PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tiago Silvain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Silvain might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to SMC - Lähiörotat skujaa. 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.

Silvain
vs
Rua

188 cm
21
220 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

183 cm
19
210 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

Frank`s TASTE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tiago Silvain!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Mauricio Rua!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Ackerman and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Silvain moves into the clinch successfully.
A bit of stalling here from Silvain.
Silvain unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rua lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Silvain stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Silvain lands a good knee to the midsection. Rua won't want to take too many of those.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rua fails to pull guard.
Silvain is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Rua is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Silvain pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rua looks gassed!
Silvain pressing his opponent against the cage.
Rua takes a knee to the side of the body.
Silvain gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Mauricio Rua has been cut.
Rua takes an elbow to the forehead.

Silvain pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Silvain connects with a solid leg kick.

Rua tries to keep at a distance but Silvain has taken the fight into the clinch.
Silvain scores with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silvain lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Silvain lands a good knee to the midsection. Rua won't want to take too many of those.
Silvain connects with a knee to the head.

Silvain's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Silvain scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Silvain pushes Rua up against the cage in a clinch.
Silvain is struggling to control the position.
Rua goes for a takedown attempt but Silvain pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Tiago Silvain has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauricio Rua.

Silvain shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Silvain wants to pass to mount but Rua is defending the position.
Silvain is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Silvain is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Silvain throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Silvain sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rua defending well though.

Silvain postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Rua to stand up.
Silvain lands a head kick!
Silvain is looking to clinch but Rua is avoiding it.

Silvain clinches with his opponent.
Rua wants a takedown but no success here.
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!
Silvain stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Silvain's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rua throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Silvain stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Tiago Silvain seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rua shoots in and bounces Silvain off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silvain scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Rua gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Silvain counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rua's knee momentarily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rua letting Silvain take a breather here.
Silvain lands a nice uppercut.
Silvain lands an elbow inside that Rua shrugs off.
Rua working aggressively here.
Silvain has Rua pressed against the cage.
Rua wants a takedown but no success here.
Silvain lands a knee to the head.
Silvain putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rua in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Silvain is stalling here.
Silvain working Rua over with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silvain lands an elbow that stopped Rua in his tracks for a moment.
Silvain landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
A short left from Silvain.
Silvain with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Silvain taking a breather.
Rua is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Silvain scores with a nice hook to the head.
Silvain lands an elbow just above Rua 's eye.
Rua is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Silvain pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Silvain lands an elbow inside that Rua shrugs off.
Silvain creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rua's defenses.
Silvain using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Rua drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Silvain successfully pulls guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silvain is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rua tries to roll over but Silvain keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tiago Silvain dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mauricio Rua's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Silvain moves into the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Silvain - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Rua drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Silvain pulls guard effortlessly.
Silvain preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rua prevents Silvain from getting back to his feet.

Silvain has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Rua off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Silvain darts in trying to clinch

and Rua counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Rua is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Silvain sees it coming and defends easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Rua is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Silvain has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silvain gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Silvain is on top in guard.
Rua controls Silvain momentarily but Silvain frees himself.
Rua punching from the bottom - just letting Silvain know he's still in a fight.

Silvain stands and steps away. Rua gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Silvain has taken the fight to the clinch.

Silvain gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Silvain wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Silvain has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Silvain slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rua tries to strike from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silvain won't allow Rua to sweep him here.
Rua looking to control.
Rua wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Silvain is looking to stand up but Rua won't let him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Silvain has Rua up against the cage in a clinch.
A shot in the inside from Silvain.
Silvain unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rua lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silvain's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Silvain drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Silvain tries to free his leg and advance position but Rua is retaining full guard.
Silvain wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.
Silvain would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rua is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Rua trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silvain trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rua's guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Silvain wants to clinch up but Rua keeps it at a distance.
Rua shoots in for a takedown but Silvain shows good takedown defense.
Silvain throws a head kick that misses.
Rua shoots and misses

and Silvain counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Tiago Silvain has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauricio Rua.
Rua is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Silvain gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Silvain lands a damaging elbow.
Silvain creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rua's defenses.
Knees in the clinch landing for Silvain.
Rua drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Silvain gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silvain scores with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tiago Silvain dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mauricio Rua's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Silvain tries to close the distance and clinch but Rua swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Silvain as he jumps to the side.
Rua shoots in for a takedown but Silvain shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rua avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Silvain tries to clinch but Rua moves out of range.
Rua with a lazy takedown attempt
and Silvain counters with an inside leg kick.
Tiago Silvain has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauricio Rua.

Silvain moves into range and clinches up with Rua.
Rua is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Silvain with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Silvain lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Silvain is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Silvain'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.
Silvain lands an elbow inside.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silvain unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Silvain putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rua in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silvain lands a knee to the head.
Rua tries for a takedown. No joy.
Silvain is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rua can do to turn this around?
Rua takes an elbow to the temple.
Silvain working Rua over with knees to the body.
Rua tries to break the clinch but Silvain is controlling the position.
Rua tries for a takedown but Silvain manages to get underhooks.

Silvain's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Silvain has Rua up against the cage in a clinch.
Rua takes an elbow to the temple.

Silvain pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rua misses with a takedown attempt
and Silvain counters with a thumping low kick.
Silvain lands with a slapping head kick.
Rua takes a kick to the side of the head.
Rua shoots and misses

and Silvain counters by moving into the clinch.
Silvain with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Silvain lands an elbow that stopped Rua in his tracks for a moment.
Silvain creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rua's defenses.
Rua is trying to force a seperation but Silvain has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua jumps guard but Silvain stands there with Rua around his waist. Rua gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Silvain landing knees to the head.
Silvain lands a knee to the body.
Rua blocks an elbow strike.
Silvain throws an elbow but it misses.
Rua goes for a takedown in the clinch but Silvain prevents it.
Silvain scores with a knee to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Rua's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A short left from Silvain.
Silvain has Rua pressed against the cage.
Rua is trying to drag Silvain to the mat but Silvain just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rua goes for a takedown attempt but Silvain pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Silvain fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rua, pushing him back against the cage.
Tiago Silvain has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silvain landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Silvain gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rua tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silvain just stands there and leans against the cage.
Tiago Silvain is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rua takes an elbow to the forehead.
Silvain using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Rua tries to break the clinch but Silvain is controlling the position.
Rua takes an elbow to the temple.
Silvain comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Silvain lands a knee to the head.
Rua is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Silvain slows down the pace here.

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.
Silvain lands a knee to the body.
Rua wants a takedown but no success here.

Silvain is trying to trip Rua. He has hold of a leg but Rua is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Silvain persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Silvain wants to stand but Rua has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Rua bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Silvain's guard.
Silvain is adopting a defensive guard.

Silvain throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mauricio Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rua trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tiago Silvain showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Silvain has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tiago Silvain!