PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Silvio Provenza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paez Paez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Provenza's entrance music is Madreblu - Certamente. A fine choice. 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?

Provenza
vs
Paez

182 cm
28
180 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

225 cm
27
173 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

King of Fists

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Silvio Provenza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Paez Paez!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Provenza dives in and scores a takedown into Paez's guard.

Provenza got a little sloppy there for a moment and Paez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Provenza has managed to get both his arms back between Paez's legs - danger averted.
Paez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Provenza controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Paez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Provenza is aware though and is defending well.
Provenza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Paez is keeping the position for now.

Provenza got a little sloppy there for a moment and Paez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Provenza has managed to get both his arms back between Paez's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Paez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Provenza trying to control but Paez is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Paez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Provenza can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Paez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Provenza advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Provenza has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
We've been hearing that Provenza has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

Provenza has hold of Paez's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Paez manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Paez is looking to improve his position but Provenza isn't that keen on the idea.
Paez is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Provenza can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Paez is looking to escape.

Provenza looking for a guillotine from mount but Paez is having none of it.
Paez wants to hold on but Provenza pushes him away.
Paez is looking to improve his position but Provenza isn't that keen on the idea.
Provenza avoids the attempt from Paez to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Provenza is looking to work his way around to Paez's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Paez is trying to escape the mount.

Provenza working for a submission but Paez is keeping him at bay.
Paez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Provenza is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Paez to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Paez shrugs it off.
Paez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Paez is still trying to improve position.
Provenza controlling his opponent.
Provenza tries to control but Paez wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paez 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.

Paez preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Provenza.
Paez trying to control the position but Provenza manages to sink in the hooks.
Provenza controls the action.
Paez trying to control the action but Provenza just sinks the hooks in.

Provenza is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Paez defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Provenza keeps control of the position easily here as Paez tries to buck him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Provenza is looking for the choke from the back position but Paez is controlling his hands well.
Paez manages to reverse the position and now he's in Provenza's guard. Nice work there by Paez.

Paez postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Provenza is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Paez, into his guard.

Paez looking to control.
Provenza advances position into side control!
You can see the frustration on Paez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Provenza working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
You can see the frustration on Paez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Silvio Provenza dominated that round.
That's time! Provenza's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Provenza fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Paez to the ground. Provenza is now in Paez's guard.

Paez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Provenza doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Provenza manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Paez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Provenza controls the pace.
Provenza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Paez is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Provenza works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Provenza has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Provenza tries to control but Paez wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paez can't escape the position.
Provenza mounts Paez! Really nice guard pass there!
Paez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Provenza tries to control but Paez wriggling away.
Provenza fails to advance to Paez's back.
Paez is in all sorts of trouble here.
Paez is squirming around, avoiding Provenza's attempts to control the action.
Provenza avoids the attempt from Paez to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paez is working to get back to half guard.

Provenza looking for a guillotine from mount but Paez is having none of it.
Provenza controlling from mount.
Provenza looking to control but Paez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Provenza is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Paez can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Provenza fails to take his opponent's back.
Paez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Provenza can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Paez is looking to escape.
Provenza takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Provenza trying to control but Paez is having none of it.
Provenza is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Paez is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Provenza wants to take Paez's back here but Paez is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Silvio Provenza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Paez working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Provenza tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Paez is in all sorts of trouble here.
Paez regains half guard.
Provenza is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Provenza trying to control the action but Paez is working from the bottom.

Paez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Provenza is keen to just control but Paez is a slippery customer.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Paez actively working from the bottom here.
Well, if Provenza 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Silvio Provenza dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Provenza shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Paez is trying to defend but Provenza finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Provenza is trying to control the action in half guard but Paez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Provenza is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Paez can do to turn this around?
Provenza is thwarting Paez's attempts to control the position.
Provenza is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Provenza content just to control the position here.
Paez stops Provenza from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Paez is squirming around, avoiding Provenza's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Provenza wants to finish this one by submission but Paez is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Provenza.
Paez regains half guard.
Paez gets full guard.
Provenza stays in close to Paez's body and controls the position.
Provenza tries to free his leg and advance position but Paez is retaining full guard.
Provenza is pushing down on Paez's leg trying to pass to half guard. Paez is fighting to maintain full guard but Provenza has managed to sneak the leg through.
Provenza passes the guard and advances to mount!
Provenza fails to take his opponent's back.
Paez tries to reverse the position but Provenza maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Provenza controlling from the full mount.
Provenza can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Paez is looking to escape.
Paez working to try and regain half guard.

Provenza has hold of Paez's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Paez manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Paez is trying desperately to improve position.
Paez gets back to half guard.
Paez is trying to control but can't.

Paez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Well, if Provenza 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Provenza wants to pass to mount but Paez is defending the position.

Paez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Provenza pulls his head out easily.
Paez is in trouble now - Provenza has advanced to mount!
Paez tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Provenza jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Paez manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Provenza content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Provenza is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Paez knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paez tries to buck Provenza off but Provenza is having none of it.
Provenza is looking to take a break and control but Paez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Paez tries to buck Provenza off but Provenza is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Paez wants to control but Provenza postures up.
Paez Paez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paez tries to strike from the bottom but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Silvio Provenza showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Provenza 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Silvio Provenza!
Silvio Provenza bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.