PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joao Ribeiro Da Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Macadam Baird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ribeiro Da Silva comes to the cage accompanied by Soulfly - Pain. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Ribeiro Da Silva
vs
Baird

185 cm
32
190 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

182 cm
32
190 lbs
20 - 17 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

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 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joao Ribeiro Da Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 17 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Macadam Baird!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ribeiro Da Silva showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Baird.
Baird throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ribeiro Da Silva cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ribeiro Da Silva scores with a jab to the head.
Baird shoots for a takedown but Ribeiro Da Silva saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ribeiro Da Silva tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Baird manages to circle out of the way.
Ribeiro Da Silva throws a right and a left that Baird avoids nicely.
Baird wants to counter with a clinch but Ribeiro Da Silva pushes him away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ribeiro Da Silva lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ribeiro Da Silva on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Baird looks to score with a jab to the body but Ribeiro Da Silva is just out of range.
Ribeiro Da Silva is looking to counter the offense by Baird and move into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Ribeiro Da Silva.
Ribeiro Da Silva tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Baird manages to circle out of the way.
Ribeiro Da Silva looks to throw the jab but Baird is out of range.
Baird fails to land with a series of punches.
Ribeiro Da Silva looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Baird fails with a takedown attempt.
Ribeiro Da Silva throws a leg kick

and Baird counters with a shoot takedown. Ribeiro Da Silva fights it but they end up in guard.
Ribeiro Da Silva manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Baird manages to get himself to full guard.

Ribeiro Da Silva won't allow Baird to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baird controls Ribeiro Da Silva momentarily but Ribeiro Da Silva frees himself.
Baird seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Baird's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Let's hope that Baird has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Ribeiro Da Silva controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro Da Silva advances position into side control!
Baird is trying to improve his position.
Baird manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Ribeiro Da Silva thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ribeiro Da Silva thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Baird's head.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Ribeiro Da Silva prevents Baird from improving his position.
Baird regains full guard. Nicely done.
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.
Baird throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Ribeiro Da Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Baird is retaining full guard.
Baird keeping moving, preventing Ribeiro Da Silva from controlling successfully.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Ribeiro Da Silva looking to pass the guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Baird lands with a shot to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baird connects with a solid leg kick.

Baird manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Ribeiro Da Silva on his heels. He'll look to pass Ribeiro Da Silva's guard now, I'm sure.
Baird is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Macadam Baird will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Baird gets a double leg takedown into Ribeiro Da Silva's guard.
Ribeiro Da Silva manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Baird manages to get himself to full guard.

Baird is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Ribeiro Da Silva avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Baird looking for a guillotine here but Ribeiro Da Silva defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Baird is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Baird has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribeiro Da Silva trying to control but Baird is working from the bottom.
Baird tries to land a sweep but no joy.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Baird is on top in guard.

Baird postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ribeiro Da Silva trying to control the position here.
Baird preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro Da Silva controls Baird momentarily but Baird frees himself.
Baird tries to free his leg and advance position but Ribeiro Da Silva is retaining full guard.
Baird won't allow Ribeiro Da Silva to sweep him here.
Baird stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ribeiro Da Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ribeiro Da Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ribeiro Da Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Baird is proving a slippery customer.
Baird engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro Da Silva keeping moving, preventing Baird from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ribeiro Da Silva defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Baird.
Baird looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ribeiro Da Silva is fending him off so far but Baird persists. Nope, Ribeiro Da Silva circles away and we're back to standing.
Ribeiro Da Silva motions for Baird to come forward. Ribeiro Da Silva throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ribeiro Da Silva moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromBaird.
Ribeiro Da Silva stuffs the takedown.
It looked like Ribeiro Da Silva was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Joao Ribeiro Da Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Macadam Baird.

Baird drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ribeiro Da Silva gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro Da Silva slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ribeiro Da Silva lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Baird is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Baird working a defensive guard here.
Baird keeping moving, preventing Ribeiro Da Silva from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Macadam Baird showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Baird lands a glancing blow to the side of Ribeiro Da Silva's head.
Baird moves in looking to clinch but Ribeiro Da Silva pushes him off.
Ribeiro Da Silva seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Baird misses with a hook. Ribeiro Da Silva ducked under it nicely.
Ribeiro Da Silva is looking to counter the offense by Baird and move into the clinch.
Baird checks a leg kick.
Baird clobbers Ribeiro Da Silva with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baird moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Baird.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baird fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ribeiro Da Silva sprawls well initially but Baird persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Baird is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ribeiro Da Silva has managed to free his arm - good work.
Baird is trying to control. Ribeiro Da Silva wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ribeiro Da Silva wants to improve his position but Baird is controlling well.

Baird is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ribeiro Da Silva defends it well.
Joao Ribeiro Da Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Macadam Baird is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro Da Silva is trying to maintain the position but Baird is very close to passing his half guard.
Baird wants to control but Ribeiro Da Silva is keeping him busy.
Baird with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Ribeiro Da Silva is looking to improve his position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Ribeiro Da Silva wants to control but Baird is keeping busy.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baird shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Baird is trying to control the action in half guard but Ribeiro Da Silva is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ribeiro Da Silva moves into full guard.
Baird sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ribeiro Da Silva's guard.
Ribeiro Da Silva holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Baird seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Baird working his ground and pound in the gym.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Baird is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ribeiro Da Silva sees it coming and defends easily.
Ribeiro Da Silva desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Ribeiro Da Silva tries to get to full guard but Baird has control of the leg.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Baird performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Baird tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ribeiro Da Silva knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Macadam Baird comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Baird has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Macadam Baird!
Macadam Baird decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.