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 just misses with a punch to the body.
Genia keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Genia throws a low kick, looking for Sila's leg but Sila calmly moves out of range.
Good leg kick by Genia there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Sila swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sila avoids the head kick by Genia.
Genia throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sila throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Sila fails with the takedown.
Genia throws a leg kick that misses.
Sila moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sila loads up on a big right hand but Genia slips the punch.
Sila throws a body punch but Genia moves out of range.
Genia looks to land a body kick but Sila moved away.
Genia drops his hands momentarily and Sila takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Genia gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sila to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Sila with a flurry of punches that miss.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sila postures up.
Sila stands and throws Genia's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Genia is looking to regain half guard here but Sila keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Afa Sila had his way with Will Genia in that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Genia misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sila throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sila scores with a hook to the body. Genia takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Sila digs a good body shot into Genia's ribs.
Sila throws an overhand right that lands on Genia's shoulder, as Genia tries to avoid the shot.
Nice jab there from Sila.
Genia is looking to land body kicks.
Genia uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sila.
Genia tries to clinch up but Sila circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sila throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sila is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Sila dives in and grabs Genia's left leg, looking for a takedown. Genia pushes down on Sila's head and hops out.
Sila shoots for a takedown but Genia saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Genia dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sila. That did some damage!
Crunch! Genia slams his shin into Sila's torso.
Genia wants to slow Sila down by chopping away at his legs.
Sila checks a low kick from Genia.
Genia bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Genia uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sila.
Genia tries to work over Sila's front leg with a kick but Sila checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Genia.
Genia throws a head kick that misses

and Sila counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Genia 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.
Afa Sila overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sila is pushing down on Genia's leg trying to pass to half guard. Genia is fighting to maintain full guard but Sila has managed to sneak the leg through.
Genia is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sila's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sila's back!
Sila trying to control the action but Genia just sinks the hooks in.
Genia is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Genia keeps control of the position as Sila tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sila just trying to survive but Genia is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Sila tries to escape but Genia has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Sila manages to reverse the position and now he's in Genia's guard. Nice work there by Sila.
Genia looking for a sweep. Not yet Genia, not yet.
Genia keeping full guard, as Sila tries to pass.
Genia lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Sila avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sila has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Genia 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 Sila.
Genia landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Sila sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Genia wants to take a breather but Sila is having none of it.
Sila tries to get to full guard but Genia has control of the leg.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

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 Afa Sila.
I think Sila 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 49:46
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 49:47
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Afa Sila!
Afa Sila retains his lightweight title!
Afa Sila decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.