PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Flake Silverman (ranked 7571 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michel James Vanderbilt (ranked 6504 p4p, 538 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Silverman
vs
James Vanderbilt

182 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Pit Bull Development

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Flake Silverman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michel James Vanderbilt!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Thiago Cunha and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vanderbilt misses with a hook. Silverman ducked under it nicely.
Silverman changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Vanderbilt tries to avoid it but Silverman manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Vanderbilt to the ground. Vanderbilt escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Vanderbilt lands a glancing blow to the side of Silverman's head.
Silverman misses with a low kick as Vanderbilt jumps back.
Vanderbilt is looking to land body kicks.
Vanderbilt rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Silverman counters with a left to the body.
Silverman uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Vanderbilt.
Silverman moves out of range as Vanderbilt strikes.
Silverman swinging wildly here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vanderbilt throws a hook but Silverman avoids it easily.
Silverman avoids a punch combination nicely.
Vanderbilt throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silverman shoots in looking for a takedown. Vanderbilt tries to sprawl out of it but Silverman keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Vanderbilt manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Vanderbilt avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Silverman darts in looking for a takedown but Vanderbilt gets double underhooks and turns Silverman into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Flake Silverman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vanderbilt fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Silverman looks to clinch
and Vanderbilt counters with a straight right hand.
Vanderbilt pulls out of a head kick attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Silverman.
Vanderbilt thinks about the counter body kick.
Silverman closes the distance looking to clinch
and Vanderbilt counters with a good low kick that Silverman was not able to check.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanderbilt throws a push kick but Silverman slaps the foot to one side.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vanderbilt. Silverman does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vanderbilt darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A lazy left from Vanderbilt finds it's target.
Silverman moves out of range of the body kick.
Vanderbilt connects with a right hand. Silverman shakes it off.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Silverman tries to clinch but Vanderbilt is having none of it.
Vanderbilt bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Silverman staying out of range there.
Vanderbilt looks for the body kick but Silverman saw that one coming.
Vanderbilt throws a half hearted mid kick.
Silverman scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Vanderbilt throws a leg kick but Silverman sees it coming and moves out of range.
Silverman tries to counter with a takedown but Vanderbilt is quick to defend against it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silverman walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A clash of legs there as Vanderbilt blocks the low kick.
Silverman avoids a kick to the body.
Silverman goes for a double leg but Vanderbilt avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Vanderbilt continues to drive forward.
Vanderbilt fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Silverman checks it well.
Vanderbilt walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Silverman checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Vanderbilt misses with a hook.
Vanderbilt misses with a low kick as Silverman jumps back.
Vanderbilt connects with a good right hand that stumbles Silverman. Silverman circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Good shot there by Vanderbilt.
Silverman shoots and misses
and Vanderbilt counters with a head kick. That will keep Silverman thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Silverman fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Vanderbilt avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanderbilt missing with a left hand there. Silverman was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Silverman on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt obviously looking to wear him down.
Vanderbilt tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
As Vanderbilt tries to get set, Silverman tries to push him back and clinch up but Vanderbilt manages to avoid the attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Silverman closes the distance but Vanderbilt moves to the side
and Vanderbilt counters with a good low kick that Silverman was not able to check.
Silverman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Silverman shoots in for a double leg but Vanderbilt sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Silverman misses the shot to the body.
Vanderbilt raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Vanderbilt throws a jab when Silverman was well out of range.
Silverman tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Vanderbilt manages to circle out of the way.
Silverman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michel James Vanderbilt dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Silverman shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Vanderbilt looks to land a body kick but Silverman moved away.
Silverman shoots in but Vanderbilt avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Vanderbilt tries to land a front kick but Silverman steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Silverman might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Vanderbilt throws a head kick that misses.
Vanderbilt misses with a body kick.
Silverman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vanderbilt paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A head kick misses from Vanderbilt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vanderbilt throws a sloppy head kick and Silverman moves out of range easily.
Silverman looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Flake Silverman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vanderbilt misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silverman blocks a head kick by Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt throws a leg kick that misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Silverman.
Silverman fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Vanderbilt avoids it really well and circles away.
Silverman shoots in but Vanderbilt avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Vanderbilt counters with a body kick.
Silverman throws a leg kick
and Vanderbilt counters with a straight right hand.
Vanderbilt misses with a kick to the body.
Vanderbilt throws a head kick that misses.
Vanderbilt is looking to land body kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanderbilt connects with a solid leg kick.
Michel James Vanderbilt is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Silverman shoots in for a takedown but Vanderbilt shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Silverman shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vanderbilt as he avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silverman takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Vanderbilt connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Vanderbilt lands a nice shot that snaps Silverman's head back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vanderbilt tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vanderbilt connects with an inside leg kick.
Vanderbilt pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Silverman shoots in looking for a takedown but Vanderbilt manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Silverman's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Vanderbilt swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Vanderbilt has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vanderbilt throws a low kick, looking for Silverman's leg but Silverman calmly moves out of range.
Silverman is looking to counter the offense by Vanderbilt and move into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanderbilt throws a right and a left that Silverman avoids nicely.
Vanderbilt misses with a few strikes there.
Good leg kick by Vanderbilt there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Silverman shoots in looking for a takedown. Vanderbilt tries to sprawl out of it but Silverman keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Vanderbilt manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Silverman is trying hard to land a takedown here. Vanderbilt sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Vanderbilt displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Silverman.
An inside leg kick lands from Vanderbilt.
Michel James Vanderbilt seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vanderbilt throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanderbilt misses with a body shot.
Vanderbilt cracks Silverman with a right hand to the side of the head.
Silverman misses with an attempted mid kick.
Silverman doesn't manage to clinch there - Vanderbilt circles away.
Silverman misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vanderbilt.
Silverman just misses with a punch to the body.
Silverman shoots in and drives through. Vanderbilt sprawls well.
Vanderbilt tries a quick counter leg kick but Silverman is wise to it.
Vanderbilt throws a low kick, looking for Silverman's leg but Silverman calmly moves out of range.
Vanderbilt scores with a jab to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Silverman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vanderbilt swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Silverman throws a sloppy head kick
and Vanderbilt counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Vanderbilt looking to land some kicks to the body here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michel James Vanderbilt showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Vanderbilt swats away the attempt to clinch by Silverman.
Silverman will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Silverman ducks under a wild hook from Vanderbilt.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Vanderbilt checks a leg kick.
Vanderbilt scores with a jab to the jaw.
Vanderbilt fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Silverman has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Vanderbilt misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silverman slips under a jab.
Vanderbilt throws a hook to the side of Silverman's head but Silverman sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Silverman shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Vanderbilt defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silverman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silverman looks for a takedown but Vanderbilt sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Flake Silverman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silverman checks a leg kick.
Silverman defending well as Vanderbilt loads up on a big left hand.
Silverman is looking for a counter combo.
Jab, jab by Vanderbilt - just one landing.
Flake Silverman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vanderbilt lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Vanderbilt moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Vanderbilt moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Silverman fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vanderbilt tries to keep at a distance but Silverman has taken the fight into the clinch.

