PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Francis (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
Francis

180 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Malicious Intent Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Silva!
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, Carlos Francis!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Felipe Paraventi and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Francis on the side of the head.
Francis shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Silva as he jumps to the side.

Silva closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Silva seems to be looking for submissions.
Francis trying to hold on to Silva's head to control him but Silva postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Francis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Francis keeps control of the position for the meantime.

Silva is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Francis has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is trying to control the action in half guard but Francis is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Silva content to control rather than advance.
Silva passes into side control, despite Francis's attempt to control the position.
Silva moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Silva lands some shots froms side control.

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.
Silva wants to take a breather but Francis manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Silva.
Francis looking to control.
Silva stays in close to Francis's body and controls the position.
Silva wants to control from the top but Francis keeps moving.
Silva 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Francis dives on top into guard.
Silva wants to control but Francis passes easily into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva is doing well to control the position and prevent Francis from advancing to side control.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Paulo Silva just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Silva gets caught flat footed, as Francis shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Francis from controlling successfully.
Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Francis controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to sweep here but Francis controlling him for the moment.
Silva is working hard here to advance position.
Silva keeping full guard, as Francis tries to pass.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Francis won't allow Silva to sweep him here.

Silva has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Francis can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Silva 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 looping right.
Paulo Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Francis shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Silva counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Francis's guard now.
Silva postures up in Francis's guard and throws a big left but Francis blocks it.

Francis looking for a guillotine here but Silva defends easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Francis is on top in guard.
Silva not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Francis trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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.
Francis holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Silva is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Francis defends it well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Well, if Silva is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Francis is trying to control but can't.

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.
Francis moves into full guard.
Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Francis is retaining full guard.
Silva postures up.
Silva won't allow Francis to sweep him here.
Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Francis is retaining full guard.
Francis keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Silva looking to sit in guard and control but Francis gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Francis is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Francis misses with a takedown

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

Francis is looking for a triangle but Silva pushes his legs off easily.
Francis wants to sweep but no luck.

Silva postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Francis is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Silva, into his guard.
Paulo Silva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Silva wants to sweep here but Francis controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Francis wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Francis pushes down on Silva's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Francis is thwarting Silva's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Silva dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Francis misses with a takedown attempt

and Silva counters with a takedown into side control.
Francis wants to control but Silva postures up.

Silva tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Francis is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Francis defending against the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Francis is trying to control Silva's posture but Silva avoids it.
Francis regains half guard, as Silva was trying to land strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Francis makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Francis.
Silva wants to control from the top but Francis keeps moving.
Silva wants to stand but Francis is controlling his posture from full guard.
Silva won't allow Francis to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Francis seems keen to control Silva's posture.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Francis is keeping the position for now.
Silva throwing strikes from guard but Francis blocks nicely.
Francis controls Silva momentarily but Silva frees himself.
Silva wants to control from the top but Francis keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Francis scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Francis uses his free foot to push down on Silva's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Silva.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francis controlling the pace for now.
Francis with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Francis looking to control and managing it successfully.
Silva wants to control but Francis is having none of it.
Francis tries to control but Silva wriggling away.

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 is looking to improve his position but Francis isn't that keen on the idea.
Silva stops Francis from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Francis manages to capitalize on a mistake by Silva to take his back!
Silva staying busy and making it hard for Francis to control.
Silva rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Francis tries to pass to full mount but Silva defends it.
Carlos Francis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Silva stalks Francis and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Francis's face. Francis staggers backwards, shaken.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Paulo Silva.
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 Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paulo Silva!