PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gunji Koizumi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Silva's choice of entrance music: Dmx No Sunshine . Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Koizumi
vs
Silva

176 cm
26
193 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

187 cm
28
198 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250
GREEN!160

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gunji Koizumi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Anderson Silva!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Koizumi throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Silva tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Koizumi is in Silva's guard.
Koizumi is standing up over Silva. Silva looks to escape but Koizumi dives into side control.

Koizumi working away.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Koizumi has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
You can see the frustration on Silva's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Koizumi is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Silva has escaped the position, nice work there.
Koizumi taking a breather here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koizumi has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Silva!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koizumi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Koizumi has hold of Silva's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Silva manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Koizumi looking to control and managing it successfully.
Koizumi's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Koizumi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Silva wants to control but Koizumi is having none of it.
Koizumi lands a heavy elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koizumi controlling his opponent.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Koizumi.
Koizumi is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Silva can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Silva in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Silva tries to hold on but Koizumi postures up.
Koizumi scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Silva?
Koizumi 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.
Koizumi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Silva wants to control but Koizumi is having none of it.
Koizumi controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is wriggling around trying to escape.
Koizumi tries to control but Silva wriggling away.
Koizumi pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

It looks like Anderson Silva has been cut.
Silva is in a horrible position here. Koizumi smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Koizumi controlling the position easily from mount.
Koizumi wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.

Koizumi working for a submission but Silva is keeping him at bay.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koizumi controlling his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva prevents Koizumi from taking his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Koizumi motions for Silva to come forward. Koizumi throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Koizumi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A little jabbing left from Silva on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Silva gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Koizumi lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Koizumi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Koizumi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Koizumi throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koizumi's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Silva wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Koizumi is now in half guard.
Gunji Koizumi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Koizumi looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is looking to improve his position.
Koizumi with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Koizumi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Silva is refusing to be controlled, as Koizumi sits in half guard.
Koizumi works his way into full mount!
Koizumi with good strikes from the mount here!
Koizumi controlling from mount.
Silva wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva is wriggling around trying to escape.
Koizumi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Koizumi is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Silva is surviving well by controlling Koizumi's body position as best he can.
Koizumi is landing with some decent strikes but Silva is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Silva really wants to buck Koizumi off and get back to his feet.
Koizumi content just to control the position here.
Koizumi tries to control but Silva wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koizumi unloading with bombs!
Koizumi connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Silva really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Koizumi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Silva slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Silva pushes Koizumi off looking to stand but Koizumi dives back in and keeps control.
Koizumi moves into full mount! Silva won't be happy about that!
Silva has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koizumi has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Silva's body.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Koizumi is working for a rear naked choke. Silva is not defending it well and Koizumi has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! Silva refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of Silva's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Gunji Koizumi!
The defeated Anderson Silva had this to say: 'God Bless'.