PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Wanderlei Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucas Matos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva comes to the cage accompanied by http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJSJdRh_yJQ. Wanderlei Silva has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Silva
vs
Matos

190 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

186 cm
18
181 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 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, Lucas Matos!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Luis Engracia and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva swinging wildly here.
Matos tries for a takedown but Silva circles away easily

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Silva.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Silva breaks the clinch.
Silva bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

Silva closes the distance and pushes Matos back into the cage.
Silva scores with a shot to the side of Matos's head.
Matos jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Silva walks away with a smile on his face. Matos gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Matos has his takedown stuffed

and Silva moves into the clinch.
Wanderlei Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucas Matos.
Matos tries to pull guard but Silva won't allow it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Silva.

Silva breaks from the clinch.
Lucas Matos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matos shoots and misses

and Silva counters by clinching up.
Matos looks gassed!
Silva lands with a right to the head.
Silva is pressed up against the cage. Matos has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Silva down to the mat. Silva avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Silva rushes Matos and presses him up against the cage.

Silva pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Silva darts in and clinches Matos up against the cage.
Silva lands a damaging elbow.
A knee to the head by Silva.
Matos goes for a takedown attempt but Silva pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Silva throws a series of strikes that have Matos backpedaling.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.
Silva lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Silva lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Silva landing knees to the head.

Silva breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Matos tries for a takedown but Silva circles away easily

and Silva counters by clinching up.

Silva breaks from the clinch.

Silva gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Silva manages to break the clinch.

Silva drives through and clinches with Matos against the cage.
Silva lands a left hand.
Matos letting Silva take a breather here.

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

Matos tries to keep at a distance but Silva has taken the fight into the clinch.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Silva has Matos up against the cage in a clinch.
Silva landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Matos is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Matos tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Silva lands an elbow inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matos tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Silva breaks from the clinch.
Matos with a poor takedown

and Silva counters by clinching up.
Silva lands a knee to the body.
Silva lands an elbow inside that Matos shrugs off.
Silva utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Matos takes an elbow to the temple.
Matos takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Silva obliges.

Silva breaks from the clinch.
Matos misses with a takedown

and Silva counters by clinching up.
Matos tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silva just stands there and leans against the cage.
Matos jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Silva walks away with a smile on his face. Matos gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Matos doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Silva counters with a nice body kick.
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!

Silva moves into the clinch.
Silva lands a knee to the head.
Silva lands a knee to the body.
Silva prevents the takedown attempt.
Silva is pressed up against the cage. Matos has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Silva down to the mat. Silva avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Matos with a poor takedown

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Silva.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matos shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Silva counters by clinching up.
A short right from Silva on the inside.
Matos tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Silva smiles and moves away.

Silva takes the fight into the clinch.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Matos's face.
Matos has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Silva avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Matos's face.

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

Matos has his foot on Silva's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Silva works his way back into a safe position though.

Matos is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Silva is aware though and is defending well.
Silva controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Matos is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Silva defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Matos looking for a guillotine here but Silva defends easily.

Matos is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Silva dominated that round.
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.

Silva looks to land a combination but Matos avoids it well.
Silva throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Matos shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Silva counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Matos tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silva just stands there and leans against the cage.
Matos tries to pull guard but Silva won't allow it.
Wanderlei Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucas Matos.
Matos tries to pull guard but Silva won't allow it.
Silva stalls.
Silva lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Matos jumps guard but Silva stands there with Matos around his waist. Matos gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Matos's face.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Silva closes the distance and pushes Matos back into the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matos tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Silva prevents a takedown attempt there.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Matos's face.

Silva breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Matos doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Silva holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva with a knee to the head.

Silva pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Silva.
Matos with a poor takedown

and Silva counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A bit of stalling here from Silva.
Matos jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Silva walks away with a smile on his face. Matos gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Matos gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Silva.
Silva unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Silva lands a damaging elbow.
Matos tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silva just stands there and leans against the cage.
Matos wants a takedown but no success here.
Still in the clinch, Silva scores with a nice short uppercut.
Silva lands with a left to the head.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Matos misses with a takedown attempt
and Silva counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Silva has closed the distance and engaged Matos in a clinch.

Silva manages to break the clinch.
Matos with a poor takedown

and Silva moves into the clinch.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.
Matos tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silva just stands there and leans against the cage.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.
Matos fails to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matos tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silva just stands there and leans against the cage.
Silva lands a left hand that snaps the head of Matos backwards.
Matos jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Silva walks away with a smile on his face. Matos gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Matos tries for a takedown but Silva circles away easily

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Silva.
Matos fails to pull the fight into his guard.

