PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pillow Hands (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karl Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Hands
vs
Silva

190 cm
26
185 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

183 cm
19
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Pillow Hands!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Karl Silva !
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hands slips under a jab from Silva .
Silva leaves Hands with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Silva swats away the attempt to clinch by Hands.
Hands takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hands will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Silva shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hands napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Silva is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hands has escaped the position, nice work there.
Hands regains half guard.
Hands wants to control but Silva is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Silva has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hands is staying active underneath Silva , who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hands definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Hands is trying to stand up here but Silva is controlling him well.
Silva not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hands is looking for a sweep. Silva is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Silva missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hands is staying active underneath Silva , who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hands keeping control of the position.
Silva scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Hands is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Silva pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Silva tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hands knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Silva throwing shots but Hands is blocking nicely.
Hands has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Silva is working away from the top position though.
Silva thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Hands is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Silva looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Hands wants to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Silva fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hands looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hands displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Silva throws out the jab.
Silva digs a good body shot into Hands's ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hands shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Silva as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pillow Hands. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hands shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Silva manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Hands avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hands stopping the sweep attempt from Silva .
Silva lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Silva prevents Hands from getting back to his feet.
Silva trying to control but Hands is working from the bottom.
Silva postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Hands is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hands looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Silva is working Hands over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Silva controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva postures up in Hands's guard and throws a big left but Hands blocks it.
Silva sitting in guard here, content to control.
Silva prevents Hands from getting back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Silva throws a body punch but Hands moves out of range.
Silva has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jab, jab by Silva - just one landing.
Silva keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hands.
Hands shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Silva looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt - Hands sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Silva misses with a body shot.
A jab from Silva finds it's way through Hands's defenses.

Hands clinches.
Hands prevents a body shot from Silva .
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hands is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Silva gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hands softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Silva takes a shot to the head.
Hands lands a shoulder strike.
Silva tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hands has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Silva is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pillow Hands. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hands works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Silva has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hands uses from the top position.
Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hands won't allow Silva to sweep him here.

Silva is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hands defends well.

Silva throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hands passes Silva 's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hands trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.
Hands trying to mount his opponent but Silva defends it.
Silva tries to roll over but Hands keeps him under control.
Hands wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silva keeps working.
Hands passes into side control, despite Silva 's attempt to control the position.
Silva is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hands working away.
Karl Silva has got the better of the ground game so far.
Silva manages to get back to half guard.

Hands is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Silva sees it coming and defends easily.
Hands missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Hands is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Silva has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hands content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Silva is looking for a sweep. Hands is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

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.
Hands works his way into full mount!
Silva keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hands with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva is trying to escape the mount.
Hands landing strikes from the mount and Silva is in trouble!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pillow Hands dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hands shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Silva sprawls well. Silva wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hands gets slowly back to his feet.
Silva stuffs the takedown.
Silva stuns Hands with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Silva takes a swing at Hands's ribcage but misses.
Hands moves to clinch but Silva breaks away

and Silva counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Hands!
Hands is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hands tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Silva presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Silva working for a submission but Hands is keeping him at bay.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hands tries to hold on but Silva postures up.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Silva cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Silva is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Hands gets back to half guard.
Hands wants to control but Silva is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hands is pressing down on Silva 's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Silva missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hands lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Silva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hands doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hands manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Silva lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hands controlling the position.
Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hands 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.
Hands is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Silva sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hands's guard.
Silva has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Silva controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Hands is now in Silva 's guard. A big mistake from Silva there, giving up the dominant position!
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.

Hands wants to control but Silva is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hands is looking for a sweep. Silva is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hands tries to kick Silva off but Silva keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hands wants to control but Silva is keeping busy.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva slips a nice elbow through Hands's hands, connecting with Hands's forehead.
Silva lands strikes from half guard.
Silva lands with a punch from half guard.
Nice strikes from Silva there.
Silva looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hands with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Silva works his foot free and advances to mount.
Silva lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Silva lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silva lands a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Silva really dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Silva misses with a wild body shot.

Hands has closed the distance and engaged Silva in a clinch.
Hands has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Silva avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hands prevents a body shot from Silva .
Hands stalls.
Hands is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Hands lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Silva misses with a hook to the ribs.
Silva pushes Hands back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hands lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Hands is trying to trip Silva . He has hold of a leg but Silva is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Hands persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Hands would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Silva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hands is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
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.

Hands tries to kick Silva off but Silva keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Hands is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Silva pulls his head out easily.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Hands taking some punishment here, with Silva in his half guard.
Silva winds up and cracks Hands with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Hands is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva winds up and cracks Hands with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Silva trying to control from half guard but Hands is working away.
Silva is nestled in close to Hands, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Hands on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Silva is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hands has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hands is trying to stand.
Silva content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Silva is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a big right hand that misses.
Silva content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Hands is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Silva 's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hands keeping full guard, as Silva tries to pass.
Silva with a nice head shot there.
Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Silva 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Silva postures up in Hands's guard and throws a big left but Hands blocks it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hands looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hands slips a straight right by Silva .
Silva circles away from the clinch attempt.
Silva works Hands's body with a nice hook.
Silva misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hands.
Silva avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva keeps the fight on the outside.

Silva looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Silva distracts Hands with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Silva dominated that fourth round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Silva throws a looping overhand right but Hands ducks down to avoid it.
Pillow Hands is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hands misses with a two punch combination.
Silva swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Hands shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Silva as he avoids it easily.
Hands shoots in but Silva avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Silva scores with a decent looking hook.
Hands shoots in looking for a takedown. Silva tries to sprawl out of it but Hands keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Silva manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A nice side step and Silva releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pillow Hands. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hands looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hands takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Silva gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hands to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Silva bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hands's guard.

Silva distracts Hands with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hands 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.
Silva is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Silva lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Silva drops back looking for a leg! Hands is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hands manages to kick Silva off! Silva jumps back into Hands's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva pushing down on Hands's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Silva throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hands keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hands taking some punishment here, with Silva in his half guard.
Silva wants to take a breather but Hands is having none of it.
Silva is thwarting Hands's attempts to control the position.
Hands is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Silva is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Silva prevents Hands from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying to control. Hands wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hands on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Silva content to control rather than advance.
Hands wants to get back to his feet.
Silva throwing shots but Hands is blocking nicely.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hands with a lazy takedown attempt

and Silva decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hands's guard.
Silva trying to control but Hands is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hands utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Silva trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Silva is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Pillow Hands has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Silva postures up and lands a big shot to Hands's brow.
Karl Silva is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Silva throwing strikes from guard but Hands blocks nicely.
Hands working a defensive guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva cracks Hands with a solid left hand.
Hands will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Karl Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Silva 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 46:49
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 46:49
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Karl Silva !
Karl Silva is the new middleweight champion!