PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Perry Silva (ranked 5475 p4p, 24887 weight class) and Jose Balboa (ranked 578 p4p, 655 weight class). Balboa is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: 20 de Abril by Celtas Cortos. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Silva
vs
Balboa

181 cm
23
191
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
19
193
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Seventh Circle Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Perry Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jose Balboa!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksandr Martynov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Balboa connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Perry Silva has been cut.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Balboa lands a knee to the head.

Balboa manages to break the clinch.

Silva closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Balboa quickly recovers to half guard.
Balboa is trying to control but can't.
Balboa has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Lionheart Combat Sports. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Balboa is trying to stand up here but Silva is controlling him well.
Balboa wants to control but Silva is keeping busy.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Balboa keeps working.
Balboa keeping hold of Silva's head, controlling as best he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa is staying active underneath Silva, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Silva throwing shots but Balboa is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balboa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Silva.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Silva changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Balboa looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Balboa sneaks out the side door and pushes Silva away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Balboa thumps Silva with a low kick.
Balboa moves out of range as Silva throws a body kick.
Balboa lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Balboa clinches up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Balboa has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Silva is trying to keep an underhook but Balboa manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Balboa is taking a breather. Silva says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to control from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Balboa in particular looking to stall.
Silva is trying to control but can't.
Balboa thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Silva wants to get back to full guard.
Balboa trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.
Silva is looking for a sweep. Balboa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Silva throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Balboa is keen to just control but Silva is a slippery customer.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva shoots in and bounces Balboa off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Balboa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Balboa is keeping the position for now.

Balboa is working an open guard so Silva takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Silva shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Balboa manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Silva looking to pass the guard.
Balboa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Silva. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Silva.
Balboa keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Silva looking to sit in guard and control but Balboa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Balboa wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Balboa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Perry Silva's cut.
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. This is the final round!

A solid leg kick lands there for Balboa.
Balboa misses with the combination.
Jose Balboa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Silva has closed the distance and engaged Balboa in a clinch.

Silva gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Balboa pushes Silva off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Silva scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Balboa bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
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!
Balboa lands a leg kick that knocks Silva off balance momentarily.
No joy there for Silva, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A head kick misses from Balboa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva looks to score with a jab to the body but Balboa is just out of range.
Balboa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Balboa throws a nice head kick!

Balboa closes the distance and clinches.
Silva is looking to control Balboa's arms but Balboa gets an underhook and turns him. Now Silva has his back to the cage.
Balboa lands a good knee to the midsection. Silva won't want to take too many of those.
Balboa slows down the pace here.
Balboa manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Balboa utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Balboa will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Silva up against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa crunches a lovely knee into Silva's ribcage.
Silva wants to break the clinch but can't.

Silva lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Balboa has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Silva is on him like a limpet, forcing Balboa back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Balboa gets control of Silva's arms and successfully pulls guard. Balboa will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Silva in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Silva trying to control but Balboa is working from the bottom.
Silva throwing strikes but missing.
Jose Balboa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva looking to sit in guard and control but Balboa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Balboa engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Silva thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Balboa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Balboa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Silva will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Balboa stopping the sweep attempt from Silva.
Silva looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four 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 is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Silva has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Balboa can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Silva wants to stand but Balboa is controlling the position.
Balboa showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Balboa from controlling successfully.
Perry Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Silva is looking to cinch up a triangle. Balboa throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Silva's body to avoid the submission. Silva has instead reached around Balboa's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Silva arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Perry Silva!
In defeat, Jose Balboa stepped up to the mic, saying 'Welp'.