PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Enzo Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Filipe Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Silva
vs
Mendes

185 cm
19
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
190 lbs
10 - 14 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Enzo Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Filipe Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shigeki Sano and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.
Silva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mendes but Mendes pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Mendes moves into the clinch.

Silva pulls Mendes into guard.
Mendes passes into half guard.
Silva is trying to get back to full guard.
Silva is trying to maintain the position but Mendes is very close to passing his half guard.
Silva is pressing down on Mendes's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mendes trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva striking off his back but it's not causing Mendes any problems.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes sitting in guard here, content to control.
Silva wants to sweep here but Mendes controlling him for the moment.
Mendes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mendes wants to get up but he can't break Silva's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Mendes trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Silva swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Silva closes the distance and clinches.
Silva jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mendes walks away with a smile on his face. Silva gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt - Mendes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Enzo Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Mendes drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Mendes stands up and beckons Silva to his feet.

Mendes darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Mendes wants to stand up but Silva is controlling the position.
Mendes looks gassed!
Mendes not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva won't allow Mendes to pass to mount.

Silva manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Silva tries to clinch but Mendes is having none of it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Silva lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Filipe Mendes has been cut.

Silva gets a clinch.
Silva fails to pull guard.
Silva crunches a lovely knee into Mendes's ribcage.

Silva jumps into guard, dragging Mendes to the mat.

Silva had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Mendes is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Silva Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Mendes's back instead.
Mendes is trying to break free.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to control momentarily.

Silva is persistently looking for the submission but Mendes is defending it well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mendes holding both Silva 's hands and preventing any damage.
Silva trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Mendes doesn't escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Silva looking for the choke but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Enzo Silva dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Filipe Mendes's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Silva tries to clinch

and Mendes decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Silva's guard.

Silva working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Mendes has passed into half guard!
Silva is trying to control but Mendes passes into side control!
Silva dodges the ground and pound from Mendes.
Silva struggling a bit here.
Silva manages to work his way to half guard, despite Mendes's best efforts.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva wants to control but Mendes is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Silva actively working from the bottom here.
Mendes is taking a breather. Silva says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Silva is trying to maintain the position but Mendes is very close to passing his half guard.
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. Mendes connects with a nice short shot to Silva's temple.
Filipe Mendes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mendes working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's two 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Mendes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Silva pinned against the cage. Silva gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Silva scores with a takedown into Mendes's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendes seems keen to control Silva's posture.
Mendes controls Silva momentarily but Silva frees himself.
Silva is in close to Mendes's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mendes keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mendes is keeping the position for now.
Silva stands and throws Mendes's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Mendes is not content to let Silva control the position.
Mendes takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's four 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 wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mendes keeps working.
Mendes is looking to regain half guard here but Silva keeps moving and retains side control.
Mendes is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Silva has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Mendes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Filipe Mendes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Filipe Mendes's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Mendes stuffs the takedown attempt from Silva. Silva gets slowly back to his feet.
Mendes keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Silva is looking to clinch.
Silva tries to clinch up.
Horrible takedown by Mendes or perhaps it was just good defense by Silva which made him look bad.

Silva rushes Mendes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Silva tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mendes smiles and moves away.

Mendes scores with a takedown into Silva's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva is looking for a triangle but Mendes pushes his legs off easily.
Mendes wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Mendes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.
Mendes wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Mendes wants to stand but Silva has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

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.
Mendes is fighting to break Silva's control of his arms but Silva is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Silva is looking for a triangle but Mendes pushes his legs off easily.
Silva controls Mendes momentarily but Mendes frees himself.
Silva keeping full guard, as Mendes tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Silva striking off his back.
Silva managing to control the position.

Silva is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Mendes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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.
Mendes trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Mendes is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Silva jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Mendes manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Mendes is looking for a sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Enzo Silva showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Silva has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Enzo Silva!
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Enzo Silva!
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Enzo Silva!

Enzo Silva wins by unanimous decision!