PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hanzo Araujo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Junior Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Junior Silva was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Araujo
vs
Silva

177 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 1

170 cm
25
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hanzo Araujo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Junior Silva!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Seu Braga and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silva drives through with a takedown into guard.
Araujo looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Araujo keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Silva engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Araujo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Silva doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Silva manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Silva slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Silva in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Silva won't allow Araujo to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Silva throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Araujo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Araujo has his foot on Silva's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Silva works his way back into a safe position though.
Araujo really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Araujo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Silva controlling from the top position.
Silva trying to control but Araujo is working from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Silva is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

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

Silva gets a takedown into half guard.
Silva thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Araujo wants to get back to full guard.
Silva is controlling the pace.
Silva missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying to control the action in half guard but Araujo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Silva not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Silva trying to control the action but Araujo is working from the bottom.
Silva passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Araujo!
Silva controlling the pace for now.
Let's hope that Silva 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.
Poor strikes thrown by Silva there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

Silva stands up from mount. Strange move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva connects with a right hand. Araujo shakes it off.

Silva gets the takedown into side control.
Silva happy to just control the position for now.
Araujo regains half guard.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Araujo keeps working.
Silva has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Silva thows a huge punch but Araujo dodges it nicely.
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.
Araujo is staying active underneath Silva, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Silva missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Araujo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Silva.
Silva looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Silva not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Araujo missing with punches from the bottom.
Araujo is not content to let Silva control the position.
Silva passes the guard and advances to mount!

Araujo defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Silva.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior Silva dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

The fight stays on the outside here - Araujo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Silva manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Araujo on his heels. He'll look to pass Araujo's guard now, I'm sure.
Silva looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Silva postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Araujo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Silva postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva stays in close to Araujo's body and controls the position.

Silva drops back looking for a leg! Araujo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Araujo manages to kick Silva off! Silva jumps back into Araujo's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva stands and steps away. Araujo gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

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 working for a kimura but Araujo defends the submission attempt.
Silva not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva is looking for a kimura but Araujo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Silva to get the leverage.

Silva is looking for a kimura but Araujo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Silva to get the leverage.
Araujo is trying to stand up here but Silva is controlling him well.
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.
Silva wants to pass to mount but Araujo is defending the position.
Silva is trying to control the action in half guard but Araujo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Silva is working for a submission of some sort.
Silva missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva blocks the strikes from Araujo.
Araujo is trying to get back to full guard.
Araujo is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Silva looking to control but Araujo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Silva lands a couple of good shots and Araujo has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Good control from Silva.
Araujo looking very determined here, making life difficult for Silva.
Araujo is trying to get back to his feet but Silva has full control of the position and if anything, Araujo has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Silva struggling to land strikes to the head as Araujo covers up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Araujo preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Silva.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Araujo is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Silva missing with strikes from the back.
Silva throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

Araujo defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Silva is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Araujo knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Araujo for a finish.
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!

Silva working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior Silva 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!

Silva clinches up against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Silva turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Silva looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Araujo wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Silva decides to stand back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Araujo darts in trying to clinch
and Silva counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
We've been told by Araujo's head coaches at Hyperion Fight Club that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Hanzo Araujo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sloppy strikes from Araujo. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Araujo quickly recovers to half guard.
Araujo pushes Silva off but Silva dives into side control.
Silva controlling the position.
Silva trying to control the action but Araujo is working from the bottom.

Silva has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Silva looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Araujo!
Araujo tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Junior Silva has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Araujo tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Araujo defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Silva.
Silva manages to capitalize on a mistake by Araujo to take his back!

Silva is persistently looking for the submission but Araujo is defending it well.

Silva working for the choke.
Araujo is really stuck here.
Silva is riding his opponent, not letting Araujo buck him off.
Silva keeps control of the position as Araujo tries to break free.

Silva has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Araujo has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Araujo's body.
Araujo rolls, trying to escape but Silva keeps control of the position.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Silva missing with strikes from the back.
What can Araujo do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's four 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.

Araujo is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Silva gets his way!
Araujo prevents Silva from getting a body triangle.
Silva is trying to stick to Araujo's back but Araujo is turning into Silva. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Silva's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Araujo.
Araujo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Silva seems keen to control Araujo's posture.

Silva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Araujo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Araujo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Araujo postures up.
Hanzo Araujo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Junior Silva is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Araujo throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Junior Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Silva 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30

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