PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Silver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stenly Zdravkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Silver
vs
Zdravkov

185 cm
24
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Steve Silver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stenly Zdravkov!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zdravkov loads up on a big right hand but Silver slips the punch.
Silver misses with a double jab.

Zdravkov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Silver looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Silver is trying to control Zdravkov's posture but Zdravkov avoids it.
Silver prevents Zdravkov from moving into mount.
Silver wants to control but Zdravkov postures up.
Silver trying to remain calm as Zdravkov controls from the top position.
Silver sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Zdravkov blocks the strikes from Silver.
Silver throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silver trying to control but Zdravkov postures up.
Silver tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Silver trying to hold on to Zdravkov's head to control him but Zdravkov postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silver works his way to full guard. Good work.
Zdravkov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Zdravkov working some strikes from top position.
Silver is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Silver missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Silver sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zdravkov is trying to stand.
Zdravkov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Silver scores with a couple of nice shots.
Silver missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Silver is trying to work for a kimura but Zdravkov is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silver thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Silver seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zdravkov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Silver working Zdravkov over with strikes.
Silver trying to control from half guard but Zdravkov is working away.
Silver missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Zdravkov tries to get to full guard but Silver has control of the leg.
Silver thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zdravkov's head.
Silver not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zdravkov wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silver sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zdravkov defending well though.
Silver seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zdravkov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Zdravkov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Silver. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Silver is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Zdravkov is just riding it out for now. Silver eventually gives up the hold.
Silver looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Silver is nestled in close to Zdravkov, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Silver prevents Zdravkov from standing back up.
Silver is nestled in close to Zdravkov, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Nice strikes from Silver there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zdravkov gets back to full guard.
Zdravkov keeping moving, preventing Silver from controlling successfully.
Silver sitting in guard here, content to control.
Silver throws a big right hand that misses.
Zdravkov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Zdravkov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zdravkov being controlled here, momentarily.
Silver working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Silver dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Silver tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Zdravkov is able to avoid easily.
Zdravkov shoots in but no luck this time.
Zdravkov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Silver.
Zdravkov looks for a takedown but Silver sprawls well.
Danga de danga de dang - Silver scores with a four punch combination!
Zdravkov throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Silver misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silver closes the distance and clinches up with Zdravkov, looking for a takedown. Silver pushes Zdravkov against the cage but Zdravkov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Zdravkov dives in for a single leg takedown but Silver sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Steve Silver has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stenly Zdravkov.
Silver lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zdravkov circles away quickly and effectively.
Zdravkov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silver paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Silver lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zdravkov circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zdravkov looks to clinch
and Silver counters with a left and a right that stings Zdravkov.
Zdravkov dodges the punch combination from Silver.
Silver throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Zdravkov counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silver looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Zdravkov shoots in but no luck this time.
Silver stuffs the takedown attempt from Zdravkov. Zdravkov gets slowly back to his feet.
Zdravkov goes for a double leg but Silver avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Silver continues to drive forward.

Silver shoots in and bounces Zdravkov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Silver postures up and lands a big shot to Zdravkov's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silver makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Silver missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silver postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Silver trying to control the position from guard on top but Zdravkov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silver with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Zdravkov keeping moving, preventing Silver from controlling successfully.
Silver cracks Zdravkov with a solid left hand.
Silver is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silver lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Silver in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Silver trying to control but Zdravkov is working from the bottom.
Zdravkov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Silver keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Zdravkov's head.
Silver 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.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Silver's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Silver is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Silver drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Silver jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Steve Silver overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Silver loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Silver trying to control the position from guard on top but Zdravkov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silver passes Zdravkov's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silver controlling the action here.
Nice strikes from Silver there.
Silver is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zdravkov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Silver lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Silver lands strikes from half guard.
Zdravkov on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Silver dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Zdravkov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Silver was well out of range. Poor timing from Zdravkov.
Silver wants to clinch up but Zdravkov keeps it at a distance.
Zdravkov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Silver moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Zdravkov tries to clinch there but Silver circles away.
Silver is looking to counter the offense by Zdravkov and move into the clinch.
Silver displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Zdravkov wants to clinch.
Silver pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Zdravkov back to the cage. Silver follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

It looks like Stenly Zdravkov has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Left hook, right uppercut from Silver.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silver feints a jab promting Zdravkov to slip. Silver then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Zdravkov slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Steve Silver is winning the standup battle so far.
Zdravkov fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Silver is out of range.
Silver fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silver scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Zdravkov doesn't seem bothered though.
Silver lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Silver throws a series of punches but Zdravkov avoids them all with ease.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
No joy there for Zdravkov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Silver misses with a wild combination.
A leg kick checked by Zdravkov.
Some wild striking there from Silver.
Zdravkov with the counter takedown but Silver avoids it easily.
Silver throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zdravkov.
Steve Silver is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Zdravkov moves into range and clinches up with Silver.
Silver is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Silver changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Zdravkov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Silver fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zdravkov shoots in looking for a takedown but Silver manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zdravkov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Silver shoots in looking for a takedown. Zdravkov tries to sprawl out of it but Silver keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zdravkov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Zdravkov dives in and scores a takedown into Silver's guard.
Zdravkov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Silver tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Silver working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zdravkov.
Zdravkov scoring with some ground and pound.
Zdravkov is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Silver looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Zdravkov puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zdravkov controlling the action here.
Silver is pressing down on Zdravkov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Silver bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zdravkov's guard.

Zdravkov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Steve Silver is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Silver engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Silver working some strikes from top position.
Silver is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silver drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Silver jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Silver working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Silver is looking to work some ground and pound but Zdravkov has wrist control.
Stenly Zdravkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zdravkov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Silver showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Silver, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight for Steve Silver!
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight for Steve Silver!
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight for Steve Silver!

Steve Silver wins by unanimous decision!