PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rafa Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Szczęsny (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva comes to the cage accompanied by UFC Theme Song. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Silva
vs
Szczęsny

173 cm
43
142 lbs
57 - 13 - 3

225 cm
35
135 lbs
32 - 16 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 57 - 13 - 3, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafa Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Victor Szczęsny!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Thiago Cunha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Szczęsny looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nice defenses there by Szczęsny.
Silva is looking to land body kicks.
Silva on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Silva throws a shot from downtown. Szczęsny moves away and avoids it.
Silva rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Szczęsny to counter with a crisp jab.
Silva lands a nice leg kick that just misses Szczęsny's sensitive parts.
Nice jab there from Szczęsny.
Szczęsny scores with a nice body kick.
Szczęsny blocks a head kick by Silva.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Szczęsny throws a jab when Silva was well out of range.
Silva misses with a combination
and Szczęsny cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Szczęsny scores with a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Silva needs to keep his hands up - Szczęsny had a free shot at his head there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Silva.
That kick from Silva tenderised Szczęsny's leg. Szczęsny is trying to keep his angry face on.
Silva walks into a jab.
Silva misses with a right hand
and Szczęsny counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Silva thows a leg kick but Szczęsny checks it
enabling Szczęsny to counter with a crisp jab.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Silva.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Silva slips under a jab.
A clash of legs there as Szczęsny blocks the low kick.
Szczęsny is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Silva ducks right into an uppercut from Szczęsny.
Silva swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Szczęsny.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Silva.
Silva throws a hook but Szczęsny blocks it.
Silva takes one to the side of the head.
Szczęsny is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Szczęsny scores with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szczęsny connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Silva's hands.
Szczęsny throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Silva on the side of the head.
Silva throws a leg kick but Szczęsny sees it coming and moves out of range.
Szczęsny is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Silva had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Silva cracks the inside of Szczęsny's front leg.
No joy there for Szczęsny, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Silva is looking to counter with a body kick.
Silva throws a leg kick
and Szczęsny counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Silva takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Good leg kick by Silva there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Szczęsny looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Szczęsny connects with a right hand. Silva shakes it off.
Silva misses with a body kick.
Szczęsny moves out of range of the body kick from Silva.
Silva throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szczęsny lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Silva loads up on a big right hand but Szczęsny slips the punch.
Szczęsny tries to work over Silva's front leg with a kick but Silva checks it.
Silva appears to be looking for a big counter.
Silva gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Silva misses with an uppercut.
Szczęsny bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
No joy there for Szczęsny, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Silva throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Silva.
Silva misses with a low kick.
Silva misses with a head kick.
Szczęsny throws a hook to the side of Silva's head but Silva sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Szczęsny lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Silva backs up against the cage.
Silva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice cross by Silva.
Szczęsny sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Szczęsny throws a lazy right hand but Silva sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Szczęsny throws a leg kick that misses.
Silva quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Szczęsny connects with a nice looking jab.
Silva tries to land a front kick but Szczęsny steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A low kick from Silva is predictable there
letting Szczęsny counter with a right hand.
A slapping body kick lands there for Silva.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Silva. Szczęsny shrugs it off though.
Szczęsny misses with a looping left.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silva tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Silva looks to land a body kick but Szczęsny moved away.
Szczęsny fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Silva looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Silva is looking to chop away at Szczęsny's legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Silva checks the leg kick.
Silva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Silva drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Silva looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Szczęsny scores with the left hand. Silva knows he should have avoided that one.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Silva.
Szczęsny has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Silva throws a right hand that misses
and Szczęsny counters with a nice uppercut.
Szczęsny blocks a head kick by Silva.
Szczęsny swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Szczęsny jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Szczęsny has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Silva blocks a jab.
Rafa Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Szczęsny is looking to score with low kicks.
Szczęsny avoids a kick to the body.
Silva swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Szczęsny lands with a hook. Silva tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szczęsny scores with a three punch combo!
Szczęsny checks a leg kick.
Szczęsny throws a quick inside leg kick.
Szczęsny's corner calls for a 1-2. Szczęsny obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Silva throws a front kick aimed at Szczęsny's knee but Szczęsny avoids it well.
Szczęsny misses with a body shot.
Szczęsny checks a low kick from Silva.
Szczęsny keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Szczęsny throws out a counter right but Silva avoids it with no problem.
Silva throws a leg kick
and Szczęsny connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A looping hook to the body misses from Silva. Szczęsny does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice uppercut lands for Szczęsny. That snapped Silva's head back.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Silva might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Silva ducks right into an uppercut from Szczęsny.
Szczęsny connects with a high kick.

