PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Blaine Callaghan (ranked 4455 p4p, 349 weight class) and Gilberto Silva (ranked 25216 p4p, 0 weight class). Callaghan comes to the cage accompanied by The Foggy Dew. Blaine Callaghan had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Callaghan
vs
Silva

176 cm
26
155 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

177 cm
22
157 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Blaine Callaghan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gilberto Silva!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Felipe Paraventi and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Callaghan defends well and Silva ends up having to push Callaghan into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Callaghan seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Silva with a poor takedown
and Callaghan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Silva throws a left and a right that both miss
and Callaghan counters with a two punch combo.
A cross from Silva lands.
Silva tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Callaghan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Silva tries a head kick but it misses.
Callaghan appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Callaghan is looking to counter with a body kick.
Callaghan leaves Silva with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Blaine Callaghan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gilberto Silva.
Silva throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Callaghan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Silva fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva has a takedown stuffed.
Callaghan connects with a body shot.
Silva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Callaghan misses the target.
Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Callaghan counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Silva looks winded!
Silva takes one to the chin there.
Silva takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt
and Silva takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Silva wants to clinch.
Silva changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Callaghan tries to avoid it but Silva manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Callaghan to the ground. Callaghan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva moves out of range of the body kick.
Callaghan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Silva dives in for a single leg takedown but Callaghan sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Silva takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silva blocks the body kick.
Silva thows a left - swing and a miss!
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Callaghan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Silva shoots and misses
letting Callaghan counter with a right hand.
Silva is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Callaghan.

Silva is rocked!

It looks like Gilberto Silva has been cut.
Callaghan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Silva sees it coming and avoids it easily.
It looks like Callaghan has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Silva with a lazy takedown attempt
and Silva takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Silva showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Callaghan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Callaghan connects with a crisp jab.
Callaghan fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but Callaghan shows good takedown defense.
Callaghan is looking to counter with a body kick.
Callaghan tries to land a front kick but Silva steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Silva misses with a lunging right hand
and Callaghan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Callaghan fails to land with a series of punches.
Silva tries to score a power double leg takedown but Callaghan sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Silva somewhat.
Callaghan leaves Silva with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A counter left hand to the body from Callaghan misses its target.
Callaghan tries to bum rush Silva with a series of wild strikes but Silva uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Callaghan scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Silva is looking to clinch but Callaghan is avoiding it.
Silva closes the distance and clinches up with Callaghan, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes Callaghan against the cage but Callaghan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Silva shoots in but Callaghan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Callaghan displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Callaghan counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Callaghan throws a right hand that Silva ducks under and follows up with a left that Silva also avoids with ease.
Callaghan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Silva.
Silva blocks the body kick.
Callaghan feints a jab promting Silva to slip. Callaghan then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Silva slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blaine Callaghan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gilberto Silva's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Silva swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Callaghan counter with a right hand.
Silva shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Callaghan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Silva shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Callaghan pinned against the cage. Callaghan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Callaghan lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva lands with a straight right. Callaghan didn't see that one coming.
Callaghan leaves Silva with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Blaine Callaghan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gilberto Silva.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Callaghan stalks Silva and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Silva's face. Silva staggers backwards, shaken.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva with a lazy takedown attempt
and Callaghan counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Callaghan circles away from the clinch attempt.
A combination from Callaghan does no damage.
Silva steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Callaghan.
Callaghan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Silva circles away quickly and effectively.
Callaghan is looking to land body kicks.
Silva shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Callaghan defends it nicely.
Callaghan swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
Callaghan swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
Blaine Callaghan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Callaghan lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Callaghan moves out of range of the leg kick from Silva.
Silva with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Callaghan counter with a right hand.
Callaghan leaves Silva with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Callaghan's jab looks to have found its range, popping Silva under the eye.
Callaghan connects with a single shot there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Callaghan is looking to land body kicks.
Callaghan dodges the punch combination from Silva.
Silva has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Callaghan paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Callaghan throws a push kick but Silva slaps the foot to one side.
Silva wants to clinch.
Callaghan misses with a series of wild punches.
Silva throws a sloppy head kick and Callaghan moves out of range easily.
Callaghan throwing a counter right hand but Silva manages to avoid it.
Blaine Callaghan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Silva.
Silva dodges the punch combination from Callaghan.
Silva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Callaghan fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Silva throws a sloppy head kick and Callaghan moves out of range easily.
Callaghan scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Silva blocks the body kick.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Silva might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Callaghan has got the better of the exchanges.
Nice takedown defense from Callaghan. No joy for Silva on that attempt.
A counter left hand to the body from Callaghan misses its target.
Silva tries to clinch but Callaghan moves away
and Callaghan counters with a nice body shot.
Callaghan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Silva circles away quickly and effectively.
Sloppy strikes from Callaghan. Those never looked like landing.
Silva looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blaine Callaghan dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gilberto Silva's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A nice combination there by Callaghan.
Silva throws a combination that misses
and Callaghan counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Silva fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Callaghan avoids it really well and circles away.
Callaghan moves out of range of the strikes.
It looked like Callaghan wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Silva swings for the body but Callaghan moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Callaghan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gilberto Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Callaghan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Callaghan swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
Silva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Callaghan keeps the fight on the outside.
Silva has his takedown stuffed
and Callaghan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Callaghan misses with the combination.
Silva with a poor takedown
enabling Callaghan to counter with a crisp jab.
Blaine Callaghan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gilberto Silva.
Silva with a poor takedown
and Callaghan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Silva avoids a kick to the body.
Silva shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Callaghan defends it nicely.
Silva has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Silva misses with a left hand
and Callaghan counters with a series of strikes. Silva will be more careful next time no doubt.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Callaghan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
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 tries to clinch but Callaghan moves away
and Callaghan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Callaghan scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Silva doesn't seem bothered though.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Callaghan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
It looked like Callaghan wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Jab by Callaghan.
Callaghan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Silva avoids a punch combination nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva drops his hands momentarily and Callaghan takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Silva fails with the takedown.
A little feinted left hand from Callaghan on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Callaghan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Silva can do to turn this around?
Silva tries to clinch but Callaghan moves out of range.
Silva swinging wildly here.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Silva.
Silva looks for the body kick but Callaghan saw that one coming.
Callaghan throws a quick counter kick to the body but Silva avoids it.
Silva throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Callaghan tests Silva's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Callaghan displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
A right-left combo lands from Callaghan.
Silva misses with a combination
and Callaghan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Silva darts in looking for a takedown but Callaghan gets double underhooks and turns Silva into the cage.
Callaghan fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Silva looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Silva doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Callaghan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Silva ducks right into an uppercut from Callaghan.
Silva misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gilberto Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Silva is trying desperately to land a takedown but Callaghan is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Silva.
Callaghan swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Silva.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blaine Callaghan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Callaghan 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:26
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:26
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blaine Callaghan!
Blaine Callaghan decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.