PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Silva (ranked 2394 p4p, 2410 weight class) and Stephen Steve (ranked 296 p4p, 299 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Silva
vs
Steve

180 cm
24
178
8 - 6 - 0

180 cm
25
180
6 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Carnage

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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Daniel Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stephen Steve!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Yves DeLean and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva tries to clinch there but Steve circles away.
Silva shoots and misses
and Steve counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Silva closes the distance but Steve moves to the side
and Steve counters with a low kick, right behind Silva 's knee.
Daniel Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steve feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Silvas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Silva with a poor takedown
and Steve connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt - Steve sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Steve! But no joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Steve scores with a shot to the body.
Steve swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
Silva moves to clinch but Steve breaks away
and Steve makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva tries to clinch up but Steve circles away and keeps his distance.
Steve misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Silva shoots in and drives through. Steve sprawls well.
Silva takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Steve throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
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 fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Steve throws out a counter right but Silva avoids it with no problem.
Silva wants to clinch
and Silva takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Steve rushes Silva and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Our sources have told us that Silva has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Silva lands a body punch.
Steve landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Silva is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Steve is defending well.

Steve breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt
and Steve cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Steve throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Steve gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Silva to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Silva postures up in Steve's guard and throws a big left but Steve blocks it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silva missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Silva throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva postures up in Steve's guard and throws a big left but Steve blocks it.
Steve wants to sweep but no luck.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Silva accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Steve avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Silva loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Silva scoring with punches to the head and body.
Silva with a flurry of punches that miss.
Silva with a flurry of punches that miss.
Steve working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Silva.
Silva stands up over Steve, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Steve looking to hit a scissor sweep but Silva is one step ahead there.
Silva throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Steve works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Steve seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Silva drops back, looking for a kneebar! Steve looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Steve looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Steve!

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve just content to control the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Silva tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Steve avoids the strikes from the bottom by Silva.
Silva misses with a strike from the bottom.
Steve just content to control the position.
Silva throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Silva throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Steve takes a little break here. Silva wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Steve blocks the strikes from Silva.

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 is looking for a sweep.
Steve 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.
Steve lands some shots froms side control.
Silva is looking to regain half guard here but Steve keeps moving and retains side control.
Silva misses with a strike from the bottom.
Steve controlling the position.
Silva is looking for a sweep.
Steve works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
You can see the frustration on Silva's face as Steve controls the position.
Steve scores with a couple of short elbows.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Steve working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Steve landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Steve dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Steve cracks Silva with a right hand to the side of the head.
Silva shoots in but no luck this time.

Steve drives through and clinches with Silva against the cage.
Silva can't get the takedown.
Steve scores with a shoulder strike.
Steve digs a right hand into Silva's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Silva's gas tank.
Silva jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Steve walks away with a smile on his face. Silva gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but Steve shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Silva throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Steve's waist but Steve gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Silva off to one side.
Steve throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Steve lands with a thumping leg kick.
Silva has his takedown stuffed
and Steve connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Silva chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Steve can pounce on him.
Silva tries to clinch up
and Steve counters with a right hand to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Steve - that will leave a mark!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Silva with a lazy takedown attempt

and Steve counters by clinching up.
Silva letting Steve take a breather here.
Silva fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Silva fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Steve breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Silva tries to clinch up
and Steve counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Silva thinking.
Steve ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Stephen Steve is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Silva tries to score a power double leg takedown but Steve sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Silva somewhat.
Steve scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Silva shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Steve counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Silva has his takedown stuffed
and Steve cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Silva with a poor takedown
and Steve counters with a left to the body.
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 takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Silva tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Steve connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Steve jabs Silva to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Silva needs to keep his hands up - Steve had a free shot at his head there.
Steve swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
A thudding body kick lands there by Steve!
Silva wants to clinch up but Steve keeps it at a distance.
Silva moves to clinch but Steve breaks away
and Steve cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Silva tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Steve circles away from the clinch attempt
and Steve counters with a nice body shot.
Steve fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Silva has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Steve lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Steve!
Steve throws a head kick that half lands.
A jab from Steve does it's job there.
Silva tries to clinch but Steve moves out of range.
Steve wants to counter with a clinch but Silva pushes him away.
Silva has his takedown stuffed

