PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nikita Rabov (ranked 4554 p4p, 3833 weight class) and Alvaro Silva (ranked 277 p4p, 246 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rabov
vs
Silva

185 cm
25
155
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
145
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nikita Rabov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alvaro Silva!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Percy O'Donnell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Silva wants it to stay on the feet.
Silva throws a big counter head kick but Rabov avoids it with no problem.
Rabov shoots and misses
and Silva counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rabov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikita Rabov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rabov just misses with a punch to the body.
Silva throws a big counter head kick but Rabov avoids it with no problem.
Nikita Rabov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Silva wants it to stay on the feet.
Silva is looking for the big counter here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rabov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Silva looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Rabov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rabov is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rabov's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Rabov is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Silva!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Silva has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Rabov is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Silva is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Rabov trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Silva doesn't escape.
Rabov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Rabov looking to break Silva's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Silva remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Rabov will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Silva really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rabov. 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Rabov has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Silva's body.
Rabov throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rabov controls the position.

Silva is trying to defend against the choke here but Rabov has an arm under his chin. This one might not last much longer. Rabov Tightens the hold and Silva taps out furiously! Rabov displays superior BJJ to win the fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Nikita Rabov!
Nikita Rabov decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.