PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Manuel Silva (ranked 570 p4p, 542 weight class) and John Titor (ranked 84 p4p, 76 weight class). Titor comes into a darkened arena with his song building. John Titor-Going To Space kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! This should be fireworks!

Silva
vs
Titor

176 cm
26
172
11 - 7 - 0

182 cm
28
175
17 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition

Core Combat
Voodoo Nutrition

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 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Manuel Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Titor!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Titor throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Silva shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Silva trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Silva lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Silva wants to control from the top but Titor keeps moving.
Silva throws a big elbow that misses.
Silva postures up in Titor's guard and throws a big left but Titor blocks it.
Silva throws an elbow that misses. Titor uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Silva's guard. Nice move by Titor!

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Silva is on top in guard.

Silva throws a big right hand that misses.
Silva throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Silva keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Titor's head.
We've been hearing good reports from Silva's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Silva throwing strikes from guard but Titor blocks nicely.
Silva with a flurry of punches that miss.
Titor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Silva.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Silva accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Silva in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Titor is trying to keep Silva in close.
Silva postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Titor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva throwing strikes from guard but Titor blocks nicely.
Titor is trying to keep Silva in close.
Titor is pulling down on Silva's head to control his posture.
Silva trying to control but Titor is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Titor bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Silva's guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Titor preventing the sweep.
Titor lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Titor throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to sweep here but Titor controlling him for the moment.
Silva has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Titor from controlling successfully.
Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Titor slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Titor scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Titor trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Silva looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Silva gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Silva is trying to hold Titor in close to prevent damage but Titor has managed to pass into half guard.
Titor drops an elbow to the side of Silva's head.
Silva tries to roll over but Titor keeps him under control.
Silva trying to control from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva tries to get to full guard but Titor has control of the leg.
Titor trying to control the pace.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Manuel Silva will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Silva rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Titor counters with a takedown into side control.
Silva gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Silva is trying to get back to full guard.
Titor throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Titor seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Silva is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva blocking the ground and pound attempt from Titor.
Silva controlling the position well.
Silva is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is trying to control but can't.
Silva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Titor trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.
Silva is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Titor's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Titor's back!
Silva lands shots from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Silva gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Silva gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Silva apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Silva, as that shot connected.
Titor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Silva moves away.
Titor will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Silva lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Titor at a distance.
Titor lands a glancing blow to the side of Silva's head.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Silva.
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!
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Titor as he avoids it easily.
Silva jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Titor sprawls well. Titor wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Silva gets slowly back to his feet.
Silva misses with a body punch
and Titor counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Titor moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Decent striking displayed by Titor there.
Silva tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Titor was well out of range. Poor timing from Silva.
Decent striking displayed by Titor there.

Silva shoots in and gets a takedown into Titor's guard.
Silva postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Titor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Silva postures up and lands a big shot to Titor's brow.
Titor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Titor keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Silva is in close to Titor's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Silva scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Titor is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Silva is controlling him.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Titor is keeping the position.
Manuel Silva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Titor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Silva.
Silva throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Titor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Silva postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Silva missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Titor 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.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Manuel Silva will probably get the nod.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Titor is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Titor is looking to slow Silva down with leg kicks.
Titor avoids the body shot from Silva.
Silva has his takedown stuffed
and Titor counters with a straight right hand.
Titor pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Silva appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Silva scores with a nice head shot.
Silva keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Silva walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Silva with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Silva misses with a looping left.
Titor with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Silva lands a leg kick that knocks Titor off balance momentarily.
Silva misses with a body shot.
Titor misses with a hook. Silva ducked under it nicely.
Silva throws a lazy right hand but Titor sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
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!
Silva misses with a takedown attempt - Titor sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Titor attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Silva throws a jab but it's blocked by Titor.
Silva tries to bum rush Titor with a series of wild strikes but Titor uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Silva with a lazy takedown attempt
and Titor counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Silva thinking.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manuel Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Titor throws a body shot but no joy.
Silva throws a shot from downtown. Titor moves away and avoids it.
Titor is looking for the big counter here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Silva. Titor does a little dance to reset his feet.
Titor throws a nice head kick!
Titor swings for the body but Silva moves out of range.
Silva throws a poor cross that misses
and Titor counters with a straight right hand.
Titor ducks under a wild hook from Silva.
Titor staying out of range there.
A big right from Silva misses.
Jab by Titor.

Silva gets a double leg takedown into Titor's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Silva lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Silva is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Titor is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Silva stands and throws Titor's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Titor takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Silva in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Titor manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Titor looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Silva holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Titor not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Titor sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Silva defending well though.
Silva is trying is best to control the position here.
Silva has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Titor not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Silva wants to improve his position but Titor is controlling well.
Titor is trying to control the action in half guard but Silva is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Titor is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Silva tries to get to full guard but Titor has control of the leg.
Manuel Silva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Silva has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Titor is working away from the top position though.
Titor landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Silva manages to get to full guard.
Titor throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
John Titor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Titor makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Silva seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Silva wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Titor is now in half guard.
Silva tries to roll over but Titor keeps him under control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to John Titor.
I think Silva has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Manuel Silva!
An out of breath Manuel Silva thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.