PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Victor Stroev (ranked 4775 p4p, 502 weight class) and Agung Silawanto (ranked 25230 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Victor Stroev has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Victor Stroev seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Stroev
vs
Silawanto

175 cm
25
157 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

172 cm
25
156 lbs
1 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Victor Stroev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Agung Silawanto!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Kenichi Hosakawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stroev gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Stroev breaks the clinch.

Silawanto gets tackled into the cage by Stroev. Stroev maintains the clinch.
Silawanto is trying to pull guard but Stroev turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Silawanto tries a body shot but Stroev blocks it.
Silawanto tries to score a body lock takedown but Stroev shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Stroev pulls Silawanto into guard.

Stroev is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Silawanto is aware though and is defending well.
Silawanto trying to control but Stroev is working from the bottom.
Stroev managing to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stroev working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Silawanto.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silawanto throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stroev trying to keep a closed guard but Silawanto is proving a slippery customer.
Stroev wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Stroev continues to stall.

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

Stroev looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Stroev is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Stroev knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Silawanto on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stroev trying to control but Silawanto is working from the bottom.

Stroev gets to his feet - Silawanto follows without any prompting.

Stroev is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Silawanto's half guard.
Silawanto is trying to escape back to his feet but Stroev uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Stroev scores with punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Silawanto can't do much from the bottom here.

Stroev is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Silawanto knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Silawanto sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Stroev is controlling the pace.
Silawanto tries to get to full guard but Stroev has control of the leg.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Silawanto avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stroev.
Silawanto works his way to full guard. Good work.

Stroev 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Stroev dominated 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.

Silawanto tries for a takedown but Stroev circles away easily

and Stroev counters by moving into the clinch.

Stroev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Stroev looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Stroev tries to stand but Silawanto is controlling from the bottom.
Stroev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silawanto swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silawanto trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Stroev wants to control from the top but Silawanto keeps moving.
Stroev's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silawanto 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.
Stroev controls from within his opponent's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Stroev wanted to stand there but Silawanto had control of the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Stroev is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Silawanto's half guard.
Stroev tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Silawanto.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stroev trying to mount his opponent but Silawanto defends it.
Silawanto wants to improve his position but Stroev is controlling well.
Stroev trying to mount his opponent but Silawanto defends it.
Stroev is taking a breather. Silawanto 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.

Stroev is looking for a kimura but Silawanto is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Stroev to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stroev prevents Silawanto from standing back up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Silawanto blocking the ground and pound attempt from Stroev.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Silawanto throws a head kick that misses

so Stroev counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Stroev stands and steps away. Silawanto gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Silawanto gets caught flat footed, as Stroev shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Stroev has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Stroev wants to get up but he can't break Silawanto's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Victor Stroev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stroev is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stroev trying to control the position from guard on top but Silawanto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Silawanto is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stroev defends well.
Stroev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Silawanto can do to turn this around?
Silawanto is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stroev looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Stroev won't allow Silawanto to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stroev controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Stroev dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Silawanto gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Stroev wants to control from the top but Silawanto keeps moving.
Stroev passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stroev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silawanto keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stroev working away.
Stroev is staying tight to Silawanto's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Stroev thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Stroev swings around for an armbar but Silawanto sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Stroev's guard.
Stroev keeping moving, preventing Silawanto from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stroev has his foot on Silawanto's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Silawanto works his way back into a safe position though.
Stroev is controlling Silawanto's posture.
Stroev looking for a sweep. Not yet Stroev, not yet.
Stroev seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Stroev throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Silawanto got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stroev has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Silawanto has managed to get both his arms back between Stroev's legs - danger averted.
Stroev pulls Silawanto in close to prevent any damage.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silawanto scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Victor Stroev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Stroev closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stroev lands in his opponent's guard.
Stroev looking to pass the guard.
Stroev is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Stroev postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stroev is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Stroev trying to control but Silawanto is working from the bottom.
Stroev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stroev trying to stand up but can't free himself from Silawanto's guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Agung Silawanto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Victor Stroev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Silawanto scores with a three punch combo!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Agung Silawanto.
I think Stroev 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Victor Stroev!