PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luis Ganador (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Da Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Ganador might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to We Will Rock You. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ganador
vs
Da Silva

200 cm
24
240 lbs
2 - 8 - 0

204 cm
28
271 lbs
5 - 9 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Luis Ganador!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Da Silva!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Sano and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ganador takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Ganador is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Da Silva's half guard.

Ganador decides to stand and escape the position.
Da Silva tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ganador defends well and Da Silva ends up having to push Ganador into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Ganador drops down looking for a counter takedown but Da Silva sprawls and moves away.

Ganador gets a double leg takedown into Da Silva's guard.
Ganador content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Da Silva keeping full guard, as Ganador tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ganador slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Ganador stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Da Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Da Silva wants to sweep but no luck.
Ganador showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Da Silva is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ganador showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Da Silva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ganador looking to pass the guard.

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

Ganador looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Ganador stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Da Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva keeping moving, preventing Ganador from controlling successfully.
Da Silva being controlled here, momentarily.
Ganador seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Da Silva for as long as he can get away with.
Ganador trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Da Silva manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Da Silva won't allow Ganador to sweep him here.

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.
Da Silva is fighting to break Ganador's control of his arms but Ganador is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Da Silva stands up and waves to Ganador to follow him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Da Silva manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Ganador on his heels. He'll look to pass Ganador's guard now, I'm sure.
Ganador pulls Da Silva in to control the position.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Ganador here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Da Silva stops Ganador from standing up.
Ganador seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Da Silva stands up from Ganador's guard - Da Silva perhaps looking for a knockout.
Da Silva shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ganador defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Da Silva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Ganador feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Ganador stopping the sweep attempt from Da Silva.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ganador controlling from the top position.
Ganador pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Da Silva is keeping the position for now.
Ganador content to stall in guard here.

That's two 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.
Ganador trying to control but Da Silva is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ganador engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Da Silva throws a right and a left that both miss.

Ganador clinches up against the cage.

Ganador jumps guard and drags Da Silva to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Da Silva won't allow Ganador to get back to his feet.

Da Silva stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ganador leaves Da Silva with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ganador appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Luis Ganador has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Da Silva.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Da Silva enables Ganador to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Da Silva manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Da Silva is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Da Silva being controlled here, momentarily.
Ganador is looking to pass into half guard but Da Silva pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Da Silva is in guard.

Ganador wants to stand up but Da Silva is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Da Silva stands up from Ganador's guard - Da Silva perhaps looking for a knockout.

Da Silva gets caught flat footed, as Ganador shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ganador pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Da Silva is keeping the position for now.
Da Silva controls Ganador momentarily but Ganador frees himself.
Luis Ganador overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Da Silva keeping full guard, as Ganador tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luis Ganador dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Da Silva misses with a jab, cross combination.

Ganador is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Da Silva's half guard.
Ganador is looking to take a break and control but Da Silva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Ganador is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ganador is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Da Silva can do to turn this around?

Ganador is trying to work for a kimura but Da Silva is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Da Silva trying to control but Ganador postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ganador wants to control but Da Silva is keeping him busy.

Ganador is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Da Silva has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ganador slows the pace down in half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Da Silva tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ganador sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Da Silva somewhat.
Ganador attempts a counter takedown but Da Silva avoids it well and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Ganador pushes Da Silva up against the cage in a clinch.

Ganador has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Da Silva uses from the top position.
Da Silva would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ganador is pulling down on Da Silva's head to control his posture.
Ganador continues to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Da Silva tries to sprawl but Ganador drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Ganador is working for a submission of some sort.
Ganador is taking a breather. Da 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.
Da Silva is not content to let Ganador control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva gets full guard.
Da Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ganador is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Ganador trying to control but Da Silva is working from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ganador won't allow Da Silva to sweep him here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luis Ganador showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ganador, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luis Ganador!
Luis Ganador was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.