PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bonzela Franco (ranked 2223 p4p, 253 weight class) and Daniel Silva (ranked 3890 p4p, 377 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Franco might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Anti Heroi. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Franco
vs
Silva

193 cm
26
243 lbs
6 - 17 - 0

190 cm
23
265 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Dangerous GnP
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 17 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bonzela Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Daniel Silva!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Dean Styles and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franco swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
It looked like Franco was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Franco forces Silva back against the cage and clinches.

Franco gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Silva regains guard.
Franco is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Silva has Franco pulled in close to control his posture.
Silva controls Franco momentarily but Franco frees himself.
Silva with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Franco can't handle though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Franco stands and steps away. Silva gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Franco lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Silva circles away quickly and effectively.
Silva raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

Silva drives through and clinches with Franco against the cage.
Franco is looking for a takedown.
Silva is looking to take this one to the mat.
Franco is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva missing with knees to the body.

Franco has Silva pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Franco pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Silva tumbling to the mat - Franco dives into Silva's guard.
Franco is working Silva over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franco is working Silva over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Franco works over Silva with some ground and pound from guard.
Franco connects with a couple of short punches.
Franco sitting in guard here, content to control.
Franco stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Silva throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Franco got a little sloppy there for a moment and Silva has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Franco has managed to get both his arms back between Silva's legs - danger averted.
Silva keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Franco won't allow Silva to sweep him here.
Silva lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Franco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franco looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Franco striking from the bottom.
Silva trying to control but Franco is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Silva accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Franco has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Silva is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
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!

Franco has picked Silva up - he's going for a ride! Franco dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Silva manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Franco misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Franco quickly recovers to half guard.
Silva is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Silva is trying to control the action in half guard but Franco is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Silva is working for a kimura but Franco is defending it quite comfortably.
Silva working over Franco with some ground and pound. Franco looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Silva blocks the strikes from Franco.
Franco is looking for a sweep. Silva is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Silva blocks the strikes from Franco.
Franco trying to hold on to Silva's head to control him but Silva postures up.
Franco striking from half guard on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Franco looking for submissions off his back.
Franco wants to control but Silva is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Franco is breathing heavily.
Franco has hold of Silva's hands but Silva slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Franco has hold of Silva's hands but Silva slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Silva trying to pass the guard but Franco defending well.
Silva lands a big elbow - Franco is out of it! He's waving his arms around but his eyes are closed and he's not intelligently defending himself - the ref has no choice but to jump in and stop the fight! This one is in the books! A TKO win for Silva!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:40 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Daniel Silva!
In defeat, Bonzela Franco stepped up to the mic, saying 'I will fight again and i will win'.