PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alex Silva (ranked 2344 p4p, 122 weight class) and Korean Zombie (ranked 8799 p4p, 327 weight class). Zombie has chosen ZOMBIE as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Silva
vs
Zombie

163 cm
29
135 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

170 cm
22
145 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Organic Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alex Silva!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Korean Zombie!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Sergei Dronov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zombie sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Zombie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Silva moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Zombie misses with a wild combination.
Zombie lands a nice looking body kick.
Zombie lands with a nice body kick.
Zombie keeps Silva at a distance using the push kick.
Silva will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Silva dives in for a single leg takedown but Zombie sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Silva scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zombie parries the strikes from Silva easily there. Silva is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Zombie to escape.

Silva working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Zombie!

Silva is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Zombie is surviving well by controlling Silva's body position as best he can.
Zombie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zombie blocking the ground and pound.
Silva controlling the pace for now.
Silva raining down shots from the mount!
Silva can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zombie is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva landing punches.
Zombie is bucking up trying to escape but Silva cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Silva can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zombie is looking to escape.
Silva with good strikes from the mount here!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Silva with the ground and pound from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva lands a big elbow.
Silva lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Silva moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Zombie has worked his arm free - good work by Zombie!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zombie keeps working.
Zombie tries to improve position but can't.
Silva misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zombie keeps working.
Zombie managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Silva.
Silva just content to control the position.
Silva creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Zombie really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Silva. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Silva postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Zombie prevents Silva from moving into mount.
Silva wants to control but Zombie is keeping him busy.
Silva has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Zombie managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Silva.
Silva landing a few strikes.
Silva is staying tight to Zombie's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Silva landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Zombie dodges the ground and pound from Silva.
Zombie wants to get back to his feet but Silva drags him back down.
Zombie felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Silva working the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Silva looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zombie throws a series of punches but Silva avoids them all with ease.
Silva looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zombie jabs at Silva's body.
Silva shoots in looking for a takedown. Zombie tries to sprawl out of it but Silva keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zombie manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zombie stuffs the takedown attempt from Silva. Silva gets slowly back to his feet.
A countering left hand to the body from Zombie misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zombie throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zombie fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Silva on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zombie lands a head kick. Silva smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Silva walks into a straight right hand from Zombie.
Silva shoots for a double leg takedown but Zombie sprawls well. He's pushed Silva's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Zombie misses with a head kick.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Zombie enables Silva to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Zombie manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Silva wants to control from the top but Zombie keeps moving.
Zombie is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Silva throwing strikes from guard but Zombie blocks nicely.
Silva stands up over Zombie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Silva stands and throws Zombie's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva working the ground and pound but Zombie is defending the strikes.
Zombie can't do much from the bottom here.
Zombie regains half guard there - taking advantage of Silva's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
We've been hearing good reports from Silva's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Zombie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Silva lands a nice short elbow.
Silva throwing shots but Zombie is blocking nicely.
Zombie on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Zombie is trying to maintain the position but Silva is very close to passing his half guard.
Silva is controlling 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 not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Silva takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Silva thows a huge punch but Zombie dodges it nicely.
Silva trying to control the action but Zombie is working from the bottom.
Silva passes the guard and advances to mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva lands a nice shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Korean Zombie will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A chopping leg kick lands by Zombie.
Zombie staying out of range there.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Silva.
Silva trying to control the position but Zombie is working away.
Alex Silva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Silva misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Zombie tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Silva wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Silva is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Silva tries to advance to mount but Zombie denies him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Silva is chipping away with strikes.
Silva throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Zombie is not content to let Silva control the position.
Silva tries to advance to mount but Zombie denies him.
Silva passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Zombie!
Silva can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zombie is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva unloading with bombs!
Silva working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Silva landing strikes, looking to finish!

Zombie defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Silva.
Silva lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Zombie is trying to escape the mount.
Silva has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Zombie's face.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The referee warns Zombie that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Silva wants to control the pace but Zombie is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is landing with some decent strikes but Zombie is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Zombie wants to hold on but Silva pushes him away.
Silva fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Silva postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Zombie looks a forlorn figure.
Silva is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Zombie can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Zombie is rocked!
Silva trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Silva fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Zombie is still in real trouble! Can Silva finish him?
Silva lands a couple of good shots and Zombie has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Zombie seems to have recovered his senses.
Silva softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Silva throwing damaging strikes from the back! Zombie could be in trouble here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zombie covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Silva tries to keep control of the position but Zombie is staying busy.
Zombie is trying to escape under a series of strikes and manages to escape from Silva 's hooks.
Silva lands a nice shot to the head.
Silva is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Silva tries to control but Zombie wriggling away.
Zombie wants to control but Silva is having none of it.
Silva controlling from the full mount.

Silva is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Zombie to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Zombie shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Silva clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sloppy strikes from Zombie. Those never looked like landing.

Silva looking to score a takedown here. Zombie is defending well but Silva drives through and ends up in Zombie's guard.
Silva looking to pass the guard.
Silva sitting in guard here, content to control.
Zombie keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Silva stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zombie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Zombie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zombie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva wants to control from the top but Zombie keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Silva stopping the sweep attempt from Zombie.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Zombie lands a head kick. Silva smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Silva drives through with a takedown into guard.
Silva showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zombie is keeping the position for now.
Silva advances position into side control!
Silva trying to control the position but Zombie is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zombie is trying to get back to half guard.
Silva trying to control the action but Zombie is working from the bottom.
Silva looks up at the clock and then as Zombie takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Silva smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Silva tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zombie keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva looking to control but instead Zombie has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Zombie tries to get to full guard but Silva has control of the leg.
Silva trying to control from half guard but Zombie is working away.
Silva is just content to waste time from the top position. Zombie takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Silva controls from within his opponent's guard.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zombie is keeping the position for now.
Silva stopping the sweep attempt from Zombie.
Silva passes Zombie's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Silva works his foot free and advances to mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Silva looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Silva had his way with Korean Zombie in that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Silva looks for a takedown but Zombie sprawls well.
Silva uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zombie.
Zombie throws a sloppy head kick and Silva moves out of range easily.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zombie as he avoids it easily.
Zombie tries a head kick but it misses.
Silva dives in and grabs Zombie's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zombie pushes down on Silva's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zombie.
Zombie connects with a leg kick. Silva looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Silva dives in and scores a takedown into Zombie's guard.
Silva looking to pass the guard.
Silva slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Silva tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Silva swings around for an armbar but Zombie sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Silva's guard.
Silva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zombie is one step ahead there.
Silva bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zombie's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Silva accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Zombie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Zombie is keeping the position.
Silva trying to control but Zombie is working from the bottom.

Zombie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Silva gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Silva is looking to work some ground and pound but Zombie has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a big elbow that misses.
Silva advances to half guard.
Zombie is not content to let Silva control the position.
Silva slips a nice elbow through Zombie's hands, connecting with Zombie's forehead.
Silva frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Silva takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Silva jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Zombie is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Zombie and Silva has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva controls the position.
Zombie is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Korean Zombie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Silva is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Zombie will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Alex Silva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Zombie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva scoring with punches and elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Silva showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Silva 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 49:46
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 49:46
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Silva!
Alex Silva is the new bantamweight champion!