and Steve counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Steve scores with an uppercut up the middle.
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 is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Steve to keep the fight standing.
Steve has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Steve scores with a shot to the side of Silva's head.
Silva misses with a punch to the body.
A hook to the body from Steve.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Steve walks away with a smile on his face. Silva gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The crowd cheers as Steve lands an impressive looking overhand right. Silva doesn't seem phased though.
Silva tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Steve to counter with a crisp jab.
Silva with a lazy takedown attempt
and Steve counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Steve turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Steve lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
A head kick from Steve lands but Silva takes it in his stride.

Silva is rocked!
A shot to the liver by Steve. Beautiful body shot.
Oh Silva is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Steve scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Silva doesn't seem bothered though.
Silva seems to have got his legs back now.
Steve pushes Silva away with a front kick.
Daniel Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Silva misses with a takedown
enabling Steve to counter with a crisp jab.
Silva on the wrong end of a nice hook.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Steve bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Steve counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Steve digs a good hook to Silva's body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Steve showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Silva tries to clinch but Steve is having none of it.
Silva moves to clinch but Steve breaks away
and Steve counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Steve pushes Silva up against the cage in a clinch.
Steve avoiding damage as Silva throws knees to the body.
Silva jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Steve walks away with a smile on his face. Silva gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Steve scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Steve connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Silva goes for a double leg but Steve avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Steve continues to drive forward.
Silva goes for a takedown in the clinch but Steve prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva is trying to pull guard but Steve turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steve lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Silva or not.
Silva goes for a takedown attempt but Steve pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Steve jabs Silva right on the nose. Silva blinks but takes it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve scores with a leg kick.
Steve bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Steve dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Steve scores with a head kick. Silva tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Steve lands with a hook. Silva tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Silva will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Steve scores with a nice strike.
Steve's corner calls for a 1-2. Steve obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Silva moves in looking to clinch but Steve pushes him off.
Steve is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Steve keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Silva misses with a takedown
and Steve counters with a stiff right hand.
Steve lands with a right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Silva darts in trying to clinch
and Steve counters with a left to the body.
Steve lands with a good body shot.
Stephen Steve seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve lands the left hand.
Crunch! Steve slams his shin into Silva's torso.
Steve circles away from the clinch attempt
and Steve counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Steve lands with an uppercut that bounces Silva off the cage and back into range.
Steve bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Silva's head backwards.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt
and Steve counters with a nice body shot.
Steve scores with a jab to the jaw.
Silva misses with a takedown

and Steve counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Steve.
Steve lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Steve lands a good knee to the midsection. Silva won't want to take too many of those.
A short right from Steve.
Silva is trying to pull guard but Steve has him pressed against the cage.
Silva tries to pull guard but Steve won't allow it.
Steve utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Steve.
Silva letting Steve take a breather here.
Steve is stalling here.
Silva can't get the takedown.
Steve presses Silva against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Steve misses with a knee to the head.
A short body shot lands from Steve as the two fighters clinch.
Steve lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Silva backwards.
Silva tries to pull guard but Steve holds him up against the cage and eventually Silva drops back down to his feet.

Steve breaks from the clinch.
Steve delivers a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Steve cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Silva with a poor takedown
and Steve counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Stephen Steve is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A shot to the liver by Steve. Beautiful body shot.
Steve with a hook.
Silva tries for a takedown but Steve circles away easily

and Steve holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
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 tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Steve smiles and moves away.
Steve lands a jab.
Silva tries to clinch up.
Silva tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Steve counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nice jab there from Steve.
Daniel Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice straight punches there by Steve. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Steve.
A head kick misses from Silva.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Steve comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Steve has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 25:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 25:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 25:30

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