Silva is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Silva there as he acknowledges the shot.
Oh Silva is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva lands a nice looking body kick.
Szczęsny moves out of range as Silva throws a body kick.
Silva seems to have got his legs back now.
Silva takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A leg kick checked by Szczęsny.
Szczęsny looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Silva is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Szczęsny.
Szczęsny lands a jab to the head.
Silva throws a leg kick but Szczęsny sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Silva throws a right and a left that both miss.
Szczęsny throws a good cross that connects.
Silva looks for the body kick but Szczęsny saw that one coming.
Szczęsny throws out a counter right but Silva avoids it with no problem.
Szczęsny scores with a jab.
Silva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Szczęsny swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Silva misses with a kick to the body
and Szczęsny counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Victor Szczęsny seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice cross by Szczęsny.
Szczęsny scores with a hook to the body. Silva takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Silva tries to land a front kick but Szczęsny steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Silva throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Szczęsny counters with a stiff right hand.
Silva throws a head kick that misses.
Silva swings for the body but Szczęsny moves out of range.

Szczęsny has closed the distance and engaged Silva in a clinch.
Silva dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Silva.
A frustrated look appears on Silva's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva working hard to break the clinch.
Silva tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Szczęsny.
Silva throws a punch but it's blocked by Szczęsny.
Silva working aggressively here.
Silva is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Szczęsny comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Szczęsny scores with a knee to the head.
Silva misses with a hook to the ribs.
Silva lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Silva lands a shot to the body.
Silva doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Szczęsny tries to land a knee to the head but Silva blocks with his arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Szczęsny showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Szczęsny is looking to slow Silva down with leg kicks.
Silva looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A nice combination there by Szczęsny.
Szczęsny works over Silva's head and body with a nice combination.
Szczęsny misses with a looping left.
Silva takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Silva throws a sloppy head kick
and Szczęsny counters with a nice body shot.
Silva displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Szczęsny throws out the jab.
Silva connects with a leg kick. Szczęsny looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A lazy body kick from Silva
and Silva takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Szczęsny misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Silva throws a body punch but Szczęsny moves out of range.
Szczęsny feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Silvas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Silva connects with a leg kick. Szczęsny looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Szczęsny closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Szczęsny.
Silva misses with a hook to the ribs.
Silva wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Silva misses with a punch to the body.
Silva pushes Szczęsny back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Silva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A slapping leg kick lands for Silva.
Szczęsny throws a good cross that connects.
Silva throws a half hearted mid kick.
Silva looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Szczęsny comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Silva throws a sloppy head kick
and Szczęsny finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szczęsny fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Szczęsny checks a leg kick.
Szczęsny feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Silva's calf.
Silva throws a leg kick which misses Szczęsny's front leg but catches the back leg as Szczęsny tries to avoid it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Szczęsny scores with a crisp jab that stopped Silva in his tracks.
An inside leg kick lands from Szczęsny.
Szczęsny scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Silva doesn't seem bothered though.
A nice inside leg kick there by Silva. That's going to slow Szczęsny down.
Szczęsny displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Silva throws out the jab.
Silva gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Szczęsny.
Szczęsny ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Silva moves away.
Silva misses with a body kick.
Rafa Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Silva takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szczęsny throws a body shot but no joy.
Silva thinks about countering with a body kick.
Silva misses with the body kick
and Szczęsny counters with a nice uppercut.
Silva gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Silva misses with a right hand
and Szczęsny cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Szczęsny scores with a leg kick.
Silva misses with a low kick.
Silva walks into a straight right hand from Szczęsny.
Silva moves forwards but Szczęsny connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Silva.
Szczęsny tries to clinch but Silva is having none of it.
Szczęsny's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Silva on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Silva tries to land a body kick
enabling Szczęsny to counter with a crisp jab.
Szczęsny connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Silva momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Szczęsny stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Silva lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Szczęsny has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Szczęsny and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
It seemed like Szczęsny was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Silva walks into a left hand.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Szczęsny lands with a hook. Silva tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Silva throws a head kick that misses.
Victor Szczęsny is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Szczęsny lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Szczęsny with a hook.
Jab by Szczęsny.
Silva misses with an attempted mid kick.
Szczęsny feints a counter leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Szczęsny checks a leg kick.
Silva tried to score with a low kick but Szczęsny checks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Victor Szczęsny comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Szczęsny winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Victor Szczęsny!
A pretty intense looking Victor Szczęsny took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.