PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joao Silvera (ranked 4079 p4p, 4001 weight class) and James Penn (ranked 497 p4p, 491 weight class). Penn is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Everything in its right place. Joao Silvera has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Silvera
vs
Penn

176 cm
28
178
7 - 5 - 0

181 cm
45
185
27 - 20 - 2

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joao Silvera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 20 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Penn!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Percy O'Donnell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penn shoots for a double leg takedown but Silvera sprawls well. He's pushed Penn's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Silvera lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Penn circles away quickly and effectively.
A punch combination from Silvera misses.
Silvera throws a jab when Penn was well out of range.
Joao Silvera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Penn avoids a kick to the body.
Silvera scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Penn avoids a punch combination nicely.
Silvera connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Penn manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Silvera on his heels. He'll look to pass Silvera's guard now, I'm sure.
Silvera keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.
Penn looking to sit in guard and control but Silvera gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Silvera stands up from Penn's guard - Silvera perhaps looking for a knockout.
Silvera misses with a jab to the body

and Penn moves into the clinch.
Silvera is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silvera has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Silvera breaks from the clinch.
An inside leg kick lands from Silvera.
Silvera throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sloppy strikes from Silvera. Those never looked like landing.

Penn darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Penn takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Silvera is trying is best to control the position here.
Penn not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Penn wants to free his trapped foot but Silvera is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Penn throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Penn is working for a kimura here but Silvera manages to reverse the position and he's now in Penn's guard.

Silvera avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Penn not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Silvera preventing the sweep.
Silvera trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silvera wants to get up but he can't break Penn's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silvera trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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

Penn gets a double leg takedown into Silvera's guard.
Silvera keeping full guard, as Penn tries to pass.
Silvera wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silvera working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Penn.
Penn trying to control but Silvera is working from the bottom.
Penn throws a big right hand that misses.
Silvera wants to sweep here but Penn controlling him for the moment.
Penn trying to control but Silvera is working from the bottom.
Penn throws a strike but Silvera rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Silvera won't allow Penn to sweep him here.

Silvera gets to his feet - Penn follows without any prompting.
Silvera misses with a looping left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silvera misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Silvera paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Silvera looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Silvera throws a body punch but Penn moves out of range.
A head kick from Silvera lands but Penn takes it in his stride.

It looks like James Penn has been cut.
Silvera tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Penn scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Penn missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Penn seems to be working for a kimura but Silvera defends the submission attempt.
Penn wants to take a breather but Silvera is having none of it.
Penn is pressing down on Silvera's thigh, looking to free his foot. Silvera is holding on for now.

Penn is trying to work for a kimura but Silvera is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Silvera dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Penn's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Penn has a takedown stuffed.
Penn fails with a takedown attempt.

Penn shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Penn was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silvera is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Penn is looking to take a break and control but Silvera is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silvera is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Penn looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Penn throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Penn goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Silvera has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Penn but great work by Silvera.

Silvera decides to stand back up. Silvera steps back and let's Penn get back to his feet.
Penn shoots in for a takedown but Silvera shows good takedown defense.
Joao Silvera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Penn.
A jab from Silvera misses.
Silvera throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Penn moves out of range of the body kick from Silvera.

Penn drives through with a takedown into guard.
Silvera is looking to stand up but Penn isn't so interested in that idea.
Penn seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silvera keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.
Penn pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silvera is keeping the position for now.
Silvera wants to stand and escape but Penn is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silvera working a defensive guard here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Silvera throws a right and a left that both miss.
Penn goes for a double leg but Silvera avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Silvera continues to drive forward.
Joao Silvera is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Penn misses with a body shot.
Silvera misses with a right hand

and Penn counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Silvera working hard to break the clinch.

Silvera manages to break the clinch.
Penn fails with a takedown attempt.
Silvera's jab looks to have found its range, popping Penn under the eye.
Penn takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Penn shoots in and bounces Silvera off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silvera seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Penn accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Penn wants to control from the top but Silvera keeps moving.
Penn stopping the sweep attempt from Silvera.
Silvera is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Penn looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Silvera dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on James Penn's cut.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Silvera connects with a jab.

Penn is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Silvera's half guard.
Penn wants to control but Silvera is keeping him busy.
Penn trying to pass the guard but Silvera defending well.
Silvera keeps control of the position for the meantime.

Penn is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Silvera doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Penn.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Penn is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Silvera doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Penn.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Penn is trying to work for a kimura but Silvera is defending well.
Penn looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Penn is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Penn sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Silvera defending well though.
Penn is stalling here. Silvera is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Penn seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Silvera has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Silvera has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Silvera with a body punch. A glancing blow.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Silvera enables Penn to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Silvera manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silvera stands and steps away. Penn gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Penn stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Silvera.
Joao Silvera is winning the standup battle so far.
Silvera is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Penn.
Penn moves out of range of the strikes.
Penn staying out of range there.
Penn tries to move into range but Silvera moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
James Penn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joao Silvera is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Silvera lands a nice looking body shot.
Silvera looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Penn wants to counter the offense by Silvera and move into the clinch position.
Penn uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Silvera.
Silvera misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Silvera misses with a two punch combination.
Penn tries to counter by closing the distance.
Penn closes this distance looking for a takedown but Silvera circles away.
Penn shoots for a double leg takedown but Silvera sprawls well. He's pushed Penn's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Penn fails with a takedown attempt.
Joao Silvera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Penn.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Penn there as he acknowledges the shot.
Penn tries to score a power double leg takedown but Silvera sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Penn somewhat.
Silvera throws a hook but Penn avoids it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silvera takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Penn closes this distance looking for a takedown but Silvera circles away.
Penn looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Penn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A nice combination there by Silvera.
Penn gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Silvera.
Silvera works over Penn's head and body with a nice combination.
Silvera works the jab nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joao Silvera showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Silvera, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joao Silvera!
Joao Silvera seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.