PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rafael da Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Corey Winchester (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

da Silva
vs
Winchester

171 cm
18
133 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
142 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rafael da Silva!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Corey Winchester!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, John Mangel and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Winchester.

da Silva scores a takedown into full mount!
Winchester is in all sorts of trouble here.
da Silva throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Winchester really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
da Silva misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
da Silva lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Winchester bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
da Silva knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Winchester on the ground.
Winchester throwing strikes but missing.
Winchester passes into half guard.
da Silva is trying to stand back up but Winchester is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.

Winchester is working for a submission of some sort.

Winchester seems to be working for a kimura but da Silva defends the submission attempt.

Winchester is sneakily working for an arm triangle but da Silva sees it coming and defends easily.
Winchester missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Winchester is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Winchester is looking to take a break and control but da Silva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
da Silva pushes Winchester off looking to stand but Winchester dives back in and keeps control.
da Silva is breathing heavily.

Winchester is sneakily working for an arm triangle but da Silva sees it coming and defends easily.
da Silva is looking to escape.
Winchester seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but da Silva does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Winchester prevents da Silva from standing back up.

Winchester is working for a kimura but da Silva is defending it quite comfortably.
Winchester sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. da Silva defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Winchester postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for da Silva to stand up.
Winchester gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and da Silva counters by moving into the clinch.
Winchester looking for a takedown.
Rafael da Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Corey Winchester.
Winchester is trying to work for a single leg takedown but da Silva pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Winchester tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Winchester tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. da Silva just stands there and leans against the cage.

da Silva manages to break the clinch.
Winchester tries for a takedown but da Silva sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Winchester shoots in and bounces da Silva off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Winchester postures up in da Silva's guard and throws a big left but da Silva blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
da Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Winchester missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Winchester works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Winchester is looking for a kimura here.
Winchester is pressing down on da Silva's thigh, looking to free his foot. da Silva is holding on for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Winchester throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Winchester controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Corey Winchester dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Winchester shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts da Silva as he jumps to the side.
da Silva misses with a takedown

and Winchester counters with a shoot takedown. da Silva fights it but they end up in guard.
Winchester has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Winchester drops back looking for a leg! da Silva is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and da Silva manages to kick Winchester off! Winchester jumps back into da Silva's guard.
da Silva is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Winchester throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Winchester with a flurry of punches that miss.

Winchester is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
da Silva keeping full guard, as Winchester tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Winchester lands a couple of elbows.
Winchester passes into half guard.

Winchester maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! da Silva could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Winchester has cracked it and da Silva is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Winchester!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Corey Winchester!
Corey Winchester is the new bantamweight champion!