PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Silva Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Staph Aureus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Silva Jr
vs
Aureus

200 cm
26
262 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

192 cm
36
275 lbs
22 - 19 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anderson Silva Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Staph Aureus!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Aureus gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Silva Jr tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nice body punch from Aureus - that landed with a thud.
Silva Jr definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Silva Jr jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Aureus walks away with a smile on his face. Silva Jr gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Silva Jr throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Aureus counters with a nice uppercut.

Silva Jr has managed to clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Aureus fails to land.
Aureus tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Silva Jr's elbow.
Silva Jr is looking to break free of the clinch but Aureus has double underhooks.
Aureus dodges an elbow strike from Silva Jr.
Silva Jr tries to land a knee to the head but Aureus blocks with his arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva Jr tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Silva Jr ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Silva Jr no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Silva Jr on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Silva Jr tries to get out of the position.
Aureus throwing strikes from guard but Silva Jr blocks nicely.
Aureus trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aureus slips nicely into half guard.
Aureus not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Silva Jr is holding on to half guard well.
Ground and pound from Aureus.
Silva Jr tries to roll over but Aureus keeps him under control.
Silva Jr is trying to maintain the position but Aureus is very close to passing his half guard.
Silva Jr is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Silva Jr is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Aureus's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Aureus's back!
Silva Jr keeps control of the position easily here as Aureus tries to buck him off.
Silva Jr struggling to keep hold of the position.
Aureus covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Aureus has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Aureus prevents Silva Jr from getting a body triangle.
Aureus tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Silva Jr misses with an elbow to the head.
Aureus tries to roll but Silva Jr sticks to his back.
Silva Jr struggling to land strikes to the head as Aureus covers up.
Silva Jr trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Aureus doesn't escape.
Aureus prevents Silva Jr from getting a body triangle.
Silva Jr biding his time, controlling Aureus.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva Jr tries to keep control of the position but Aureus is staying busy.
Aureus is really stuck here.
Silva Jr is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva Jr wants to control but Aureus is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Silva Jr dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Aureus tries to keep at a distance but Silva Jr has taken the fight into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Silva Jr's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Silva Jr pushes Aureus back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Staph Aureus has been cut.
Silva Jr scores with a knee to the head.

Silva Jr pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Aureus gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Silva Jr jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Aureus walks away with a smile on his face. Silva Jr gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Silva Jr throws a series of punches but Aureus moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva Jr takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Silva Jr lands a jab to Aureus's midsection.
Aureus throws out a leg kick but Silva Jr moves out of range and Aureus only half commits.
Silva Jr looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aureus closes the distance and clinches.
Silva Jr is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Aureus is keeping busy.
Aureus creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Silva Jr is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Silva Jr trying to stall but Aureus improves his position.
Aureus missing with knees to the body.
Silva Jr with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva Jr throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Aureus misses with a knee to the head.
Silva Jr working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva Jr with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Aureus utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Silva Jr is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Aureus can do to turn this around?
Aureus misses with a knee strike.
Silva Jr is trying to stall.
Silva Jr looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Silva Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Silva Jr breaks the clinch.
Aureus looks for the body kick but Silva Jr saw that one coming.

Aureus instigates a clinch.
Silva Jr managing to block the knees to the body from Aureus.
Silva Jr holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Aureus being controlled against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Aureus.
Aureus trying to land knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Aureus.
Aureus misses with an elbow over the top.
Silva Jr has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Silva Jr wants to break the clinch but can't.
Silva Jr is trying to force a seperation but Aureus has the dominant position.
Aureus with a knee to the head.
Silva Jr is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Aureus dodges an elbow strike from Silva Jr.
Silva Jr is trying to push Aureus away but Aureus has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Silva Jr working hard to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Aureus obliges.

Silva Jr drags the fight down to the ground.
Silva Jr wants to stand up but Aureus is controlling him.
Aureus working some strikes from top position.
Aureus postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aureus throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Silva Jr works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Silva Jr lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Aureus working for a triangle but Silva Jr defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Aureus throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Staph Aureus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Staph Aureus's cut.
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 Jr changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Aureus tries to avoid it but Silva Jr manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Aureus to the ground. Aureus escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Silva Jr tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Aureus defends well and Silva Jr ends up having to push Aureus into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Aureus walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Silva Jr checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Aureus gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Silva Jr using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Aureus has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silva Jr on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Silva Jr breaks the clinch.
Silva Jr rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Aureus moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Silva Jr moves into the clinch successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva Jr looking to throw knees to the head but Aureus is blocking nicely.
Silva Jr blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Silva Jr tries a body shot but Aureus blocks it.

Silva Jr manages to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aureus missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Aureus wants to pass the guard but Silva Jr is keeping the position.
Silva Jr is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Silva Jr has his hands on Aureus's head, controlling the position.
Silva Jr trying to control the position.
Silva Jr is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Aureus is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Aureus distracts Silva Jr with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Aureus working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Silva Jr pulls Aureus in to control the position.
Aureus throwing strikes but missing.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Silva Jr rushes Aureus and presses him up against the cage.
A short right from Silva Jr.

