PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Chris Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafael Silva has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Griffin
vs
Silva

172 cm
17
158 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

173 cm
28
155 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

Museum of Monsters & Madmen

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Griffin!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Silva!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Matheus Silva and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Griffin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've been told by Griffin's head coaches at Nonprofit Vegas Elite $50 ($1000 value) that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Silva ducks right into an uppercut from Griffin.

It looks like Rafael Silva has been cut.

Silva looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Griffin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Silva is controlling him.
Griffin is adopting a defensive guard.
Griffin wants to sweep but no luck.
Griffin controls Silva momentarily but Silva frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffin has his hands on Silva's head, controlling the position.
Griffin controls Silva momentarily but Silva frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva throwing strikes from guard but Griffin blocks nicely.
Griffin is looking to stand up but Silva isn't so interested in that idea.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Griffin throws a series of punches but Silva avoids them all with ease.
Chris Griffin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Griffin jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Silva slips a jab and a cross from Griffin.

Silva shoots in and gets a takedown into Griffin's guard.
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 trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Silva working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Griffin has his hands on Silva's head, controlling the position.
Griffin controls Silva momentarily but Silva frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva looking to pass the guard.
Silva works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Silva is thwarting Griffin's attempts to control the position.
Griffin is trying to stand back up but Silva is controlling him
Silva is pressing down on Griffin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Griffin is holding on for now.

Silva is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Griffin sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Griffin is just riding it out for now. Silva eventually gives up the hold.
Griffin wants to get back to his feet.
Griffin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Silva is working away from the top position though.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Griffin is positioning himself well to prevent Silva advancing to mount.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Silva stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Griffin.

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.

Griffin rushes Silva and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Silva working aggressively here.
Griffin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Silva misses with some punches.
Silva lands a shoulder strike.
Griffin wants to break free but Silva has control.
Silva lands a right hand.

Griffin breaks the clinch.

Silva gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Griffin to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Griffin wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Griffin wanted to stand there but Silva had control of the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Griffin from controlling successfully.
Griffin is stalling in the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rafael Silva will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rafael Silva's cut.
That's time! Griffin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Griffin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Silva is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Griffin stuffs the takedown attempt from Silva. Silva gets slowly back to his feet.
Griffin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Silva manages to avoid it.
Griffin fails to land with a series of punches.
Silva changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Griffin enables Silva to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Griffin manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Griffin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Griffin wants to get back to his feet but Silva is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Silva with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva won't allow Griffin to get back to his feet.
Griffin trying to control the position here.

Griffin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin is pulling down on Silva's head. It's preventing any offense from Silva, at least for the moment.

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

Silva closes the distance and clinches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Griffin.
Griffin has Silva pushed against the ropes.
Silva has a couple of punches blocked by Griffin.
A head punch on the inside from Silva fails to land.
Silva swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Silva misses with a punch on the inside.
Silva lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Griffin pulls guard effortlessly.
Griffin has Silva pulled in close to control his posture.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Griffin is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin trying to keep a closed guard but Silva is proving a slippery customer.
Griffin wants to stand up but Silva is controlling him.
Griffin wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Silva manages to pass to side control.

Silva looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Griffin wants to improve his position but Silva is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin is trying to stand back up but Silva is controlling him
Griffin works his way to full guard. Good work.
Silva is pushing down on Griffin's leg trying to pass to half guard. Griffin is fighting to maintain full guard but Silva has managed to sneak the leg through.
Silva wants to pass to mount but Griffin is defending the position.
Griffin wants to get back to his feet.

Silva has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Griffin defend it? Silva steps over the head and cranks it - Griffin is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Silva!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Rafael Silva! Rafael Silva retains his featherweight title!
A victorious Rafael Silva thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.