PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Silas Blankenship (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wanderlei Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Blankenship
vs
Silva

212 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

181 cm
25
181 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Silas Blankenship!
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, Wanderlei Silva!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Emerson Jorge and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Blankenship feints and as Silva raises his hands in defense, Blankenship changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Silva not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Blankenship postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Blankenship throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Blankenship 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.
Blankenship loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Silva preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Blankenship lands a couple of digs.
Silva is trying to keep Blankenship in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blankenship keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Silva's head.
Blankenship working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Silva striking from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blankenship is in close to Silva's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Blankenship throws a big right hand that misses.
Blankenship throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Silva controls Blankenship momentarily but Blankenship frees himself.
Blankenship really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blankenship postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Blankenship will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Blankenship scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Silva looking for a guillotine here but Blankenship defends easily.
Blankenship throws a big elbow that misses.
Blankenship is looking to work some ground and pound but Silva has wrist control.
Silva really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Blankenship. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Blankenship accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Blankenship postures up in Silva's guard and throws a big left but Silva blocks it.
Blankenship lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Blankenship throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Silva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Blankenship is one step ahead there.

Blankenship stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Blankenship goes for a double leg but Silva avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Silva continues to drive forward.
Nice takedown defense from Silva. No joy for Blankenship on that attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Blankenship.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Silas Blankenship. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blankenship tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Silva swivels and escapes.
Silva is looking for the big counter here.
Wanderlei Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blankenship is breathing heavily.
Blankenship shoots for a double leg takedown but Silva sprawls well. He's pushed Blankenship's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship blocks a head kick by Silva.

Silva shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Blankenship napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Blankenship is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Blankenship bucks up and tries to throw Silva off but instead Silva has got his back!
Blankenship is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blankenship is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.
Silva is looking to clinch.

Silva scores with a takedown into Blankenship's guard.
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!
Blankenship keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.

Blankenship is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Silva is aware though and is defending well.

Blankenship scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Silva scores with a takedown into Blankenship's guard.
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 Silas Blankenship will probably get the nod.
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.

Silva scores with a body shot.

Blankenship gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Silva postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Silva must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Blankenship trying to keep a closed guard but Silva is proving a slippery customer.
Silva content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Blankenship scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Silva closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Silva lands in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blankenship wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Silva won't allow Blankenship to sweep him here.
Blankenship is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Silva prevents Blankenship from getting back to his feet.

Blankenship is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Blankenship manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Silva manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship prevents Silva from getting back to his feet.
Blankenship throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Silva works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Silas Blankenship overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Silva avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Blankenship throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Blankenship with a flurry of punches that miss.
Blankenship throwing strikes but missing.
Blankenship throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.
Blankenship throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship working some strikes from top position.
Blankenship is looking to work some ground and pound but Silva has wrist control.
Silva looking to control.

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

Blankenship gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Silva to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Silva looking to pass the guard.
Blankenship lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Blankenship working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Blankenship throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.
Blankenship content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Blankenship loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Blankenship throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Blankenship accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Silva looking for a guillotine here but Blankenship defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Silas Blankenship will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Blankenship scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Silva takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Silva parries the strikes from Blankenship easily there. Blankenship is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Silva to escape.

Blankenship tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Blankenship has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
You can see the frustration on Silva's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Blankenship is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Silva can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Blankenship working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Blankenship off and has taken his back!
Blankenship is trying to stand back up.
Silva not allowing Blankenship to control his hands.
Silva is trying to stick to Blankenship's back but Blankenship is turning into Silva. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Silva's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Blankenship.
Silva avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Blankenship accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Silva looking to control.
Blankenship scoring with some ground and pound.
Silva manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Blankenship manages to get himself to full guard.

Blankenship trying to keep a closed guard but Silva is proving a slippery customer.

Blankenship escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Silva gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Blankenship wants to sweep here but Silva controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship wants to stand and escape but Silva is having none of it.
Silva in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Silva looking to pass the guard.
Silva is looking to stand up but Blankenship won't let him.

Blankenship has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Silva can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Blankenship is looking to sweep but instead, Silva has passed into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Blankenship on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Blankenship has one foot on Silva's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Silva lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Silva tries to clinch but Blankenship is having none of it.
Silva throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Blankenship's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Blankenship manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Silva on his heels. He'll look to pass Silva's guard now, I'm sure.
Silva is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Wanderlei Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Silas Blankenship is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Blankenship is sitting in close to Silva's body. Silva has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Blankenship is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Blankenship is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Silva.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Wanderlei Silva!