PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rickson Silva (ranked 274 p4p, 293 weight class) and Antonio Atunes (ranked 37 p4p, 41 weight class). Silva comes into the arena with URSO O INVENCÍVEL blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Silva
vs
Atunes

195 cm
23
200
11 - 0 - 0

188 cm
24
198
11 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Brooklyn Apothecary
Altitude Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rickson Silva!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Antonio Atunes!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Steve Smith and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silva closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Atunes quickly recovers to half guard.
Silva is pressing down on Atunes's thigh, looking to free his foot. Atunes is holding on for now.

Silva is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Silva is working for a kimura but Atunes is defending it quite comfortably.
Atunes controlling the position well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Silva seems to be working for a kimura but Atunes defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva passes to side control.

Silva is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Atunes knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Silva looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Atunes tries to improve position but can't.

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 tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Silva working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Silva throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Silva looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Silva goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Atunes has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Silva but great work by Atunes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva regains half guard.
Silva tries to get to full guard but Atunes has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Atunes pulls his head out easily.
Atunes is controlling the pace.
Silva is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Atunes's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Atunes's back!

Atunes defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Silva's arms.

Silva has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Atunes has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva working for the choke.
Silva somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.

Silva looking to break Atunes's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Atunes remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Silva will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Atunes felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Silva is looking for the choke from the back position but Atunes is controlling his hands well.

Silva is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Atunes defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Atunes defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Silva's arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rickson Silva dominated that round.
That's time! Silva's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Silva on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Atunes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Silva manages to avoid it.
Silva tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Atunes swivels and escapes.
Atunes connects with a single shot there.
Atunes connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but Atunes shows good takedown defense.
Atunes scores with a sloppy right hand. Silva should have avoided that one.
Silva with a lazy takedown attempt
and Atunes counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Atunes connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Silva momentarily.
Atunes thuds a left hand into Silva's body.
Silva definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Silva walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
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!
Atunes jabs at Silva's body.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt - Atunes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Antonio Atunes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Atunes stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Atunes wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Rickson Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Atunes catches Silva with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Atunes scores with a hook to the body. Silva takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Silva with a poor takedown
and Atunes counters with a nice body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Atunes throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Atunes lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A leg kick checked by Atunes.
Atunes wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Antonio Atunes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Silva dives in and grabs Atunes's left leg, looking for a takedown. Atunes pushes down on Silva's head and hops out.
Silva has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Atunes finds it's way round the side to connect with Silva's head.
Silva on the wrong end of a nice hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Atunes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Silva, pushing him back against the cage.
Silva looking for a takedown.
Atunes gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Silva.
Atunes softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva blocks an uppercut.
Atunes leaning his opponent against the cage.
Silva blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Silva is trying to drag Atunes to the mat but Atunes just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Atunes lands a hook to the side of the head.
Silva misses with the head strike.
Silva can't get the takedown.
Atunes trying to stall but Silva improves his position.
Silva looking for a takedown.
Silva is trying to drag Atunes to the mat but Atunes just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Atunes just leaning against Silva, taking a breather.
Atunes lands a left hand that snaps the head of Silva backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Atunes gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Silva is trying to trip Atunes. He has hold of a leg but Atunes is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Silva persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Silva drops back, looking for a kneebar! Atunes looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Atunes looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Atunes!

Atunes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Atunes taking a breather here.
Silva looking for a sweep but Atunes has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Silva tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Silva tries to get to full guard but Atunes has control of the leg.
Atunes keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Silva is looking for a sweep. Atunes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Silva looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Atunes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Silva uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Atunes.
Nice uppercut there from Atunes.
Atunes ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nice uppercut there from Atunes.
Atunes's jab looks to have found its range, popping Silva under the eye.
Silva takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Atunes lands with a shot to the body.
Atunes works Silva's body with a nice hook.
Silva fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Atunes avoids it really well and circles away.
Atunes lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Silva.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva has his takedown stuffed
and Atunes makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Atunes gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Atunes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Silva has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Atunes avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Silva goes for a takedown attempt but Atunes pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Atunes digs a good body shot into Silva's ribs.
Atunes lands an overhand right.
Atunes bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Silva's head.
Atunes fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Atunes throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Silva stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Atunes lands with a good body shot.
Atunes jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Atunes, as that shot connected.
A shot to the liver by Atunes. Beautiful body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Atunes drives through and clinches with Silva against the cage.
Silva blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Atunes presses Silva against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Atunes scores with a nice hook to the head.
Atunes lands a hook to the side of the head.
Atunes lands with a right to the head.

Silva is rocked!
A body shot lands from Atunes.
Oh Silva is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A short right from Atunes on the inside.
Antonio Atunes seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Good body shot from Atunes.
Atunes throws a big uppercut that drops Silva! More strikes from Atunes and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Silva lies dazed against the cage as Atunes celebrates with his cornermen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Antonio Atunes!
Antonio Atunes is the new middleweight champion!
A victorious Antonio Atunes thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.