Vanderbilt breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Silverman misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A cross from Vanderbilt lands.
Silverman looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vanderbilt tries a head kick but it misses.
Silverman throws a big counter combination but Vanderbilt scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Vanderbilt throws a head kick that misses.
A left lands for Vanderbilt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanderbilt scores with a kick to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silverman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Michel James Vanderbilt is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Silverman is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Vanderbilt tests Silverman's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Silverman fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Good leg kick by Vanderbilt there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Vanderbilt is looking to land body kicks.
Silverman tries to clinch there but Vanderbilt circles away.
Vanderbilt throws out a counter right but Silverman avoids it with no problem.
A slapping leg kick lands for Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Silverman.
Vanderbilt takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silverman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vanderbilt keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Vanderbilt throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Silverman is looking to counter with head kicks.
Silverman misses with a double jab.
Vanderbilt bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Silverman's head backwards.
Vanderbilt with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vanderbilt lands a head shot.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Silverman. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Silverman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Silverman gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Flake Silverman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vanderbilt lands a glancing blow to the side of Silverman's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michel James Vanderbilt comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Vanderbilt winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight for Michel James Vanderbilt!
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Michel James Vanderbilt!
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight for Michel James Vanderbilt!

Michel James Vanderbilt wins by unanimous decision!
An out of breath and clearly excited Michel James Vanderbilt thanked Pit Bull Development for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).