PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Justin Midget (ranked 1216 p4p, 151 weight class) and Afa Sila (ranked 5150 p4p, 471 weight class). Sila comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Samoa Joe - Destroyer (Entrance Theme) kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Afa Sila will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Midget
vs
Sila

160 cm
39
160 lbs
29 - 17 - 0

173 cm
43
161 lbs
30 - 16 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Sully's Bar & Grill

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 17 - 0, fighting out of New York, Justin Midget!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Afa Sila!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Steve Montenegro and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sila throws out a loose jab but Midget uses good head movement to avoid it.
Midget closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sila circles away.
Sila with a jab.
Sila lands a leg kick that knocks Midget off balance momentarily.
Sila lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Afa Sila seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Midget shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sila pinned against the cage. Sila gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Midget shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sila but Sila pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Justin Midget. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Midget doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Midget misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sila fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Midget checks it well.
Midget tries to counter with a takedown but Sila is quick to defend against it.
Midget with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Sila to score with a decent uppercut.
Midget looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sila replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Midget blocks it well.
Sila scores with a head kick.
Sila connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Midget's hands.
Sila misses with a low kick.
Sila lands a leg kick that knocks Midget off balance momentarily.
Midget on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sila scores with a nice head shot.
Sila smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Midget misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Afa Sila is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sila listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Sila has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Midget closes the distance and clinches up with Sila, looking for a takedown. Midget pushes Sila against the cage but Sila circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Midget takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Sila scores with a jab to the head.
Sila throws a front kick that sends Midget stumbling back into the cage.
Midget slips under a jab from Sila.
Midget with a poor takedown
and Sila counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick there by Sila.
Midget fails in his attempt to clinch.
Midget gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Midget throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sila's waist but Sila gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Midget off to one side.
Sila lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Sila throws a sloppy head kick and Midget moves out of range easily.
Sila swings for the body but Midget moves out of range.
Midget changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Sila misses with a combination

and Midget counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Midget looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Midget seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Midget is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sila has managed to free his arm - good work.

Midget is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Midget seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sila does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Afa Sila dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Midget on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Sila works the jab nicely.
Sila dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sila.
Midget half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Afa Sila seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Midget has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Sila.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sila. Midget does a little dance to reset his feet.
Midget drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sila sprawls and moves away.
Sila has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sila scores with a jab to the head.
Sila thows a leg kick but Midget checks it

and Midget counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Midget.
Midget wants to control from the top but Sila keeps moving.
Midget wants to pass the guard but Sila is keeping the position.
Midget throws an elbow that misses. Sila uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Midget's guard. Nice move by Sila!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Midget looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Sila passes into side control.
Midget is looking to reverse the position.
Midget looks to move to half guard but instead Sila has passed into mount! Damn!
Midget manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Midget might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Midget manages to get to full guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Midget working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Sila has passed into half guard!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Midget is looking to improve his position.

Midget is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sila pulls his head out easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Midget looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Midget looking for submissions off his back.

Sila moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Midget.
Midget wants to control but Sila postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Midget gets back to half guard.
Sila moves into full mount! Midget won't be happy about that!
Sila manages to capitalize on a mistake by Midget to take his back!
Midget is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Sila doesn't have the hooks in and Midget manages to turn into his guard.

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

Sila got a little sloppy there for a moment and Midget has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sila has managed to get both his arms back between Midget's legs - danger averted.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sila sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Midget is looking for a triangle but Sila pushes his legs off easily.

Midget is looking for a triangle here but Sila uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
You can see the frustration on Midget's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Midget tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Sila presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Midget slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Midget looking for submissions off his back.
Midget wants to get back to full guard but Sila has mounted him!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Afa Sila showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action!

