PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wanderlei Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Newman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Newman comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Day nd Night kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Wanderlei Silva has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Silva
vs
Newman

180 cm
25
199 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

185 cm
24
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wanderlei 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, Thiago Newman!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Leandro Rodrigues and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Newman counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Wanderlei Silva has been cut.
Silva darts in trying to clinch
and Silva takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Newman looks for a takedown but Silva sprawls well.
Silva closes the distance but Newman moves to the side
and Newman counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Newman drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Newman would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Newman looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Newman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Newman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Newman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Newman trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Newman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Newman trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.

That's two 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.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Thiago Newman hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Silva moves to clinch but Newman breaks away
and Newman counters with a one-two to the body.
Newman throws a head kick but Silva moves out of range.
Silva tries to clinch up

so Newman counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Newman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Newman gets to his feet - Silva follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva moves to clinch but Newman breaks away

and Newman counters with a takedown into side control.
Silva is breathing heavily.

Newman is trying to get an arm triangle but Silva is defending well.

Newman decides to stand back up. Newman steps back and let's Silva get back to his feet.
Silva darts in trying to clinch

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Newman trying to control but Silva is having none of it.
Silva is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Silva knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Newman on the ground.
Newman thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Newman throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Newman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Wanderlei Silva's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Silva closes the distance looking to clinch

and Newman counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Newman is controlling him well.

Newman decides to stand back up. Newman steps back and let's Silva get back to his feet.
Silva tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so Newman counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Newman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Newman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Newman stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Silva closes the distance looking to clinch

and Newman counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Silva!
Thiago Newman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Newman throws some wild stikes that Silva manages to avoid easily.
Newman with the ground and pound from mount.

Newman goes for an armbar but Silva turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Silva.
Newman tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newman has control of Silva's left arm, preventing Silva from doing any damage.

Silva gets to his feet. Newman looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva closes the distance looking to clinch

and Newman counters with a shoot takedown. Silva fights it but they end up in guard.
Newman trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Newman advances to half guard.

Newman decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Silva tries to clinch

and Newman counters with a single leg into guard. Silva didn't expect that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Newman throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newman wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Silva wants to stand but Newman is controlling the position.

Newman decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Silva, up you get!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva darts in trying to clinch

and Newman counters with a shoot takedown. Silva fights it but they end up in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Newman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Wanderlei Silva's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Silva tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Newman counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Newman.
Newman can't find room to land a body shot as Silva controls the action.
Silva stalls.
Silva lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Newman blocks an elbow strike.
Silva tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Newman avoids it.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Newman blocks an uppercut.
Silva trying to stall but Newman improves his position.
Silva working Newman over with knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva works on Newman's body with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Silva.
Silva lands a good knee to the midsection. Newman won't want to take too many of those.

Newman decides to pull guard.
Silva wants to stand and escape but instead Newman has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Newman stands up and waves to Silva to follow him.
Silva tries to clinch

and Newman counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Newman is looking to work some ground and pound but Silva has wrist control.

Newman stands up from Silva's guard - Newman perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newman shoots in looking for a takedown but Silva manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Newman's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Newman has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Silva feints a jab promting Newman to slip. Silva then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Newman slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva tries to clinch

and Newman counters with a shoot takedown. Silva fights it but they end up in guard.
Newman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Newman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Newman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newman works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Newman wants to control but Silva is keeping him busy.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.
Newman thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Silva's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Newman sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Silva defending well though.

Newman is working for a submission of some sort.
Newman sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Silva defending well though.

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.
Newman wants to stand but Silva has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Silva keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago Newman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Newman winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 25:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 25:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thiago Newman!