PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Darwin Budluvski (ranked 122 p4p, 279 weight class) and Manuel Silva (ranked 20 p4p, 47 weight class). Manuel Silva told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Budluvski
vs
Silva

175 cm
33
172
23 - 9 - 2

176 cm
29
172
16 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conquer
Conviction

Voodoo Nutrition
Altitude Clothing

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 23 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Darwin Budluvski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Manuel Silva!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva misses with a takedown
and Budluvski counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nice defenses there by Silva.
Silva looks to land a right hand but Budluvski moved out of range.
Budluvski throwing a counter right hand but Silva manages to avoid it.
Silva misses with an uppercut.
Silva throws a hook to the side of Budluvski's head but Budluvski sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nice jab there from Silva.
Silva throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Budluvski swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Silva feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Silva is working Budluvski over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Budluvski looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Silva scoring with some ground and pound.
Budluvski working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Silva.

Budluvski escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Silva gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Silva scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Budluvski has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Silva can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Budluvski escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Silva gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Silva stands and throws Budluvski's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Budluvski tries to buck Silva off but Silva is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Budluvski is working hard here to advance position.
Budluvski takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
My spies in Randall's Top Team inform me that Silva has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Budluvski taking punishment in the form of punches.
Budluvski taking a bit of punishment here - Silva scoring with strikes.
Silva scores with punches from side control.
Budluvski tries to control but Silva manages to take his back.
Silva has Budluvski flattened out and is raining down punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Budluvski looking very determined here, making life difficult for Silva.
Silva is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Budluvski up.
Silva lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
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.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Silva changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Budluvski tries to avoid it but Silva manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Budluvski to the ground. Budluvski escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Budluvski was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nice straight punches there by Silva. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Silva.

Silva shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Silva showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Budluvski gets full guard.
Silva stands up over Budluvski, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Budluvski looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Silva avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Silva postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Budluvski has an active guard here but Silva has managed to pass into half guard.
Silva lands with a punch from half guard.
Silva is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Silva has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Silva wants to take a breather but Budluvski is having none of it.

Budluvski looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Budluvski has hold of Silva's hands but Silva slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Silva lands with a punch from half guard.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Budluvski keeps working.
Silva lands strikes from half guard.
Silva seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Budluvski is looking for a sweep. Silva is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Silva is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva is keen to just control but Budluvski is a slippery customer.
Budluvski is trying to get back to full guard.
Silva is trying to control the action in half guard but Budluvski is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Silva landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Silva stalling.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Budluvski wants to improve his position but Silva is controlling well.
Silva drops an elbow to the side of Budluvski's head.
Silva lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Silva slips a nice elbow through Budluvski's hands, connecting with Budluvski's forehead.
Budluvski is trying to control but can't.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silva working the head and body with strikes.

Budluvski actively working from the bottom here.
Budluvski taking some punishment here, with Silva in his half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Manuel Silva dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Silva works the jab nicely.
Budluvski displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Silva.
Silva moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Nice body kick there by Silva.
Silva connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Silva looking to land some kicks to the body here.
No luck for Silva with that takedown attempt.
It looked like Budluvski was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Silva.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Silva has closed the distance and engaged Budluvski in a clinch.
Silva can't get the takedown.
Darwin Budluvski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manuel Silva.
Budluvski throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Budluvski pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Budluvski gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Silva.
Budluvski tries to work over Silva's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Silva tries for a takedown. No joy.
A body shot lands from Budluvski.
Budluvski is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Silva is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Budluvski lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Silva backwards.
Budluvski prevents a takedown attempt there.
Silva tries to score a body lock takedown but Budluvski shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Silva prevents a body shot from Budluvski.
Silva blocks a body shot from Budluvski.
Budluvski tries to work over Silva's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Silva escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Horrible takedown attempt by Silva or perhaps it was just good defense by Budluvski, which made it look bad.
Budluvski avoids the body shot from Silva.
Silva shoots for a double leg takedown but Budluvski sprawls well. He's pushed Silva's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Budluvski misses the shot to the body.
Silva changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Budluvski tries to avoid it but Silva manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Budluvski to the ground. Budluvski escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Silva shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Budluvski defends it nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Budluvski misses the target.
Silva has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Budluvski keeps the fight on the outside.
Silva misses with a takedown
and Budluvski counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Manuel Silva has been cut.
Budluvski jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Budluvski tries to sprawl but Silva drives through with a takedown into half guard.
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!
Budluvski is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Budluvski is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Silva pulls his head out easily.

Budluvski looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Budluvski taking some punishment here, with Silva in his half guard.

Budluvski looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Budluvski manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Silva avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Silva lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Silva working some strikes from top position.

Budluvski looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Silva landing some decent shots from guard.
Silva scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva is working Budluvski over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Budluvski throws his legs up looking for a submission but Silva uses it to pass to side control.
Silva working the body and head with strikes.
Silva cracks Budluvski with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Silva is staying tight to Budluvski's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Budluvski is trying to get back to half guard.
Silva is putting a hurting on Budluvski here, landing some big shots from side control.
Budluvski struggling a bit here.
Silva cracks Budluvski with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Silva lands a decent elbow from side control.

Budluvski is rocked!
Silva creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Oh Budluvski is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Silva working the ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Silva connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Silva shoots in looking for a takedown but Budluvski manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Silva's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Budluvski seems to have got his legs back now.
Silva slips under a jab from Budluvski.
Silva counters with a body kick.
Silva throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Budluvski's head.
Nice sprawl there from Budluvski as Silva shoots in.
Manuel Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Silva throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Budluvski tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Silva is in Budluvski's guard.

Budluvski has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Silva can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Budluvski controls Silva momentarily but Silva frees himself.
Silva keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Budluvski's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Budluvski throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Budluvski is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Silva is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Budluvski has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Silva can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva stands up over Budluvski, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Budluvski is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Silva defends well.

Budluvski is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Silva is aware though and is defending well.

Budluvski looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Budluvski looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Silva is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Silva postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Manuel Silva has got the better of the ground game so far.
Silva cracks Budluvski with a solid left hand.
Silva scoring with punches to the head and body.
Silva connects with a couple of short punches.
Silva postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Silva gets to his feet and stands over Budluvski, holding his ankles. He dives in with a big left hand that connects! Budluvski felt that one! Silva unloads more punches and elbows and this one is over! The ref has dived in to save Budluvski from any more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Manuel Silva!
Manuel Silva seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.