PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Divanei Silva (ranked 2971 p4p, 322 weight class) and Ronald DiVerdici (ranked 3328 p4p, 345 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Silva
vs
DiVerdici

175 cm
25
180 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

165 cm
25
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

RESISTANCE
Blue Moon

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Divanei Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ronald DiVerdici!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Paulsen Ambrosius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
DiVerdici cracks Silva with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
DiVerdici throws a head kick but Silva moves out of range.
DiVerdici throws a big shot that misses.
DiVerdici should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
DiVerdici throws a body shot but no joy.
DiVerdici fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
DiVerdici feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Silva's calf.
DiVerdici stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and DiVerdici wants it to stay on the feet.
DiVerdici now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
DiVerdici looks to throw a body kick

and Silva counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Silva.
DiVerdici keeping full guard, as Silva tries to pass.
DiVerdici looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Silva has gone for a leg lock! DiVerdici slips out almost immediately though and dives into Silva's guard.

DiVerdici looking to sit in guard and control but Silva gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Silva won't allow DiVerdici to sweep him here.
Silva definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but DiVerdici manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Silva looking to hit a scissor sweep but DiVerdici is one step ahead there.

DiVerdici got a little sloppy there for a moment and Silva has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, DiVerdici has managed to get both his arms back between Silva's legs - danger averted.
Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Silva bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in DiVerdici's guard.

DiVerdici has a closed guard, preventing Silva from standing up.
Silva controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Silva wants to stand but DiVerdici has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva stopping the sweep attempt from DiVerdici.
Silva looking to pass the guard.
Silva trying to control but DiVerdici is working from the bottom.
Silva sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed DiVerdici's guard.

Silva is looking for a kimura but DiVerdici is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Silva to get the leverage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
DiVerdici tries to get to full guard but Silva has control of the leg.

Silva is working for a submission of some sort.
DiVerdici 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.
Silva missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
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 Divanei Silva will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Silva tries to clinch but DiVerdici is having none of it.
DiVerdici stalks Silva and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Silva's face. Silva staggers backwards, shaken.
DiVerdici tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Silva was well out of range. Poor timing from DiVerdici.
DiVerdici stuffs the takedown attempt from Silva. Silva gets slowly back to his feet.
DiVerdici takes a swing at Silva's ribcage but misses.
DiVerdici misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
DiVerdici ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Silva has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from DiVerdici.
DiVerdici misses the shot to the body.
DiVerdici throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
DiVerdici throws a body punch but Silva moves out of range.
Ronald DiVerdici seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
DiVerdici throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Silva tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but DiVerdici swivels and escapes.
DiVerdici lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
DiVerdici lands a two punch combo.
DiVerdici has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Silva avoids the body shot from DiVerdici.
Ronald DiVerdici seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva blocks a leg kick.
DiVerdici is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Silva.
DiVerdici throws a right and a left that both miss.
DiVerdici throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nice uppercut there from DiVerdici.
DiVerdici's coach down at Official UFC Performance Institute Training Center was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on DiVerdici's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Silva has managed to clinch.

Silva pulls guard successfully.
DiVerdici won't allow Silva to sweep him here.
Silva is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Silva seems to be working for a kimura but DiVerdici defends the submission attempt.
DiVerdici keeping hold of Silva's head, controlling as best he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying to control the action in half guard but DiVerdici is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Silva wants to pass to mount but DiVerdici is defending the position.
DiVerdici is looking to escape.
Silva has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
DiVerdici tries to get back to half guard but can't.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
DiVerdici is controlling an arm, preventing Silva from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Silva landing strikes from the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronald DiVerdici showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

DiVerdici throws a series of punches but Silva avoids them all with ease.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Silva.
DiVerdici lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
DiVerdici is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Silva rather than just go for the knockout.
DiVerdici throws a body shot but no joy.
Divanei Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
DiVerdici with a body punch. A glancing blow.
DiVerdici lands with a nice body kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from DiVerdici. Silva does a little dance to reset his feet.
DiVerdici just misses with a punch to the body.
Silva tries to counter with a takedown but DiVerdici is quick to defend against it.
Silva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
DiVerdici lands a high kick!

Silva looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

DiVerdici pushes Silva off, looking to escape but Silva dives into side control. He's locked up a kimura now - that was fast! He's cranking on it and DiVerdici is forced to tap! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Divanei Silva!
A victorious Divanei Silva thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.