PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Hutcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Antonio Silva has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Silva
vs
Hutcher

175 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

168 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sam Hutcher!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Matheus Silva and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hutcher counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Silva wants to stand but Hutcher is controlling the position.
Hutcher trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Hutcher postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hutcher throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hutcher accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva controls Hutcher momentarily but Hutcher frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hutcher won't allow Silva to get back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Silva is defended easily by Hutcher.

Hutcher gets caught napping as Silva dives in and scores a takedown. Hutcher manages to retain guard.
Silva is stalling in the full guard.
Silva slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Hutcher tries to buck Silva off but Silva is having none of it.
Hutcher looks winded!
Silva throws an elbow but Hutcher slips to the side and avoids it well.
Silva tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hutcher is trying to control Silva's posture but Silva avoids it.
Hutcher taking a bit of punishment here - Silva scoring with strikes.
Silva trying to control the action but Hutcher is working from the bottom.
Silva wants to stand but Hutcher has his arm trapped.

Silva is trying to get an arm triangle but Hutcher is defending well.

Silva looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hutcher, who protects the arm well.
Hutcher is looking to reverse the position.

Silva stands up.
Silva fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hutcher avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hutcher shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Silva is trying to defend but Hutcher finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to hold on to Hutcher's head to control him but Hutcher postures up.
Silva on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Silva is looking to escape.
Silva regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Hutcher.
Silva is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

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 Antonio Silva will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Silva dives in for a single leg takedown but Hutcher sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Silva wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hutcher has him pressed against the cage.

Silva manages to break the clinch.
Silva misses with a takedown
and Hutcher counters with a left and a right that stings Silva.
Silva looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva tries for a takedown but Hutcher circles away easily

and Hutcher counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Hutcher working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hutcher won't allow Silva to sweep him here.
Silva wants to stand up but Hutcher is controlling him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Hutcher is proving a slippery customer.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Silva preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Silva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hutcher is one step ahead there.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Silva tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Antonio Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Silva shoots in but no luck this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Silva goes for a double leg but Hutcher avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hutcher continues to drive forward.

Hutcher's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt
and Hutcher counters with a series of strikes. Silva will be more careful next time no doubt.

Hutcher shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Silva is trying to defend but Hutcher finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Silva pushes Hutcher off looking to stand but Hutcher dives back in and keeps control.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hutcher connects with a nice short shot to Silva's temple.
Silva trying to control but Hutcher postures up.
Silva tries to get to full guard but Hutcher has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is working hard here to advance position.
Hutcher throwing shots but Silva is blocking nicely.
Silva is looking to escape.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Silva closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Silva decides to stand back up. Silva steps back and let's Hutcher get back to his feet.
Silva shoots in looking for a takedown but Hutcher manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Silva's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva fails with the takedown

so Hutcher counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Silva working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hutcher.
Sam Hutcher has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hutcher preventing the sweep.
Silva wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Hutcher manages to pass to side control.
Hutcher takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Silva tries to roll over but Hutcher keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Hutcher showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Hutcher takes a kick to the side of the head.
Silva avoids the head kick by Hutcher.
Silva tries to clinch but Hutcher is having none of it.
Hutcher displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Silva.
Silva has his takedown stuffed

and Hutcher counters with a nice double leg into side control. Silva won't be happy with that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva tries to control but Hutcher manages to take his back.
Hutcher scores with strikes from the back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
You can see the frustration on Silva's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hutcher lands punches and elbows.
Hutcher scores with punches from the back.

Hutcher looking for the RNC.
Hutcher scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.

Hutcher has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Silva has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Silva covering up well and avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to control his opponent's hands but Hutcher gets his hands free.
Silva is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Hutcher avoiding Silva 's attempts to control his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Hutcher working Silva over with strikes here.
Hutcher with good strikes from the mount here!
Hutcher avoids the attempt from Silva to control.
Hutcher can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Silva is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Silva pushes Hutcher off looking to stand but Hutcher dives back in and keeps control.
Silva trying to control here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva is trying to stand.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Hutcher comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hutcher 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Hutcher!