Midget takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Sila buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Midget fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sila avoids it really well and circles away.
Midget looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sila.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sila cracks a nice hook into Midget's ribs.
Midget shoots for a double leg takedown but Sila sprawls well. He's pushed Midget's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Midget tries to move into range but Sila moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Midget walks into a stiff left hand from Sila.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Midget moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Sila throws a leg kick that is checked

and Midget counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Midget stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sila swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Midget trying to control the position from guard on top but Sila is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Midget looking to sit in guard and control but Sila gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Midget can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sila controls the pace.

Midget working for submissions but it's allowed Sila to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Midget looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Midget has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sila is working away from the top position though.

Midget looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Midget looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Midget tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Sila has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Midget wants to hold on but Sila pushes him away.
Midget tries to reverse the position but Sila maintains control.
Afa Sila has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sila controlling the position easily from mount.
Midget tries to lock up and control but Sila gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Midget tries to reverse the position but Sila maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Midget tries to lock up and control but Sila gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Midget reaches up to try and control the position but Sila seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Midget rolls and tries to escape and now Sila has his back!
Sila controlling well, preventing Midget from escaping the position.
Sila really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Midget.
Sila doesn't have the hooks in and Midget manages to turn into his guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Midget drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Sila manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Midget has Sila in his guard.

Sila advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Afa Sila really dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Midget sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Sila looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Midget shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sila but Sila pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A head kick misses from Sila.
Sila with a jab.
Sila throws a sloppy head kick

and Midget counters with a takedown into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Midget swings around for an armbar but Sila sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Midget's guard.

Midget throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Sila escapes and throws Midget's legs to the side, diving into side control!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Midget is looking to reverse the position.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Midget is trying to work for a sweep but Sila has mounted him!
Midget is just holding on here. Sila manages to take his back.
Midget tries to break free.
Midget trying to control the hands but Sila breaks the grip.
You can see the frustration on Midget's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Midget turns into Sila and is now in his guard.
Sila pulls Midget in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Midget wants to control from the top but Sila keeps moving.
Midget looking to sit in guard and control but Sila gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Midget has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sila can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sila forces his way into half guard.

Midget looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sila keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Midget looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Midget is trying to get back to full guard.

Midget looking for submissions off his back.

Midget actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Midget looking for submissions off his back.
Sila prevents Midget from improving his position.
Midget wants to control but Sila is keeping busy.
Midget wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Midget looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Sila pushes past his half guard into mount!
Midget is looking to get to half guard.
Midget is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Afa Sila dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sila throws a body shot but no joy.
Midget drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sila sprawls and moves away.
Sila fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Midget.
Sila lands with a hook. Midget tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Sila misses with a straight right.
Midget tries to counter with a takedown but Sila is quick to defend against it.
Midget moves out of range as Sila throws a body kick.
Midget attempts a counter takedown but Sila avoids it well and moves away.
Midget fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sila avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sila lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sila fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Midget manages to avoid it.
Midget appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Midget takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A slow jab from Sila misses its intended target.
Sila connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Midget momentarily.
Sila throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Midget sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Midget appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Midget steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sila.
Sila ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A good leg kick by Sila.
Sila is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Nice body punch from Sila.
Both fighters circling a little - Sila finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Midget blocks a head kick by Sila.
Sila lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Midget takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Midget closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A low kick from Sila is predictable there

and Midget counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sila blocking the ground and pound attempt from Midget.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Midget sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sila defending well though.

Midget is looking for a kimura here.

Midget is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sila is just riding it out for now. Midget eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Midget misses with a head shot. Sila uses the momentum to regain guard.
Midget pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sila is keeping the position for now.
Midget trying to control but Sila is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Midget is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Midget trying to control but Sila is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Midget moves out of range as Sila throws a body kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sila stalks Midget and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Midget's face. Midget staggers backwards, shaken.
Midget on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Justin Midget has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sila misses with a leg kick

and Midget counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

And that's the end of the fight!
Afa Sila comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sila has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 45:50
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 45:50
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Afa Sila!
Post fight, Afa Sila stared into the camera and said 'To All My Samoans, Tongan, Maoris And My Other Pacific Island Homies. This Victory Is For All Of You USO '.