PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shawn White (ranked 4926 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dragan Silbaski (ranked 5208 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

White
vs
Silbaski

177 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Shawn White!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Dragan Silbaski!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Andrew Berry and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from White.
No luck for Silbaski with that takedown attempt.

Silbaski scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
White pushes Silbaski off but Silbaski dives into side control.
White tries to improve position but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
White is letting Silbaski control him for a moment.

Silbaski has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Silbaski moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White works over Silbaski's head and body with a nice combination.
White steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Silbaski.
Silbaski shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has White pinned against the cage. White gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
White went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
White is looking to clinch.
Silbaski changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Silbaski misses with a takedown
and White counters with a left and a right that stings Silbaski.
Shawn White has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dragan Silbaski.
White changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Silbaski tries to avoid it but White manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Silbaski to the ground. Silbaski escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Silbaski shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says White as he avoids it easily.

White forces Silbaski back against the cage and clinches.
White is trying to push Silbaski away but Silbaski has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silbaski tries for a takedown but White manages to get underhooks.

Silbaski pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Silbaski checks a leg kick.

White closes the distance and pushes Silbaski back into the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
White wants to break the clinch but can't.
Silbaski misses with a shot to the kidneys.

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

Silbaski bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
White gets back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

White actively working from the bottom here.
White wants to control but Silbaski is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White is controlling Silbaski's trapped leg to prevent Silbaski from advancing to side control.
Silbaski wants to lay and pray for a moment but White keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silbaski is looking to stall here but White recovers full guard.
Silbaski trying to control but White is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Silbaski wants to get up but he can't break White's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Silbaski has White up against the cage in a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, White creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Silbaski successfully pulls guard.
Silbaski lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Silbaski being controlled here momentarily.
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 Shawn White will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Silbaski looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? White is fending him off so far but Silbaski persists. Nope, White circles away and we're back to standing.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Silbaski.
Silbaski tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
White swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Silbaski feints the counter takedown.
White throws a sloppy head kick and Silbaski moves out of range easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from White.
White looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silbaski stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shawn White. That's going to take a lot out of him.
White tries to clinch there but Silbaski circles away.
White displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Silbaski.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silbaski is trying hard to land a takedown here. White sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
White is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Silbaski.
White shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Silbaski sprawls well. Silbaski wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. White gets slowly back to his feet.
White darts in looking for a takedown but Silbaski gets double underhooks and turns White into the cage.

Silbaski throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. White was covering up waiting for the punch and Silbaski finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Silbaski gets to his feet - White follows without any prompting.
White shoots in for a takedown but Silbaski shows good takedown defense.
White shoots and misses
and Silbaski counters with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silbaski scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
White being controlled for a moment.
Silbaski in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Silbaski stands up.
White fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Silbaski throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
White shoots in looking for a takedown. Silbaski tries to sprawl out of it but White keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Silbaski manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silbaski moves into range and clinches up with White.
White has had enough of the clinch but Silbaski keeps him there for the moment.

Silbaski breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
White darts in looking for a takedown but Silbaski gets double underhooks and turns White into the cage.
Silbaski lands with a good body shot.
White doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Silbaski counters by moving into the clinch.

Silbaski successfully pulls guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White trying to control the position from guard on top but Silbaski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silbaski wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
White looking to sit in guard and control but Silbaski gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

White keeping full guard, as Silbaski tries to pass.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silbaski pushing down on White's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Silbaski is controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dragan Silbaski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Silbaski shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. White defends it nicely.
White changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
White shoots in and drives through. Silbaski sprawls well.
Silbaski fails in his attempt to clinch.
Silbaski has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Silbaski keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
White throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Silbaski's waist but Silbaski gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing White off to one side.
Silbaski is looking for the big counter here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shawn White. That's going to take a lot out of him.
White shoots in for a takedown but Silbaski shows good takedown defense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Silbaski fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with White, pushing him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on White's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Silbaski escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Silbaski takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silbaski ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Silbaski no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Silbaski is trying to keep White in close.
White content to stall in guard here.
Silbaski is pulling down on White's head to control his posture.

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

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.
Silbaski working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from White.
Silbaski trying to keep a closed guard but White is proving a slippery customer.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
White controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Some bone on bone action there as Silbaski checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Silbaski shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Silbaski was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Silbaski decides to stand back up. Silbaski steps back and let's White get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silbaski shoots in but White avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Silbaski bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Silbaski trying to control the action but White is working from the bottom.
I wouldn't like to be where White is right now.
White wants to control but Silbaski postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Silbaski scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at White to see if he's OK.
White might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Silbaski is looking to take a break and control but White is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Silbaski working away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Silbaski moves into full mount!
White tries to improve his position but instead Silbaski has taken his back!

And that's the end of the fight!
Dragan Silbaski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Silbaski 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dragan Silbaski!