PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Silva (ranked 3698 p4p, 372 weight class) and Saif Said (ranked 6197 p4p, 495 weight class). Anderson Silva has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Silva
vs
Said

189 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

198 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Anderson Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Saif Said!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Alyssa Summers and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Silva jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Said walks away with a smile on his face. Silva gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A jab lands there for Said.

It looks like Anderson Silva has been cut.
Silva walks into a straight right hand from Said.
Said leaves Silva with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Said swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.
Silva is looking to clinch.
Silva tries to clinch but Said is having none of it.
Silva pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Silva fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Said manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Said throws a half hearted mid kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Said.
Silva tries to clinch up but Said circles away and keeps his distance.

Said pushes Silva up against the cage in a clinch.

Said jumps into guard, dragging Silva to the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Silva avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Said bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Silva's guard.

Said wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Said content to stall in guard here.
Said throwing strikes but missing.
Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two 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.
Silva being controlled here, momentarily.
Said stopping the sweep attempt from Silva.
Said is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Silva wants to sweep here but Said controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Said decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Silva, up you get!
Silva doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Good standup being displayed there by Silva as he connects with a hook.
Saif Said seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Said closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Silva to the mat! Silva manages to get full guard.
Said is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Said throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Silva wants to sweep here but Said controlling him for the moment.

Said stands up from Silva's guard - Said perhaps looking for a knockout.
Silva waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Said.
Silva takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Said paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Said finds it's way through Silva's defenses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Said slaps away a takedown attempt from Silva, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Said paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Said lands a lovely overhand right.
No luck for Silva with that takedown attempt.
Silva is breathing heavily.

Said rushes Silva and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Said has Silva pushed against the cage.
Said missing with knees to the body.

Said manages to pull guard.
Said lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Said trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saif Said dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Anderson Silva's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jab by Silva.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Said fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Silva, pushing him back against the cage.
Silva tries to pull guard but Said holds him up against the cage and eventually Silva drops back down to his feet.
Silva is looking to break free of the clinch but Said has double underhooks.
Said stops a takedown attempt from Silva.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Said breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Silva displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Said.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Said uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Silva.

Said takes the fight into the clinch.

Said jumps into guard, dragging Silva to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Said pulls Silva in close to his closed guard and prevents Silva from doing any damage or advancing position.
Silva postures up.

Silva drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Said dives on top into guard.

Said sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Silva's guard.
Silva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Silva wants to control but Said is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Silva knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Said on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Said gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Said swats him away and circles back towards the center.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Silva.
Silva dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Said closes the distance and clinches.
Silva wants a takedown.
Silva has Said pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Said manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Said slows down the pace here.
Silva wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Said has him pressed against the cage.
Said has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Said is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Silva pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Silva wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Said clinches.
Said has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Silva after a bit of a struggle.

Said gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Said is looking to take a break and control but Silva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Silva on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Silva tries to get out of the position.
Silva trying to get back to full guard but Said takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Silva just holding on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying desperately to improve position.
Said tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Silva tries to lock up and control but Said gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Silva is squirming around, avoiding Said's attempts to control the action.
Said throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Silva because Said loaded up on that one.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Said thowing shots but they're missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saif Said showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Anderson Silva's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Said rushes Silva and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Said has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Said prevents a takedown attempt there.

Said successfully pulls guard.
Said wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Said escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Silva gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Said controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva won't allow Said to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Said manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Silva manages to get himself to full guard.

Silva avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Said with a flurry of punches that miss.
Said with a flurry of punches that miss.
Silva trying to control the position here.

Said is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Said gets to his feet - Silva follows without any prompting.

Said closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
An elbow from Said crashes against the mat.
Silva tries to buck Said off but Said is having none of it.

Said decides to stand back up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Said is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Said takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Silva is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Said is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva looking to stall.
Said is pressed up against the cage. Silva has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Said down to the mat. Said avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva throws a right hand that Said ducks under and follows up with a left that Said also avoids with ease.
Said swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Silva gets tackled into the cage by Said. Said maintains the clinch.
Said misses with an elbow strike.

Said breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Said misses with an attempted mid kick.
Said keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Said slaps away a takedown attempt from Silva, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Said gets a clinch.
Said dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Said gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Silva is working an open guard so Said takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Said misses with a head kick.

Said clinches up with Silva and pushes him back against the cage.
Silva is looking to control Said's arms but Said gets an underhook and turns him. Now Silva has his back to the cage.
Silva is trying to maintain a safe position but Said gets an underhook and turns Silva into the cage.

Said breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Silva is looking to clinch.
It seemed like Said was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Silva jumps guard but Said stands there with Silva around his waist. Silva gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saif Said really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Anderson Silva's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Silva lands an overhand right.
Said slips under a jab from Silva.
Silva on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Silva tries to move into range but Said moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Silva has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Said finds it's way round the side to connect with Silva's head.

Said has managed to clinch.
Said keeps control of Silva as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Silva trying to control the position but instead, Said has worked for underhooks and has pushed Silva into the cage.
Said is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Said drags the fight down to the ground.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Said stands and steps away. Silva gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Said manages to pull guard.

Said is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Silva is aware though and is defending well.
Saif Said has got the better of the ground game so far.
Said pulls Silva in close to prevent any damage.
Silva postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Said is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Said keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Said controls Silva momentarily but Silva frees himself.

Silva postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Said is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Silva, into his guard.

Silva managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Said controls the pace.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Said is proving a slippery customer.
Said throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

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.
Said stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Said fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Silva, pushing him back against the cage.
Silva prevents the takedown attempt.
Said blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Silva just misses with a elbow thrown towards Said's brow.
Said is looking to take this one to the mat.
Anderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saif Said.

Said is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Silva can't fight it off and eventually Said manages to take the fight to the floor. Silva looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Said trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saif Said dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Anderson Silva's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Said slips a straight right by Silva.

Said rushes Silva and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Silva wants to break free but Said has control.
Silva jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Said walks away with a smile on his face. Silva gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Said darts in and clinches Silva up against the cage.
Said tries to circle away but Silva has him pinned against the cage.
Silva misses with some punches.
Silva is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Said is looking for a takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Said is trying to push Silva away but Silva has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Said has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Silva avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Said manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Said is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Said thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Said looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Said keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Said keeping full guard, as Silva tries to pass.
Silva tries to stand but Said is controlling from the bottom.
Said trying to keep a closed guard but Silva is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Said is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Silva.
Said fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Anderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saif Said.
Silva scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Silva tries to clinch up but Said circles away and keeps his distance.
Said tries to clinch up but Silva circles away and keeps his distance.
Said connects with the punch.
Silva dives in for a single leg takedown but Said sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Silva.
Said swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Silva slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Silva lands a two punch combo.

Said moves into the clinch.

Said jumps guard.
Said doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva preventing the sweep.
Silva wants to get up but he can't break Said's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Said is trying to control the position but Silva postures up.
Said looking for a sweep. Not yet Said, not yet.
Said is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Silva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Silva shoots for a takedown but Said saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
It seemed like Said was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Silva wants to clinch up but Said keeps it at a distance.

Said fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Silva, pushing him back against the cage.
Said stops a takedown attempt from Silva.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Said successfully pulls guard.
Silva is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Said trying to control the position.
Silva would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Said 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.
Anderson Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Saif Said is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Said works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saif Said comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Said 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 45:50
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 45:50
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saif Said!