PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wanderson Silva (ranked 7193 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zaurs Dzhakara (ranked 5428 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Silva
vs
Dzhakara

198 cm
19
210 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

201 cm
25
202 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Wanderson Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Zaurs Dzhakara!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Santiago Holmes and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dzhakara rushes Silva and presses him up against the cage.

Silva decides to pull guard.
Silva 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dzhakara accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dzhakara trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Silva knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Dzhakara on the ground.
Dzhakara stopping the sweep attempt from Silva.
Silva working a defensive guard here.
Dzhakara lands a couple of elbows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dzhakara sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Silva's guard.

Silva manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Dzhakara has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Silva is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Dzhakara shoots in but no luck this time.
Dzhakara shoots in looking for a takedown but Silva manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dzhakara's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dzhakara shoots in but Silva avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Silva appears to be looking for a big counter.
Wanderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zaurs Dzhakara.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Silva is defended easily by Dzhakara.
Sloppy strikes from Silva. Those never looked like landing.

Silva clinches with his opponent.
Dzhakara is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Silva gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Dzhakara is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Silva to keep the fight standing.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Silva breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Silva rushes Dzhakara and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Silva has been working on his balance at Cozad The Island, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Dzhakara.
A hook to the body from Silva.
Silva content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Silva tries to throw a body punch but Dzhakara avoids it by throwing Silva back against the cage.
Silva controlling the action here for a moment.
Dzhakara has Silva pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Silva manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dzhakara looking for a takedown.
Dzhakara has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Silva is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Dzhakara has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Silva avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Dzhakara looks winded!
Silva controlling the action here for a moment.
The referee calls for Silva to work.
Silva drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Silva jumps guard and drags Dzhakara to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dzhakara trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Silva is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Dzhakara is aware though and is defending well.
Dzhakara stands and throws Silva's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Silva is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Dzhakara's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Dzhakara seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Silva does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Silva tries to roll over but Dzhakara keeps him under control.
Dzhakara perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Dzhakara 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.
Silva tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ground and pound from Dzhakara.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dzhakara moves into full mount! Silva won't be happy about that!
Silva working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderson Silva dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dzhakara shoots for a takedown but Silva saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dzhakara goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Wanderson Silva has been cut.
Dzhakara dives in and grabs Silva's left leg, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes down on Dzhakara's head and hops out.

Dzhakara has Silva up against the cage in a clinch.
Silva tries a body shot but Dzhakara blocks it.
Silva is stalling here.
Dzhakara has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Silva is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Wanderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zaurs Dzhakara.
Dzhakara is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Silva is defending well.
Silva lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Silva decides to pull guard.
Dzhakara is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Silva throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Silva has an active guard here but Dzhakara has managed to pass into half guard.
Silva trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dzhakara trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.
Silva is pressing down on Dzhakara's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Dzhakara stands up from Silva's guard - Dzhakara perhaps looking for a knockout.
Silva slaps away a takedown attempt from Dzhakara, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Silva seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Silva rushes Dzhakara and presses him up against the cage.
Dzhakara tries for a takedown but Silva manages to get underhooks.
Dzhakara has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Silva avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Dzhakara is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Silva as the two fighters clinch.
Silva has Dzhakara pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Dzhakara manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Dzhakara jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Silva walks away with a smile on his face. Dzhakara gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Dzhakara shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Silva pinned against the cage. Silva gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Silva or perhaps it was just good defense by Dzhakara, which made it look bad.
Dzhakara fails with a takedown attempt.
Silva shoots in and drives through. Dzhakara sprawls well.
Dzhakara steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Silva.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dzhakara.
Silva tries a head kick but it misses.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dzhakara as he avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Dzhakara.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Dzhakara tries to pull guard but Silva won't allow it.
Dzhakara takes an elbow to the temple.

Silva manages to pull guard.

Silva scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Silva gets a clinch.
Silva is leaning against Dzhakara and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Silva lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Dzhakara or not.
Wanderson Silva has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Silva stalling against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Silva - that landed with a thud.

Silva breaks from the clinch.
Silva closes the distance and clinches up with Dzhakara, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes Dzhakara against the cage but Dzhakara circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dzhakara shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Silva sprawls well. Silva wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dzhakara gets slowly back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dzhakara is defended easily by Silva.
Dzhakara lands a high kick!
Dzhakara shoots for a takedown but Silva saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Silva closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderson Silva dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Wanderson Silva's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Silva drives through and clinches with Dzhakara against the cage.
Silva tries to throw a body punch but Dzhakara avoids it by throwing Silva back against the cage.
Dzhakara has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Silva avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Silva is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Silva lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Zaurs Dzhakara has been cut.

Silva breaks from the clinch.
Dzhakara takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Silva closes the distance and clinches.
Silva cracks Dzhakara with a nice body shot.
Silva scores with a hook to the body.

Silva pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body kick there by Silva.

Silva has taken the fight to the clinch.
Silva taking a breather.
Dzhakara takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dzhakara gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Silva pulls guard.
Silva is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Dzhakara dives into side control.
Silva is trying to control Dzhakara's posture but Dzhakara avoids it.
Silva is looking for a sweep.
Silva tries to escape but Dzhakara is in control.
Dzhakara is looking to take a break and control but Silva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying to get back to his feet.
Silva taking punishment in the form of punches.
You can see the frustration on Silva's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Silva is looking for a sweep.
Dzhakara takes advantage of some sloppy striking from Silva to pass into mount.
Dzhakara content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to hold on but Dzhakara pushes him away.

Dzhakara is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Horrible takedown attempt by Dzhakara or perhaps it was just good defense by Silva, which made it look bad.
Wanderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zaurs Dzhakara.

Dzhakara clinches up with Silva and pushes him back against the cage.

Dzhakara jumps guard and drags Silva to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Silva stands up from Dzhakara's guard - Silva perhaps looking for a knockout.
No joy there for Dzhakara, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Dzhakara gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Dzhakara is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva controlling the action here for a moment.
Silva tries a body shot but Dzhakara blocks it.
Silva taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Dzhakara is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Silva misses with a body punch.

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

Dzhakara has Silva up against the cage in a clinch.
Silva is defending well against a takedown attempt.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Silva takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Zaurs Dzhakara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wanderson Silva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dzhakara prevents a body shot from Silva.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wanderson Silva showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Silva has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wanderson Silva!