Silva Jr breaks the clinch.
Silva Jr looks to land a body kick but Aureus moved away.
Aureus shoots in for a takedown but Silva Jr shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva Jr tries to keep at a distance but Aureus has taken the fight into the clinch.
Aureus is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Silva Jr is defending well for now.
Silva Jr fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Silva Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva Jr blocks an uppercut.
Silva Jr wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Silva Jr is trying to pull guard but Aureus has him pressed against the cage.
Silva Jr wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Aureus has him pressed against the cage.

Silva Jr breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Silva Jr gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Aureus avoids a wild elbow strike from Silva Jr.

Silva Jr breaks the clinch.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aureus is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Silva Jr has escaped the position, nice work there.
Silva Jr sneaks back into half guard.
Aureus prevents Silva Jr from improving his position.
Aureus lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aureus throwing shots but Silva Jr is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Staph Aureus just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Staph Aureus's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Silva Jr lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Aureus backs up against the cage.
A slapping body kick lands there for Aureus.

Silva Jr gets tackled into the cage by Aureus. Aureus maintains the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Aureus fails to land.
Silva Jr blocks the elbow strike.
Silva Jr tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Aureus throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva Jr scores with a knee to the head.
Aureus utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Aureus cracks Silva Jr with a nice body shot.
Silva Jr is trying to break the clinch but Aureus has him pressed against the cage.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Silva Jr has had enough of the clinch but Aureus keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aureus tries to land knees in the clinch but Silva Jr avoids the damage to the body.
Aureus throws a knee to the head but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Aureus just misses with a elbow thrown towards Silva Jr's brow.
Silva Jr prevents a body shot from Aureus.
Silva Jr is looking to break free of the clinch but Aureus has double underhooks.
Silva Jr is trying to break the clinch but Aureus is controlling him.
Silva Jr tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Aureus just stands there and leans against the cage.
Silva Jr lands an elbow inside.
Silva Jr jumps guard but Aureus stands there with Silva Jr around his waist. Silva Jr gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Silva Jr pulls Aureus into guard.
Aureus scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Silva Jr wants to improve his position but instead Aureus has moved into half guard.
Silva Jr is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva Jr tries to kick Aureus off but Aureus keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Aureus seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Aureus lands strikes from half guard.
Silva Jr wants to control but Aureus is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Aureus not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Silva Jr on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Aureus is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Aureus is thwarting Silva Jr's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aureus looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Silva Jr has hold of Aureus's hands but Aureus slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Aureus is thwarting Silva Jr's attempts to control the position.
Aureus is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Silva Jr tries to get to full guard but Aureus has control of the leg.
Aureus winds up and cracks Silva Jr with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aureus thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Aureus not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Silva Jr is looking for a sweep. Aureus is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Aureus is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Aureus not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Aureus thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva Jr is trying to stand up here but Aureus is controlling him well.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Silva Jr has closed the distance and engaged Aureus in a clinch.
Silva Jr tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Staph Aureus dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Staph Aureus's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Silva Jr tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Aureus swivels and escapes.

Silva Jr gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nice body punch from Aureus.

Silva Jr breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Silva Jr misses with the combination.

Aureus drives through with a takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aureus postures up in Silva Jr's guard and throws a big left but Silva Jr blocks it.
Silva Jr is looking to stand up but Aureus isn't so interested in that idea.

Aureus is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Silva Jr is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Silva Jr has escaped and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva Jr wanted to stand there but Aureus had control of the position.

Aureus working for a triangle but Silva Jr defends it easily.
Silva Jr throwing strikes from guard but Aureus blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Silva Jr wants to stand but Aureus is controlling his posture from full guard.
Aureus tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Staph Aureus has got the better of the ground game so far.

Silva Jr decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Aureus, up you get!
Aureus fails with the takedown.
Silva Jr seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Aureus pushes Silva Jr up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Aureus just misses with a elbow thrown towards Silva Jr's brow.
Aureus trying to land knees to the body.
Aureus tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Silva Jr breaks the clinch.
Aureus gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Silva Jr.

Aureus clinches with his opponent.
Silva Jr jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Aureus walks away with a smile on his face. Silva Jr gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Silva Jr lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That has opened up Staph Aureus's cut even more.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Aureus.

Aureus rushes Silva Jr and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Aureus misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Silva Jr.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva Jr avoiding damage as Aureus throws knees to the body.

Silva Jr breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Aureus pushes Silva Jr up against the cage in a clinch.

Silva Jr manages to break the clinch.
Aureus shoots in for a double leg but Silva Jr sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Silva Jr tries to keep at a distance but Aureus has taken the fight into the clinch.
Anderson Silva Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Silva Jr is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Aureus is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Silva Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva Jr working hard to break the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Good body shot from Aureus.

Silva Jr breaks the clinch.

Aureus gets in close and instigates a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Staph Aureus comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Aureus 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 Don Winkell scores the fight for Staph Aureus!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Staph Aureus!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Staph Aureus!

Staph Aureus wins by unanimous decision!
During a confident post fight interview, Staph Aureus thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.