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

Silva closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Silva holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Matos goes for a takedown in the clinch but Silva prevents it.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Matos's face.
Matos tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silva just stands there and leans against the cage.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Matos tries to pull guard but Silva won't allow it.
Matos jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Silva walks away with a smile on his face. Matos gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Silva has taken the fight to the clinch.
Matos fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Matos jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Silva walks away with a smile on his face. Matos gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Silva throws a one two combo.
Matos misses with a takedown attempt
and Silva counters with a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Matos doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Silva counters by clinching up.
Matos fails to pull guard.
Silva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Silva lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Matos jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Silva walks away with a smile on his face. Matos gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Matos misses with a takedown attempt

and Silva moves into the clinch.
Silva landing knees to the head.
Silva connects with a knee to the head.
Silva stops a takedown attempt from Matos.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Matos misses with a takedown

and Silva moves into the clinch.
Wanderlei Silva has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Matos jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Silva walks away with a smile on his face. Matos gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Silva with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Silva throws a half hearted mid kick.
Matos misses with a takedown attempt

and Silva counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Matos jumps guard but Silva stands there with Matos around his waist. Matos gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Matos tries to pull guard but Silva won't allow it.
Matos is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Silva pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Matos's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva manages to break the clinch.
Matos has his takedown stuffed
and Silva counters with a series of strikes. Matos will be more careful next time no doubt.
Silva fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Matos gets tackled into the cage by Silva. Silva maintains the clinch.
Matos tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Matos tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Silva smiles and moves away.
Silva turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Matos tries for a takedown but Silva circles away easily

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Matos's face.
Matos fails to pull guard.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Silva.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Matos fails to pull guard.
Silva lands a knee to the head.

Silva breaks from the clinch.
Matos tries for a takedown but Silva circles away easily

and Silva moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Silva dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Left hook, right uppercut from Silva.
Matos doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Silva counters by clinching up.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Matos's face.
Matos can't get the takedown.

Silva breaks from the clinch.
Wanderlei Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Silva shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Matos eats them both and turns towards Silva to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Silva tests Matos's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Matos fails with the takedown

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Silva.
Wanderlei Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucas Matos.
Nice elbow from Silva.
Matos tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silva just stands there and leans against the cage.

Silva escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Matos doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Silva.
Matos's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Silva is pushing Matos up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Matos has his takedown stuffed

and Silva counters by clinching up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matos fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Silva obliges.
Silva holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Silva escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Matos misses with a takedown attempt
and Silva counters with a three punch combo that has Matos backing up. Matos nods at Silva to acknowledge the strikes.
Matos shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Silva moves into the clinch.

Silva breaks from the clinch.
Silva swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Matos fails with the takedown

and Silva counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Matos's face.

Silva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Matos tries for a takedown but Silva circles away easily

and Silva counters by clinching up.
Silva landing knees to the head.
Matos jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Silva walks away with a smile on his face. Matos gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Silva drives through and clinches with Matos against the cage.
Matos jumps guard but Silva stands there with Matos around his waist. Matos gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Matos drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Silva gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matos fails to pull guard.
Matos tries to pull guard but Silva won't allow it.
Silva comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Silva pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Matos gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch.
Matos takes a shot to the head.
Matos tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Silva gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, Silva scores with a nice short uppercut.
Silva is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Matos can do to turn this around?
Matos tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silva just stands there and leans against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Silva - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Matos tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Silva smiles and moves away.
Matos has his takedown stuffed

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch.

Silva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Matos gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Silva moves into the clinch.
Matos changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Silva fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Silva thuds his right hand into Matos's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matos shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Silva moves into the clinch.

Silva breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Matos misses with a takedown attempt

and Silva counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Silva connects with a knee to the head.

Silva escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Matos fails with the takedown

and Silva holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Silva lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A body shot lands from Silva.
Silva looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Matos fails to pull guard.
Matos jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Silva walks away with a smile on his face. Matos gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Matos tries for a takedown but Silva circles away easily
and Silva counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Matos is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Matos has his takedown stuffed

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Silva.
Silva lands a knee to the head.
Matos tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Silva unloads a knee to the mid-section. Matos lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.
Matos tries for a takedown. No joy.

Silva escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Silva closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Matos changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Silva fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Matos with a lazy takedown attempt
and Silva counters with a big head kick but Matos shrugs it off.

Silva gets a clinch.
Matos fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Silva lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Matos or not.
A short right from Silva on the inside.
Silva landing knees to the head.
Silva with a knee to the head.
Matos changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Silva fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Silva rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Matos moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Matos misses with a takedown attempt
and Silva counters with an outside leg kick.
Matos has his takedown stuffed

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matos tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silva just stands there and leans against the cage.
Lucas Matos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wanderlei Silva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Matos misses with a short punch on the inside.
Matos jumps guard but Silva stands there with Matos around his waist. Matos gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wanderlei 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 30:25
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:25
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:25

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