PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Adriano Silva (ranked 2645 p4p, 129 weight class) and Rex Ruger (ranked 1583 p4p, 83 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Silva
vs
Ruger

176 cm
31
135 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

169 cm
30
145 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

XFighter Clothing

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 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Adriano Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rex Ruger!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Alexandre Firmino and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Ruger. No joy for Silva on that attempt.
Ruger shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Ruger shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Silva manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Ruger must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ruger wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Ruger stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ruger working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ruger trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ruger is in close to Silva's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Silva escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ruger gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ruger pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.
Silva has his hands on Ruger's head, controlling the position.
Silva keeping full guard, as Ruger tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Silva lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ruger wants to sweep here but Silva controlling him for the moment.
Ruger is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Silva is controlling him.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ruger wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Silva manages to pass to side control.
Silva trying to control from half guard but Ruger is working away.
Ruger 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Silva 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.
Silva trying to control the action but Ruger is working from the bottom.
Silva not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ruger controlling the position well.
Silva is controlling the pace.
Ruger trying to control but Silva postures up.

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.

Ruger looking for submissions off his back.
Ruger is holding on to half guard well.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ruger stuffs the takedown.
Silva fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ruger has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ruger misses with a wild body shot.
Silva changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Ruger fails to land the takedown.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ruger takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Adriano Silva will probably get the nod.
That's time! Silva's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ruger blocks a jab.
Ruger tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ruger throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Silva gets caught flat footed, as Ruger shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ruger throws a strike but Silva rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Silva landing with the ground and pound.
Silva throwing strikes but missing.
Ruger is pulling down on Silva's head. It's preventing any offense from Silva, at least for the moment.
Silva stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ruger swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruger wants to stand and escape but Silva is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ruger had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Silva defends it easily.
Ruger is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Silva is controlling him.

Silva stands up from Ruger's guard - Silva perhaps looking for a knockout.
Nice takedown defense from Silva. No joy for Ruger on that attempt.
Silva is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ruger can do to turn this around?
Horrible takedown attempt by Ruger or perhaps it was just good defense by Silva, which made it look bad.
Silva tries to counter with a takedown but Ruger is quick to defend against it.
Ruger slaps away a takedown attempt from Silva, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Ruger 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.

Silva has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Ruger off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruger 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.
Adriano Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rex Ruger.
Silva checks a low kick from Ruger.
Ruger misses with a takedown attempt - Silva sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ruger moves away from the strike by Silva.
Ruger stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Silva.
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!
Silva keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ruger walks into a straight right hand from Silva.
Silva slips under a jab from Ruger.
Silva keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ruger fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva misses the jab.
Silva shoots in for a double leg but Ruger sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Silva falls off balance throwing a combination

and Ruger counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Silva wants to stand but Ruger is controlling the position.
Adriano Silva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Silva looking to control.
Ruger stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Silva manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ruger manages to get himself to full guard.

Ruger trying to control the position.

Silva is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruger is trying to keep Silva in close.
Silva really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Silva is pushing down on Ruger's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ruger is fighting to maintain full guard but Silva has managed to sneak the leg through.
Silva wants to free his trapped foot but Ruger is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ruger manages to get to full guard.
Ruger is looking to sweep but instead, Silva has passed into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adriano Silva dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A left lands for Silva.
Ruger takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Ruger moves out of range as Silva strikes.
Ruger fails with the takedown.
Silva changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Ruger misses with a hook. Silva ducked under it nicely.
Ruger avoids the body shot from Silva.
Ruger changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Ruger shoots in looking for a takedown. Silva tries to sprawl out of it but Ruger keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Silva manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruger shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Silva counters with a single leg into guard. Ruger didn't expect that.
Adriano Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rex Ruger.
Silva slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Silva is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ruger knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ruger is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Silva has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Ruger wants to control but Silva postures up.
Silva throws a strike aimed at the side of Ruger's head but Ruger avoids it well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ruger can do anything to dispel that myth.
Silva laying and praying for a moment but Ruger takes advantage and regains half guard.

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 landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Silva wants to control but Ruger is keeping him busy.
Silva is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Silva passes to full mount!
Ruger is trying to escape the mount.
Ruger is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruger really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Silva sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ruger gets back to half guard.

Silva is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Silva seems to be looking for submissions.
Ruger pushes Silva off looking to stand but Silva dives back in and keeps control.
Silva tries to stand but can't do so whilst Ruger controls his leg.

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.
Ruger is looking to control Silva's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ruger avoid being mounted?
Ruger is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva trying to control the action but Ruger is working from the bottom.
Silva looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ruger with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ruger wants to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Silva is keen to just control but Ruger is a slippery customer.

Silva is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rex Ruger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Ruger looking for submissions off his back.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Adriano Silva showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Silva has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Adriano Silva!