PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Da Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Siphiwe Tshabalala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Siphiwe Tshabalala is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Da Silva
vs
Tshabalala

173 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
18
150 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Los Diablos Rojos FightGear//$10 Apparel on Sale\\
Los Diablos Rojos FightGear//$10 Apparel on Sale\\

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 1 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Rafael Da Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Siphiwe Tshabalala!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Chris Edwards and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Da Silva is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Tshabalala.
Da Silva shoots in but Tshabalala avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Tshabalala fails with an attempt to clinch.
Da Silva is looking to chop away at Tshabalala's legs.
Da Silva throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tshabalala's waist but Tshabalala gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Da Silva off to one side.
Tshabalala scores with a kick to the midsection.
Da Silva is breathing heavily.

Tshabalala takes the fight into the clinch.
Tshabalala working hard to break the clinch.
Tshabalala is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Tshabalala wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Tshabalala wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Da Silva misses with a punch to the body.
Tshabalala working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Tshabalala gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Tshabalala content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Tshabalala decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Tshabalala rushes Da Silva and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Silva tries to pull guard but Tshabalala holds him up against the cage and eventually Da Silva drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Da Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Da Silva tries to break free but Tshabalala pushes him back against the cage.

Tshabalala manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tshabalala is on top in guard.
Da Silva knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tshabalala on the ground.
Tshabalala is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Tshabalala is pushing down on Da Silva's leg trying to pass to half guard. Da Silva is fighting to maintain full guard but Tshabalala has managed to sneak the leg through.

Tshabalala stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Da Silva to get to his feet.

Tshabalala takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tshabalala displaying some good clinch control by pressing Da Silva up against the cage.

Tshabalala breaks from the clinch.
Da Silva fails with a takedown attempt.

Tshabalala scores with a takedown into Da Silva's guard.
Tshabalala passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Tshabalala has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Tshabalala controlling the pace for now.
Da Silva might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tshabalala lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tshabalala looking to control and managing it successfully.
Tshabalala scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Da Silva?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tshabalala controlling his opponent.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Siphiwe Tshabalala just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tshabalala feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Da Silva's calf.
Tshabalala tries to clinch but Da Silva moves out of range.

Tshabalala moves into range and clinches up with Da Silva.

Tshabalala breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Tshabalala closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Tshabalala lands in his opponent's guard.

Tshabalala drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tshabalala jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Tshabalala passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Tshabalala works to advance to full mount. Da Silva defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Tshabalala tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A nice elbow there by Tshabalala.
Tshabalala dominating with strikes here.
Tshabalala breaks from Da Silva's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Tshabalala content just to control the position here.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Tshabalala.
Tshabalala controlling from mount.

That's eight 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.
Tshabalala putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Tshabalala tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Tshabalala jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Da Silva manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Da Silva is being controlled here.

Tshabalala tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Tshabalala working the ground and pound from side control.
Da Silva struggling a bit here.

Tshabalala decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Tshabalala scores a takedown into full mount!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tshabalala takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Siphiwe Tshabalala comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tshabalala 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 1 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 8:10
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 8:10
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 8:10

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Siphiwe Tshabalala!