PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Murilo Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andre Costa acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Silva
vs
Costa

190 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
187 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Self confident

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Likes musicals

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Murilo Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Andre Costa!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Matheus Silva and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Costa shoots for a takedown but Silva saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A head kick misses from Costa.
Silva went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Horrible takedown attempt by Silva or perhaps it was just good defense by Costa, which made it look bad.

Costa gets the takedown into side control.
Silva is trying to get back to half guard.
Silva trying to remain calm as Costa controls from the top position.
Silva on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Silva tries to get out of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
You can see the frustration on Silva's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Silva manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva trying to control from the bottom.
Costa sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Silva is looking for a sweep. Costa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Costa controlling the action here.

Costa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Silva is just riding it out for now. Costa eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Silva is looking to escape.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Costa dives in and scores a takedown into Silva's guard.
Silva wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Costa manages to pass to side control.

Costa prevents Silva from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Costa 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.
Costa tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Silva.
Silva blocking the ground and pound attempt from Costa.
Costa is taking a breather. Silva says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Costa is thwarting Silva's attempts to control the position.
Costa trying to pass the guard but Silva defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Costa lands with a punch from half guard.
Silva is looking to control Costa's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Silva avoid being mounted?
Silva is looking for a sweep. Costa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Costa is thwarting Silva's attempts to control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Costa wants to take a breather but Silva is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Costa dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Silva shoots in and gets a takedown into Costa's guard.

Costa working for a triangle but Silva defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva sitting in guard here, content to control.
Silva trying to control but Costa is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Costa is on top in guard.

Costa connects with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Costa trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Costa wants to stand but Silva has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Andre Costa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Costa passes into half guard.
Costa tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Silva.
Costa is thwarting Silva's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Silva is trying to get back to full guard.
Costa trying to control from half guard but Silva is working away.
Silva pushes Costa off looking to stand but Costa dives back in and keeps control.
Silva wants to control but Costa is keeping busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Silva shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Costa napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Costa is trying to buck Silva off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Silva.
Costa lands a little strike from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Costa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Costa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Silva landing a few strikes.
Silva trying to control the position but Costa is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Costa is looking to regain half guard here but Silva keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Costa is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Costa wants to control but Silva postures up.
Costa is looking for a sweep.
Costa is not content to let Silva control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Costa moves into the clinch successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Andre Costa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Silva is looking to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Costa.

Silva gets the takedown into side control.
Costa tries to bench press Silva off him but Silva keeps the position.

Silva is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Costa is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Costa can't do much from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva trying to control the position but Costa is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa is looking to regain half guard here but Silva keeps moving and retains side control.
Silva trying to control the position but Costa is working away.
Silva is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Costa will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Silva working away.
Costa tries to improve position but can't.
Silva is working Costa over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's two 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.

Silva is trying to get an arm triangle but Costa is defending well.
Costa is trying to control Silva's posture but Silva avoids it.
Silva tries to move to mount but Costa blocks the move with his legs.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Costa scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Silva wants to get back to his feet but Costa drags him back down.
Silva can't do much from the bottom here.
Silva is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Costa is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Silva takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Silva's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Silva manages to get back to half guard.
Costa controlling the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Silva is trying to maintain the position but Costa is very close to passing his half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Murilo Silva.
Well Costa 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!