PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Matheus Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark St James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva comes to the cage accompanied by Kanye west - Amazing. Matheus Silva has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Silva
vs
St James

180 cm
18
155 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

169 cm
19
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matheus Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mark St James!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Edson Gomes and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
St James misses with a two punch combination.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt - St James sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Silva avoids a punch combination nicely.
St James lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Silva circles away quickly and effectively.
Silva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
St James throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A combination from St James does no damage.
Nice uppercut there from St James.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matheus Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A combination from St James does no damage.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by St James.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St James lands with a cross.
St James's corner calls for a 1-2. St James obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Mark St James is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Silva fails with the takedown.
Silva slips a jab and a cross from St James.
St James fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
St James throws a series of punches but Silva moves out of range.
St James tries to bum rush Silva with a series of wild strikes but Silva uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
St James looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Silva dodges the punch combination from St James.
A left and a right from St James both land. Nice combination.
Silva is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Silva takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says St James as he avoids it easily.
St James has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
St James misses with a jab, cross combination.
St James scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
St James misses with a jab, cross combination.
St James lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Matheus Silva has been cut.
St James will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Silva throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around St James's waist but St James gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Silva off to one side.
St James with a jab.
St James throws out a powerful jab.
St James misses with a series of wild punches.
Silva shoots in for a double leg but St James sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
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 looks for a takedown but St James sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from St James.
Silva shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has St James pinned against the cage. St James gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
St James throws a right and a left that Silva avoids nicely.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Silva. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Some wild striking there from St James.
Silva takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
St James lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Silva shoots in but no luck this time.
Silva is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva feints and as St James raises his hands in defense, Silva changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Silva wants to control from the top but St James keeps moving.
Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but St James is retaining full guard.
St James is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Silva is controlling him.
Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
St James wants to stand and escape but Silva is having none of it.
Silva slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
St James wants to get back to his feet but Silva is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark St James dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matheus Silva's cut.
That's time! Silva's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Silva closes the distance and clinches up with St James, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes St James against the cage but St James circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
St James swinging wilding here.
St James scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Silva fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
St James scores with a decent looking hook.
Silva tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but St James swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matheus Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
St James scores with a jab to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
St James looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Silva throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around St James's waist but St James gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Silva off to one side.
St James closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St James tries to bum rush Silva with a series of wild strikes but Silva uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
St James tests Silva's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nice takedown defense from St James. No joy for Silva on that attempt.
Silva walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Silva closes this distance looking for a takedown but St James circles away.
Mark St James seems to be getting the better of the standup.
St James throws a series of punches but Silva avoids them all with ease.
Matheus Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
St James goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
St James scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
St James might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
St James misses with a double jab.
St James thuds his right hand into Silva's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
St James punishes Silva's body with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from St James.
St James is working the combinations to good effect here.
St James lands with a hook. Silva tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A punch combination from St James misses.
St James rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Silva moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A combination from St James does no damage.
St James lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Silva at a distance.
St James throws a series of punches but Silva avoids them all with ease.
St James scores with a decent looking hook.
St James lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Silva circles away quickly and effectively.
Silva fails to land the takedown.
St James throws a right and a left that Silva avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St James throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Silva showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from St James.
St James lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Silva circles away quickly and effectively.
Silva shoots in but no luck this time.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Silva.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but St James keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St James trying to remain calm as Silva controls from the top position.
St James is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Silva wants to control but St James is keeping him busy.
St James pushes Silva away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Silva gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark St James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Matheus Silva's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Silva will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Silva looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
St James stuffs the takedown attempt from Silva. Silva gets slowly back to his feet.
Mark St James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? St James is fending him off so far but Silva persists. Nope, St James circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matheus Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
St James lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Silva circles away quickly and effectively.
Silva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
St James misses with a double jab.
A punch combination from St James misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
St James throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Silva fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St James cracks a nice hook into Silva's ribs.
St James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Silva.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A right-left combo lands from St James.
St James misses with a few strikes there.
St James misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
St James throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
St James throws a series of punches but Silva avoids them all with ease.
A punch combination from St James misses.
St James swinging wilding here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
St James throws a right and a left that Silva avoids nicely.
Silva takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Nice takedown defense from St James. No joy for Silva on that attempt.
St James misses with a wild combination.
St James throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
Silva closes this distance looking for a takedown but St James circles away.
St James looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St James looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
St James misses with a few strikes there.
St James fails to land with a series of punches.
Silva throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around St James's waist but St James gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Silva off to one side.
St James fails to land with a series of punches.
Silva closes the distance and clinches up with St James, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes St James against the cage but St James circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Silva gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
St James throws a series of punches but Silva moves out of range.
Silva will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
St James misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Silva defending well as St James loads up on a big left hand.
St James keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
St James throws a series of punches but Silva moves out of range.
St James misses with a few strikes there.
Silva shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has St James pinned against the cage. St James gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Silva drops his hands momentarily and St James takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
St James lands with a nice body punch.
St James misses with a jab, cross combination.
Matheus Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Some wild striking there from St James.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark St James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got St James winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark St James!