PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Luan Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Silva
vs
Smith

180 cm
20
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Luan Silva!
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, Michael Smith!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Thiago Cunha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva misses with a looping right.
Smith tries to clinch but Silva is having none of it.
Smith is looking to clinch.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Silva but Silva pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Silva keeps the fight on the outside.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Silva clinches but Smith breaks the clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Silva as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Silva has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.
Smith stalling.
Smith tries to break the clinch but Silva is controlling the position.
Silva letting Smith take a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith lands a glancing blow to the side of Silva's head.

It looks like Luan Silva has been cut.
Horrible takedown by Silva or perhaps it was just good defense by Smith which made him look bad.
Michael Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Smith throws a quick inside leg kick.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Silva pushes him off.

Smith pushes Silva up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith can't get the takedown.
Luan Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Smith.
Silva tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Smith has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Silva avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Smith has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Smith prevents a takedown attempt there.

Silva manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
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.
Smith would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Smith being controlled here momentarily.
Silva wants to get back to his feet but Smith is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Smith looks gassed!
Silva has his hands on Smith's head, controlling the position.
Silva keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.

Silva scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Smith has had enough of the clinch but Silva keeps him there for the moment.
Smith tries a knee to the head but Silva blocks it.
Smith wants to get back to striking at distance but Silva won't allow it.
Smith wants to stall.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Silva has a takedown stuffed.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt
and Smith counters with a two punch combo.

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.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Silva really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Silva tries for a takedown but Smith sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Smith tries for a takedown but Silva circles away easily

and Silva counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Smith's guard now.
Silva preventing the sweep.
Silva prevents Smith from getting back to his feet.

Smith is working an open guard so Silva takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up but Silva swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Silva takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Silva shoots in but no luck this time.
Silva takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Luan Silva will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Luan Silva's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Silva bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Silva decides to stand up, so the ref orders Smith to his feet.
Smith is trying hard to land a takedown here. Silva sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Silva closes the distance and clinches up with Smith, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes Smith against the cage but Smith circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Smith throws a nice outside leg kick.
Silva on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Silva throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Smith's waist but Smith gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Silva off to one side.
Silva throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Smith's waist but Smith gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Silva off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luan Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith tries to clinch there but Silva circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva tries to clinch up
and Smith counters with a left and a right that stings Silva.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to clinch.
Silva tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smith sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Silva somewhat.
Smith darts in trying to clinch

so Silva counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Smith looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Silva puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva is pressing down on Smith's thigh, looking to free his foot. Smith is holding on for now.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.

Silva decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Silva circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Smith wants to clinch.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Smith is trying to keep an underhook but Silva manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Silva is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Silva wants to take a breather but Smith is having none of it.
Smith pushes Silva off looking to stand but Silva dives back in and keeps control.

Silva decides to return to a standing position.
Silva dodges the punch combination from Smith.
Smith throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Silva moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to clinch

and Silva counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Smith!

Silva is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Smith keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Silva has his takedown stuffed

and Smith counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Smith pulls guard.
Smith is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva prevents Smith from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luan Silva dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Luan Silva's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith closes the distance looking to clinch

and Silva counters with a takedown into side control.

Silva decides to stand up, so the ref orders Smith to his feet.
Silva tries to clinch but Smith moves away
and Smith counters with a slapping leg kick.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Silva shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Silva.
Smith jabs at Silva's body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smith circles away.

Smith gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Silva showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smith.
Smith tries to clinch but Silva moves out of range.
Silva tries to clinch but Smith moves away

and Smith moves into the clinch.
Silva makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Silva tries to pull guard but Smith won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luan Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith prevents the takedown attempt.
Silva tries to circle away but Smith has him pinned against the cage.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Silva.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Smith connects with a nasty looking knee right to Silva's face.
Smith can't break the clinch.
Silva lands an elbow inside.
Smith wants to break free but Silva has control.
Smith lands a good knee to the midsection. Silva won't want to take too many of those.
Smith looking to stall.

Silva has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Smith uses from the top position.

Silva uses the cage to get back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Silva is defended easily by Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smith tries to bum rush Silva with a series of wild strikes but Silva uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith misses with a two punch combination.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Silva.
Smith is looking to clinch.
Smith tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Silva is able to avoid easily.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.

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.
Silva swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
Silva is trying hard to land a takedown here. Smith sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Smith has Silva up against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Smith throws an elbow that misses.
Michael Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
With the fighters up against the cage, Smith throws an elbow but misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Silva tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Smith just stands there and leans against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luan Silva showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Silva, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27

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