PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Junior Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Love Aikawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Junior Silva could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Love Aikawa's chin.

Silva
vs
Aikawa

185 cm
33
220 lbs
23 - 13 - 1

189 cm
27
202 lbs
12 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Junior Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Love Aikawa!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Gregory Folan and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva avoids the body shot from Aikawa.
Aikawa tries to clinch but Silva moves away

and Silva counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Aikawa trying to control from the bottom.
Aikawa is looking to escape.
Aikawa regains full guard. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva is looking to work some ground and pound but Aikawa has wrist control.
Silva controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Aikawa is trying to control the position but Silva postures up.

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

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A leg kick checked by Silva.

Silva closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Aikawa holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Silva working the ground and pound from side control.
You can see the frustration on Aikawa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Silva swings around for an armbar but Aikawa sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Silva's guard.

Silva looking for a guillotine here but Aikawa defends easily.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Aikawa from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying to control the position but Aikawa postures up.
Aikawa trying to stand up but can't free himself from Silva's guard.

Silva is looking for a triangle but Aikawa pushes his legs off easily.
Silva working a defensive guard here.
Aikawa wants to stand but Silva is controlling his posture from full guard.
Silva is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at The Barracks - LOD that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Aikawa from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aikawa showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Silva looking for a sweep. Not yet Silva, not yet.
Aikawa is looking to stand up but Silva won't let him.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Aikawa wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Aikawa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice jab there from Aikawa.

Silva gets a double leg takedown into Aikawa's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a big elbow that misses.
Aikawa keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Aikawa is trying to control the position but Silva postures up.
Aikawa is pulling down on Silva's head. It's preventing any offense from Silva, at least for the moment.
Silva wants to control from the top but Aikawa keeps moving.
Aikawa has Silva pulled in close to control his posture.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva sitting in guard here, content to control.
Aikawa wants to stand and escape but Silva is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Aikawa tries to clinch up but Silva circles away and keeps his distance.

Aikawa closes the distance and pushes Silva back into the cage.
Aikawa tries to work over Silva's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Silva blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Silva goes for a takedown attempt but Aikawa pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Aikawa swings for the body but Silva moves out of range.
Aikawa wants to clinch.

Aikawa drives through and clinches with Silva against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aikawa stalls.
Silva changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Aikawa fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Aikawa thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aikawa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Aikawa fails to land with a series of punches.
Love Aikawa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Silva.
Aikawa is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Silva has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aikawa seems a little lost for a moment, as Silva dominates the positioning.
Aikawa holding on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aikawa tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Silva wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Silva trying to control the action but Aikawa is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Aikawa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aikawa tries to escape but Silva is in control.

Silva tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Silva is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Aikawa is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
You can see the frustration on Aikawa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Silva keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Aikawa.
Silva throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Silva shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Aikawa manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Aikawa controlling Silva's posture.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Aikawa is keeping the position.

Aikawa pushes Silva off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aikawa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Silva's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Aikawa connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Silva scrambles back to his feet.
Aikawa misses with a body shot
and Aikawa takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Aikawa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Aikawa lands with a nice body punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Aikawa gets a clinch.
Silva tries to pull guard but Aikawa forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Junior Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Silva is pressed up against the cage. Aikawa has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Silva down to the mat. Silva avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Aikawa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Silva moves away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aikawa misses with a wild body shot.
Aikawa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Silva.
A head kick misses from Aikawa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Love Aikawa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. 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.

Silva darts in looking for a takedown but Aikawa gets double underhooks and turns Silva into the cage.
Silva drops down looking for an ankle pick but Aikawa pulls his leg out and moves away.
Aikawa with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Aikawa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Silva manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Silva darts in looking for a takedown but Aikawa gets double underhooks and turns Silva into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Junior Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva prevents a body shot from Aikawa.

Aikawa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Silva keeps the fight on the outside.
Aikawa tries to close the distance and clinch but Silva swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aikawa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Silva keeps the fight on the outside.
Love Aikawa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Silva lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Aikawa at a distance.
Silva has a takedown stuffed.
Aikawa tries to clinch but Silva moves out of range.
Aikawa is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Silva rather than just go for the knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Aikawa misses with a hook to the body
and Silva counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Aikawa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aikawa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Aikawa buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Silva throws a body punch but Aikawa moves out of range.

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

It looks like Junior Silva has been cut.
Silva will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A decent looking cross lands there for Aikawa.
Aikawa wants to clinch but Silva slips to the side
and Silva counters with a left to the body.
Aikawa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Aikawa cracks Silva with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Silva looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Aikawa finish him?

Silva is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aikawa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Silva.
Aikawa fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aikawa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Aikawa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Silva closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Aikawa's guard.
Aikawa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Silva is controlling him.
Aikawa pulls Silva in close to prevent any damage.
Silva wants to control from the top but Aikawa keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aikawa has his hands on Silva's head, controlling the position.
Aikawa is trying to control the position but Silva postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Silva defending well as Aikawa loads up on a big left hand.
Silva goes for a double leg but Aikawa avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Aikawa continues to drive forward.
Aikawa has Silva pressed against the cage, preventing Silva from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Aikawa throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Silva wants a takedown.

Aikawa breaks the clinch.
Love Aikawa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Aikawa rushes Silva and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Aikawa has Silva pressed against the cage, preventing Silva from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Aikawa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Silva is trying to drag Aikawa to the mat but Aikawa just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Aikawa lands a hook that snaps the head of Silva backwards.
Silva misses with a punch to the body.
Aikawa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Aikawa has clasped his hands together around Silva's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Silva is trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Love Aikawa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Aikawa 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Love Aikawa!
Love Aikawa made sure to mention his sponsor, Bellum Dominum in his post fight interview.