PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jose Rodriguez (ranked 2165 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wanderson Silva (ranked 6834 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rodriguez
vs
Silva

180 cm
25
208 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

198 cm
20
210 lbs
5 - 11 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jose Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 11 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Wanderson Silva!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Peter Branson and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva tries to clinch up
and Rodriguez counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Wanderson Silva has been cut.
Silva shoots in but no luck this time.
Silva shoots and misses
and Rodriguez counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Silva closes the distance but Rodriguez moves to the side
and Silva takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Silva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rodriguez was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Silva gets a double leg takedown into Rodriguez's guard.
Silva has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Cozad The Island. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

Silva got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rodriguez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Silva has managed to get both his arms back between Rodriguez's legs - danger averted.

Rodriguez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Rodriguez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Silva doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Silva manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriguez has his foot on Silva's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Silva works his way back into a safe position though.
Silva content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Rodriguez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Silva tries to stand but Rodriguez is controlling from the bottom.

Rodriguez looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Silva passes into half guard.
Rodriguez looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Rodriguez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rodriguez tries to get to full guard but Silva has control of the leg.

Rodriguez actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez looking for submissions off his back.

Silva moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Rodriguez.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodriguez tries to improve position but can't.
Silva wants to control but Rodriguez is keeping him busy.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Silva working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva controlling from side mount.
Rodriguez is not content to let Silva control the position.
Rodriguez is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Rodriguez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Rodriguez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Silva pulls his head out easily.

Rodriguez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Silva passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Rodriguez!
Rodriguez tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to control but Rodriguez wriggling away.
Silva raining down hammerfists from mount.
Rodriguez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Silva trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Silva tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Silva lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva looking to control and managing it successfully.
Silva tries to control but Rodriguez wriggling away.
Rodriguez bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Wanderson Silva will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Wanderson Silva's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Silva shoots in for a double leg but Rodriguez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Silva wants to clinch up but Rodriguez keeps it at a distance.
Rodriguez was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Rodriguez circles away from the clinch attempt.

Silva rushes Rodriguez and presses him up against the cage.

Rodriguez ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rodriguez no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Rodriguez looking for a guillotine here but Silva defends easily.
Rodriguez keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rodriguez is looking for a triangle here but Silva uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Silva trying to control the position but Rodriguez is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva decides to stand back up. Silva steps back and let's Rodriguez get back to his feet.
Rodriguez keeps the fight on the outside.
Rodriguez swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Rodriguez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Silva has his takedown stuffed
and Rodriguez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Silva tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Rodriguez is able to avoid easily.
Silva tries to clinch there but Rodriguez circles away.
Rodriguez throwing a counter right hand but Silva manages to avoid it.
Silva wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva closes the distance and clinches.

Rodriguez successfully pulls guard.

Rodriguez throws his legs up looking for a submission but Silva uses it to pass to side control.
Silva wants to control but Rodriguez is keeping him busy.
Rodriguez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rodriguez is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Silva tries to clinch there but Rodriguez circles away.
Rodriguez throwing a counter right hand but Silva manages to avoid it.
Silva throws a left and a right that both miss
and Silva takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Silva moves into the clinch.
Rodriguez tries to pull guard but Silva holds him up against the cage and eventually Rodriguez drops back down to his feet.
Rodriguez jumps guard but Silva stands there with Rodriguez around his waist. Rodriguez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Silva goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rodriguez prevents it.
Jose Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wanderson Silva.
Rodriguez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silva just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rodriguez tries to pull guard but Silva holds him up against the cage and eventually Rodriguez drops back down to his feet.
Rodriguez blocks a body shot from Silva.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rodriguez jumps guard but Silva stands there with Rodriguez around his waist. Rodriguez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Silva lands a knee to the body.
Rodriguez tries to pull guard but Silva forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Rodriguez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silva just stands there and leans against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva misses with a body punch.
Silva is struggling to control the position.

Silva lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Rodriguez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Silva tries to pass to full mount but Rodriguez defends it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva is keen to just control but Rodriguez is a slippery customer.
Silva trying to control the pace.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Rodriguez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderson Silva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Wanderson Silva's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.
A little feinted left hand from Rodriguez on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Silva has closed the distance and engaged Rodriguez in a clinch.
Rodriguez blocks a body shot from Silva.
Rodriguez fails to pull guard.
Silva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rodriguez is defending well for now.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rodriguez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rodriguez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rodriguez jumps guard but Silva stands there with Rodriguez around his waist. Rodriguez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Rodriguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rodriguez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Silva to keep the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva looking for a takedown.
Silva goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rodriguez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Rodriguez manages to pull guard.
Silva wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriguez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wanderson Silva has got the better of the ground game so far.

Rodriguez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Silva defends it easily.
Silva would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Rodriguez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Rodriguez working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Silva has passed into half guard!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rodriguez is staying active underneath Silva, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rodriguez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Silva trying to control the action but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Silva trying to pass the guard but Rodriguez defending well.
Rodriguez is in trouble now - Silva has advanced to mount!
Silva prevents Rodriguez from getting the reversal.
Silva raining down hammerfists from mount.
Silva with the ground and pound from mount.
A nice elbow there by Silva.
Rodriguez can't escape the position.
A nice elbow there by Silva.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rodriguez can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Silva landing shots from mount.
Rodriguez in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Rodriguez wants to control but Silva is having none of it.
Silva lands with some strikes.
Silva wants to control the pace but Rodriguez is squirming around nicely.
Rodriguez is working to get back to half guard.
Silva with good strikes from the mount here!
Rodriguez tries to reverse the position but Silva maintains control.
Rodriguez tries to lock up and control but Silva gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez regains half guard.
Rodriguez wants to improve his position but Silva is controlling well.

Rodriguez looking for submissions off his back.
Silva content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rodriguez is looking for a sweep. Silva is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rodriguez is not content to let Silva control the position.
Rodriguez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jose Rodriguez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wanderson Silva is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Rodriguez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Silva pulls his head out easily.
Silva is keen to just control but Rodriguez is a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wanderson Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Silva winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:30

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