PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Da Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Salvatore Ferrara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Da Silva
vs
Ferrara

194 cm
22
204 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

193 cm
18
212 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anderson Da Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Salvatore Ferrara!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Luis Engracia and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ferrara shoots in and gets a takedown into Da Silva's guard.

Da Silva pushes Ferrara off and scrambles back to his feet.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!
Da Silva lands with a slapping head kick.
Ferrara shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Da Silva pinned against the cage. Da Silva gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Da Silva has taken the fight to the clinch.
Da Silva wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Da Silva is trying to break the clinch but Ferrara has him pressed against the cage.
Da Silva can't break the clinch.
Da Silva prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Da Silva escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ferrara avoids a kick to the body.

Da Silva closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ferrara wants a takedown.
Anderson Da Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Salvatore Ferrara.
Da Silva gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ferrara.
Da Silva prevents the takedown attempt.
Stalling in the clinch from Da Silva.

Da Silva jumps into guard, dragging Ferrara to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferrara controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Da Silva preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Da Silva is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ferrara's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ferrara stands up over Da Silva, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Da Silva can't keep his opponent in guard - Ferrara advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

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

Ferrara throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Da Silva tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ferrara is in Da Silva's guard.

Ferrara gets to his feet. Da Silva looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Ferrara closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Da Silva did well to prevent Ferrara getting side control.

Da Silva makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Da Silva has closed the distance and engaged Ferrara in a clinch.
Ferrara is looking to take this one to the mat.

Da Silva escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ferrara closes this distance looking for a takedown but Da Silva circles away.
Da Silva shoots in for a double leg but Ferrara sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Anderson Da Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva shoots in but no luck this time.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice sprawl there from Da Silva as Ferrara shoots in.
Da Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.
Da Silva misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Ferrara throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Da Silva tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ferrara is in Da Silva's guard.
Ferrara wants to pass the guard but Da Silva is keeping the position.
Da Silva wants to sweep here but Ferrara controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Da Silva dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Horrible takedown attempt by Ferrara or perhaps it was just good defense by Da Silva, which made it look bad.

Da Silva drives through and clinches with Ferrara against the cage.

Da Silva decides to pull guard.
Ferrara postures up.
Ferrara pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Da Silva is keeping the position for now.
Ferrara slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ferrara stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Da Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferrara postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ferrara advances position into side control!
Da Silva is trying to control Ferrara's posture but Ferrara avoids it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Nice sprawl there from Da Silva as Ferrara shoots in.

Ferrara shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ferrara must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ferrara lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ferrara with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ferrara is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Da Silva is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Da Silva has escaped and now he's on top!
Da Silva being controlled here momentarily.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ferrara can do anything to dispel that myth.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva tries to stand but Ferrara is controlling from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Da Silva stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Da Silva wants it to stay on the feet.
Anderson Da Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Salvatore Ferrara.
Ferrara fails to land the takedown.
Da Silva tries to counter by clinching up but Ferrara breaks away and moves out of range.

Da Silva feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Ferrara wants to hit a switch here but Da Silva passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Ferrara there!
Ferrara is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Ferrara holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Da Silva tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Ferrara doing his best to control the position. Can he escape?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ferrara manages to regain half guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Da Silva 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!

Da Silva shoots in looking for a takedown but Ferrara manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Da Silva's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nice takedown defense from Da Silva. No joy for Ferrara on that attempt.
Ferrara looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Da Silva is fending him off so far but Ferrara persists. Nope, Da Silva circles away and we're back to standing.
Anderson Da Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Da Silva looks to clinch

and Ferrara counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Da Silva wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Ferrara swings around for an armbar but Da Silva sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Ferrara's guard.
Ferrara seems keen to control Da Silva's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Da Silva wants to control from the top but Ferrara keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Da Silva drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ferrara dives on top into guard.
Ferrara won't allow Da Silva to get back to his feet.
Ferrara sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Da Silva's guard.
Ferrara is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Da Silva pushes Ferrara off looking to stand but Ferrara dives back in and keeps control.
Ferrara working over Da Silva with some ground and pound. Da Silva looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Salvatore Ferrara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ferrara is taking a breather. Da 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.
Ferrara wants to stand up but Da Silva is controlling the position.
Ferrara scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ferrara prevents Da Silva from improving his position.
Ferrara is pressing down on Da Silva's thigh, looking to free his foot. Da Silva is holding on for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Ferrara looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Ferrara.
Ferrara not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ferrara sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Da Silva defending well though.
It looks like Ferrara is going to stand back up.
My spies in Animal House inform me that Ferrara has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Da Silva trying to hold on to Ferrara's head to control him but Ferrara postures up.
Da Silva pushes Ferrara off looking to stand but Ferrara dives back in and keeps control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Da Silva looking for a kimura from the bottom but Ferrara passes into side control!

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ferrara fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Da Silva is out of range.

Ferrara shoots in and bounces Da Silva off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Da Silva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Da Silva has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Ferrara is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Ferrara gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Da Silva.
Anderson Da Silva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Da Silva managing to block the knees to the body from Ferrara.

And that's the end of the fight!
Salvatore Ferrara comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Da Silva has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anderson Da Silva!
Anderson Da Silva decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.