PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Taka Michinoku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wanderlei Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Michinoku
vs
Silva

173 cm
18
187 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

181 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Knockout Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 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 Rio de Janeiro, Taka Michinoku!
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, Wanderlei Silva!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Felipe Paraventi and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva moves in looking to clinch but Michinoku pushes him off.

Michinoku closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Silva to the mat! Silva manages to get full guard.
Michinoku trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Michinoku pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.
Silva is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Michinoku is controlling him.
Michinoku could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Silva being controlled here, momentarily.
Silva keeping full guard, as Michinoku tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michinoku controls from within his opponent's guard.
Silva is looking to stand up but Michinoku isn't so interested in that idea.
Silva keeping full guard, as Michinoku tries to pass.
Silva being controlled here, momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Michinoku from controlling successfully.
Michinoku wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.
Michinoku advances to half guard.
Michinoku is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva pushes Michinoku off looking to stand but Michinoku dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Michinoku trying to mount his opponent but Silva defends it.
Michinoku stalling away here and it's allowed Silva to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Silva is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Silva looks gassed!
Silva is trying to maintain a safe position but Michinoku gets an underhook and turns Silva into the cage.
Michinoku wants a takedown.

Michinoku has hold of one of Silva's legs. Silva is fighting the takedown attempt but Michinoku gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Michinoku is looking to advance position but Silva has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Michinoku is desperately trying to improve his position but Silva has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva thowing shots but they're missing.
Michinoku is squirming around, avoiding Silva's attempts to control the action.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taka Michinoku dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Silva misses with a head kick.
Michinoku fails with a takedown attempt.
Silva throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Michinoku fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Silva sprawls well initially but Michinoku persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Silva pushes Michinoku off and gets back to his feet.

Michinoku tries to keep at a distance but Silva has taken the fight into the clinch.
Michinoku tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Silva is pressed up against the cage. Michinoku has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Silva down to the mat. Silva avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taka Michinoku. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva is looking to clinch but Michinoku is avoiding it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A head kick from Silva lands but Michinoku takes it in his stride.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Silva tries to clinch there but Michinoku circles away.
Michinoku swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.

Michinoku drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Michinoku is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Michinoku looking to pass the guard.
Silva wants to get back to his feet but Michinoku is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michinoku stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Michinoku controlling from the top position.
Michinoku trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Silva fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Michinoku looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Michinoku shoots for a takedown but Silva saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Silva.

Silva rushes Michinoku and presses him up against the cage.
Silva lands a knee to the body.
Silva is trying to stall.
Silva seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
Michinoku tries to pull guard but Silva holds him up against the cage and eventually Michinoku drops back down to his feet.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Silva takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Michinoku has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Silva avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Silva landing knees to the head.

Silva breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Michinoku will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Wanderlei Silva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Michinoku is trying hard to land a takedown here. Silva sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Silva tries to clinch up but Michinoku circles away and keeps his distance.
Michinoku shoots in for a double leg but Silva sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Michinoku.
Silva lands with a slapping head kick.
Silva looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Michinoku shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Michinoku was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Silva really wants to buck Michinoku off and get back to his feet.
Silva is squirming around, avoiding Michinoku's attempts to control the action.

Michinoku looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Michinoku wants to control the pace but Silva is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Silva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Michinoku fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Michinoku swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Horrible takedown by Michinoku or perhaps it was just good defense by Silva which made him look bad.
Michinoku shoots in for a takedown but Silva shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taka Michinoku. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Michinoku tries for a takedown but Silva sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Silva fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Michinoku, pushing him back against the cage.

Silva escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva scores with a kick to the body.

Silva clinches.
Silva's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Michinoku takes one to the side of the head.

Silva moves into the clinch.
Silva tries to stall but Michinoku uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Silva prevents a takedown attempt there.
The referee calls for Silva to work.
A knee to the head by Silva.
Michinoku goes for a takedown attempt but Silva pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Michinoku shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Silva but Silva pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Silva has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michinoku drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Silva tries to clinch there but Michinoku circles away.
Silva lands a head kick. Michinoku smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Michinoku closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Michinoku lands in his opponent's guard.
Michinoku wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Michinoku pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.
Michinoku trying to move into half guard but instead Silva has managed to sweep!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michinoku has control of Silva's left arm, preventing Silva from doing any damage.
Michinoku keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Michinoku keeping full guard, as Silva tries to pass.
Silva stopping the sweep attempt from Michinoku.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Michinoku is keeping the position for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Michinoku.
Michinoku throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Silva's waist but Silva gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Michinoku off to one side.
Silva displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Michinoku.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Silva closes the distance and clinches.
Silva gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Michinoku.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wanderlei Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Silva has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wanderlei Silva!