PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zeke Rivers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leandro Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Rivers might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to War by Hed Pe. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Rivers
vs
Silva

191 cm
29
255 lbs
7 - 10 - 0

193 cm
23
283 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zeke Rivers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leandro Silva!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Oooooh!!! Rivers has knocked Silva down with a huge combo! Rivers steps away and waves a wobbly Silva back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

It looks like Leandro Silva has been cut.
Rivers stalks Silva and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Silva's face. Silva staggers backwards, shaken.
Silva has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Rivers throws a head kick that misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivers looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Silva is fending him off so far but Rivers persists. Nope, Silva circles away and we're back to standing.
Silva looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Rivers tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rivers goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Rivers scores with a three punch combo!
Rivers misses with a hook. Silva ducked under it nicely.

Rivers changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Silva looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rivers fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Rivers 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.
Silva seems a little lost for a moment, as Rivers dominates the positioning.
Silva is looking for a sweep.
Silva pushes Rivers away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rivers gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Silva is trying to control Rivers's posture but Rivers avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Silva dodges the ground and pound from Rivers.
Silva tries to bench press Rivers off him but Rivers keeps the position.

Rivers stands up.
Rivers takes one on the button.
Rivers slips under a jab.
Rivers fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A little jabbing left from Silva on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Rivers darts in and clinches Silva up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Silva swats away the attempt to clinch by Rivers.

Rivers closes the distance and clinches.
Rivers gets through Silva's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Rivers turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Silva is trying to control Rivers's posture but Rivers avoids it.
Silva is holding Rivers down, trying to stall.
You can see the frustration on Silva's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is looking for a sweep.
Silva really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rivers. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Silva struggling a bit here.
Rivers tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Rivers is working hard here to advance position.

Rivers stands up and beckons Silva to his feet.
Rivers misses with a takedown
and Silva counters with a straight right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zeke Rivers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivers throws a combination that misses
and Silva counters with a left and a right that stings Rivers.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Silva moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Silva cracks a nice hook into Rivers's ribs.
Silva swinging wildly here.
Rivers throws a nice looking combination but Silva bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Silva is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Rivers with a body shot.
Rivers dives in and grabs Silva's left leg, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes down on Rivers's head and hops out.
Silva is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Zeke Rivers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva circles away from the clinch attempt.
Silva throws out a counter right but Rivers avoids it with no problem.

Silva gets caught flat footed, as Rivers shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rivers throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rivers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.
Rivers lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeke Rivers dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Leandro Silva's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rivers has closed the distance and engaged Silva in a clinch.

Silva escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rivers takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Rivers lands a head shot.
Rivers uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Silva.
Rivers tries to clinch
and Silva connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Zeke Rivers is winning the standup battle so far.
Silva throws a hook but Rivers blocks it.

Rivers moves into the clinch successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rivers breaks the clinch.
No luck for Rivers with that takedown attempt.
Rivers tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers misses with a hook.
It seemed like Silva was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Silva slaps away a takedown attempt from Rivers, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Rivers moves into the clinch.

Silva breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Leandro Silva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Rivers pushes Silva up against the cage in a clinch.
Rivers stalling against the cage.

Rivers's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Silva dodges the punch combination from Rivers.
Silva is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Rivers with a body shot.
Rivers avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivers fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rivers fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rivers scores with a hook to the body. Silva takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Rivers scores with a jab to the body.
Rivers tries to clinch up.
Rivers looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Rivers gets a takedown into half guard.

Silva manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivers throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Silva counters with a nice body shot.
Silva steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rivers.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers is looking to clinch but Silva is avoiding it.
Danga de danga de dang - Rivers scores with a four punch combination!
Zeke Rivers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Silva throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rivers lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Silva tries to bum rush Rivers with a series of wild strikes but Rivers uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Silva just misses with a punch to the body.

Rivers moves into range and clinches up with Silva.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rivers tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Silva defends well and Rivers ends up having to push Silva into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zeke Rivers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivers shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Silva eats them both and turns towards Rivers to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivers throws a left and a right that both miss
and Silva counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers throws a right and a left that Silva avoids nicely.
A little jabbing left from Silva on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Rivers tries to bum rush Silva with a series of wild strikes but Silva uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Rivers clinches up with Silva and pushes him back against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Rivers escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Come on Rivers - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

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

Rivers gets a double leg takedown into Silva's guard.
Rivers stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Silva working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeke Rivers dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Leandro Silva'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. This is the final round!

Rivers throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Silva swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rivers looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Silva is fending him off so far but Rivers persists. Nope, Silva circles away and we're back to standing.
A shot to the liver by Silva. Beautiful body shot.
Rivers misses with a few strikes there.
Silva misses the shot to the body.
Rivers works over Silva's head and body with a nice combination.
Rivers scores with a punch to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivers misses with a series of wild punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rivers clinches up with Silva and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Silva looks to throw the jab but Rivers is out of range.

Rivers closes the distance and pushes Silva back into the cage.

Silva manages to break the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Rivers.
Rivers will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rivers tries to close the distance and clinch but Silva swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A slow jab from Silva misses its intended target.
Silva keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
It seemed like Silva was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zeke Rivers. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva cracks Rivers with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Silva slips a straight right by Rivers.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Silva! But no joy.
Silva keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Rivers rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Silva moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rivers tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rivers shoots for a takedown but Silva saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rivers dives in for a single leg takedown but Silva sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
It seemed like Silva was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Rivers drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Silva lands a nice hook to Rivers's body. Rivers takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rivers uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Silva.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers tries to clinch up but Silva circles away and keeps his distance.
Rivers tries to land a front kick but Silva steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rivers will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A big right from Silva misses.
Rivers misses with the combination.
Rivers closes the distance looking to clinch
and Silva counters with a straight right hand.
Silva ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers doesn't manage to clinch there - Silva circles away.
Rivers throws a shot from downtown. Silva moves away and avoids it.
Rivers tries to close the distance and clinch up but Silva swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Silva throws out a counter right but Rivers avoids it with no problem.
Silva scores with a sloppy right hand. Rivers should have avoided that one.

Rivers is rocked!
Silva looks to score with a jab to the body but Rivers is just out of range.
Oh Rivers is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rivers shoots in but no luck this time.
Rivers seems to have got his legs back now.
Silva looks to land a combination but Rivers avoids it well.
Silva fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rivers looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Silva fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rivers manages to avoid it.
Zeke Rivers is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rivers ducks under a wild hook from Silva.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivers scores with a one two! Silva had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Leandro Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rivers shoots in but no luck this time.
Silva doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leandro Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rivers 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zeke Rivers!
Zeke Rivers thanked the fans post fight for their support.