PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ruslan Khabilov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khalil Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Khalil Silva is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Khabilov
vs
Silva

191 cm
25
212 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

186 cm
25
195 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ruslan Khabilov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Khalil Silva!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Steve Smith and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khabilov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Khabilov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
No luck for Khabilov with that takedown attempt.
Khabilov sets himself, and Silva steps forward looking for the clinch! Khabilov avoids it this time.
Nice sprawl there from Khabilov as Silva shoots in.
Silva looks for a takedown but Khabilov sprawls well.
Khabilov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Silva swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Khabilov misses with a series of wild punches.
And Silva tries to counter it with a takedown but Khabilov pushes his down on his head and steps out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khabilov does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Khabilov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Khabilov sets himself, and Silva steps forward looking for the clinch! Khabilov avoids it this time.
Silva leaves Khabilov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ruslan Khabilov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva stuffs the takedown.
A left and a right from Khabilov both land. Nice combination.

Silva rushes Khabilov and presses him up against the cage.
Silva jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Khabilov walks away with a smile on his face. Silva gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Khabilov stuns Silva with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Khabilov misses with a head kick.
Khabilov wants to clinch.
Khabilov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Silva throws a big counter head kick but Khabilov avoids it with no problem.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A combination from Silva does no damage.
Khabilov feinted with a counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva avoids the head kick by Khabilov.
Khabilov throws a sloppy head kick and Silva moves out of range easily.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt

and Khabilov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Khabilov.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Silva is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Khabilov wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.
Khabilov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Khabilov postures up in Silva's guard and throws a big left but Silva blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Khabilov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Khabilov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Silva slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Khabilov tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.
Silva can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Khabilov controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Khabilov from controlling successfully.
Silva is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Khabilov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Silva closes the distance and clinches.

Silva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Khabilov misses with a head kick.
Khabilov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Silva.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Khabilov back to the cage. Silva follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Khabilov moves in looking to clinch but Silva pushes him off.

It looks like Ruslan Khabilov has been cut.
Khabilov misses with a series of wild punches.
Khabilov shoots in but no luck this time.
Ruslan Khabilov is winning the standup battle so far.
Khabilov dives in and grabs Silva's left leg, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes down on Khabilov's head and hops out.
Silva unleashes a big counter combination but Khabilov bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Khabilov throws a head kick that misses.
Khabilov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Silva has closed the distance and engaged Khabilov in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Khabilov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Silva wants to get back to striking at distance but Khabilov won't allow it.

Khabilov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Khabilov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Khabilov lands in his opponent's guard.

Silva scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
A leg kick checked by Silva.
And Silva responds with a good body kick, but Khabilov manages to step out the way in time.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ruslan Khabilov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khalil Silva.
Khabilov throws a head kick that misses.
Silva is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Khabilov with a body shot.
Khabilov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A head kick misses from Khabilov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Khabilov sprawls well. Khabilov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Silva gets slowly back to his feet.
Khabilov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Khabilov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Khabilov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Silva counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Silva tries to score a power double leg takedown but Khabilov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Silva somewhat.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but Khabilov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Silva pinned against the cage. Silva gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Silva is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Khabilov.
Silva closes this distance looking for a takedown but Khabilov circles away.
Khabilov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Silva tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Khabilov fails with a takedown attempt.
Silva tries to clinch but Khabilov moves out of range.
Khabilov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Silva tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Khabilov defends well and Silva ends up having to push Khabilov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
As Silva tries to get set, Khabilov tries to push him back and clinch up but Silva manages to avoid the attempt.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
Silva ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Ruslan Khabilov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Khabilov tries to score with a low kick but Silva moves his leg out of the way.
Khabilov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Silva avoids it really well and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ruslan Khabilov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ruslan Khabilov's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Silva tries to clinch up but Khabilov circles away and keeps his distance.
Khabilov is looking for a counter combo.
Silva throws a nice looking combination but Khabilov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Khabilov is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Silva.
Khabilov fails to land the takedown.
Khabilov shoots for a takedown but Silva saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Khabilov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Khabilov wants it to stay on the feet.
Khabilov fails with the takedown
and Silva counters with a series of strikes. Khabilov will be more careful next time no doubt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ruslan Khabilov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick by Khabilov misses

and Silva counters with a crisp one two that drops Khabilov! Silva thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Khabilov to his feet! Khabilov is in big trouble!

Khabilov is rocked!
Khabilov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Silva defends well and Khabilov ends up having to push Silva into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Silva wants to counter with a clinch but Khabilov pushes him away.
Oh Khabilov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Silva gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Khabilov tries a body shot but Silva blocks it.
Khabilov seems to have got his legs back now.
Silva controlling the action here for a moment.

Silva breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt - Khabilov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Khabilov throws a jab but it's blocked by Silva.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Khabilov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Khabilov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Khabilov shoots in looking for a takedown but Silva manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Khabilov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Khabilov needs to keep his hands up - Silva had a free shot at his head there.
Khabilov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Silva is looking for the big counter here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Khabilov. No joy for Silva on that attempt.
Khabilov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Silva's waist but Silva gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Khabilov off to one side.

Silva rushes Khabilov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Khabilov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Silva has Khabilov pressed against the cage, preventing Khabilov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Silva tries to pull guard but Khabilov won't allow it.

Silva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Khabilov.
Silva throws a head kick but Khabilov moves out of range.
Khabilov drops his hands momentarily and Silva takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Silva closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov is trying to stall.

Khabilov manages to pull guard.

Silva gets to his feet. Khabilov looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Silva closes the distance and clinches.

Silva manages to break the clinch.
Khabilov goes for a double leg but Silva avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Silva continues to drive forward.
Silva drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Khabilov defends it well.

Silva moves into range and clinches up with Khabilov.
Silva has Khabilov pressed against the cage.
Khabilov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov is trying to break the clinch but Silva is controlling him.
Silva goes for a takedown attempt but Khabilov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Silva has closed the distance and engaged Khabilov in a clinch.
Khabilov is trying to break free.
Silva has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Khabilov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Silva manages to break the clinch.
Silva stuffs the takedown.
Silva misses with a head kick.
Khabilov swinging wildly here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khalil Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Khabilov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!