PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Evgenii Mamchenko (ranked 1014 p4p, 1309 weight class) and Starling Silva (ranked 133 p4p, 176 weight class). Evgenii Mamchenko has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mamchenko
vs
Silva

175 cm
41
198
31 - 24 - 2

191 cm
43
183
30 - 19 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Altitude Clothing

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 31 - 24 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Evgenii Mamchenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 19 - 1, fighting out of New York, Starling Silva!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mamchenko looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Silva wants to control but Mamchenko is keeping busy.
Silva slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Silva not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mamchenko throws an elbow that misses. Silva uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mamchenko's guard. Nice move by Silva!

Mamchenko 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mamchenko swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mamchenko looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Silva controlling from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva pushes down on Mamchenko's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Mamchenko is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two 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 works his way into full mount!
Silva content just to control the position here.
Mamchenko really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Silva controlling the position easily from mount.
Mamchenko tries to buck Silva off but he can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mamchenko tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Silva controlling the pace for now.
Mamchenko really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Silva controlling the pace for now.
Mamchenko is desperately trying to improve his position but Silva has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Silva content just to control the position here.
Mamchenko slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Mamchenko is trying to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mamchenko punching from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Starling Silva dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mamchenko has a takedown stuffed.
Silva counters with a body kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mamchenko.
Silva has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Silva drives through and clinches with Mamchenko against the cage.
Mamchenko working hard to break the clinch.
Mamchenko tries to pull guard but Silva forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evgenii Mamchenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mamchenko avoids a wild elbow strike from Silva.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right hook to the body lands for Silva.
Silva misses with a short punch on the inside.

Mamchenko manages to break the clinch.
Mamchenko shoots in but no luck this time.
Mamchenko gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Silva counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mamchenko drops his hands momentarily and Silva takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Silva stuffs the takedown attempt from Mamchenko. Mamchenko gets slowly back to his feet.
Evgenii Mamchenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva misses with a hook.
Silva connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Mamchenko ducks under a wild hook from Silva.
Silva delivers a nice body kick.
Mamchenko misses with a takedown
and Silva counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mamchenko shoots in but no luck this time.
It seemed like Silva was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Silva clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mamchenko blocks a body shot from Silva.
Silva lands a shoulder strike.
Silva lands a right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva keeps control of Mamchenko as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mamchenko blocks an elbow strike.
Mamchenko fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Silva has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Mamchenko lands a right hand.
Silva working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Silva lands a shot to the body.
Silva misses with a punch on the inside.
Silva pushes off an throws an elbow but Mamchenko leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Silva keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mamchenko's efforts to push away.
Silva misses with a punch on the inside.
Silva tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mamchenko's elbow.
Silva throws a punch but it's blocked by Mamchenko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mamchenko blocks the elbow strike.

Mamchenko has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Silva clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Silva tries to break free.
Silva keeps trying to improve his position.
Silva is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Silva rolls, trying to escape but Mamchenko keeps control of the position.
Mamchenko trying to control.
Mamchenko throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva manages to stand up with Mamchenko still on his back. Eventually Mamchenko drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.
Silva has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Mamchenko.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mamchenko slips a jab and a cross from Silva.
Mamchenko looks for a takedown but Silva sprawls well.
Silva is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Mamchenko throws a lazy uppercut
and Silva counters with a good low kick that Mamchenko was not able to check.
Mamchenko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mamchenko looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Starling Silva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Mamchenko clinches up with Silva and pushes him back against the cage.
Mamchenko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Silva tries to work over Mamchenko's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Mamchenko is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Silva can't fight it off and eventually Mamchenko manages to take the fight to the floor. Silva looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Mamchenko advances position into side control!
Mamchenko trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva has one of Mamchenko's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Silva struggling a bit here.
Silva looks to move to half guard but instead Mamchenko has passed into mount! Damn!
Mamchenko controlling his opponent.
Silva holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Mamchenko tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

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.
Silva regains half guard.
Mamchenko stalling.

Mamchenko stands up and beckons Silva to join him on the feet.
Mamchenko throws a right and a left that both miss.
A head kick misses from Silva.
Mamchenko drops down looking for a counter takedown but Silva sprawls and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mamchenko shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Silva pinned against the cage. Silva gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Silva.
Starling Silva is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A jab from Silva does it's job there.
Mamchenko tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Silva defends well and Mamchenko ends up having to push Silva into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Silva has a couple of punches blocked by Mamchenko.

Mamchenko pulls Silva into guard.

Mamchenko looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Silva passes into half guard.
Mamchenko trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mamchenko lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.
Mamchenko is pressing down on Silva's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mamchenko might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mamchenko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Silva sitting in guard here, content to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Evgenii Mamchenko showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Silva has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Starling Silva!
Our winner, Starling Silva, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.