PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Keke Aijala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wagani Silvia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silvia has chosen Roll With It as his entrance music. Silvia has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. 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.

Aijala
vs
Silvia

180 cm
20
180 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

188 cm
21
195 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Keke Aijala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wagani Silvia!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Alexandre Firmino and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Aijala moves into range and clinches up with Silvia.
Silvia looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Aijala pulls guard successfully.

Aijala had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Silvia is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Aijala Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Silvia's back instead.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Aijala controlling the positon.
Aijala misses with an elbow to the head.
Aijala has good solid back control here.
Silvia covering up well under a series of strikes from Aijala.
Aijala biding his time, controlling Silvia.
Aijala tries to keep control of the position but Silvia is staying busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aijala has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Silvia has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Aijala knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Silvia on the ground.
Aijala wants to control but Silvia is keeping busy.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Keke Aijala just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Aijala clinches up against the cage.
Aijala lands an elbow inside.
Aijala lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Wagani Silvia has been cut.
Aijala lands an elbow inside that Silvia shrugs off.
Silvia wants to break the clinch but can't.

Aijala successfully pulls guard.
Aijala is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Silvia postures up.

Aijala has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Silvia can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Aijala has control of Silvia's left arm, preventing Silvia from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aijala has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Silvia can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silvia postures up.
Aijala wants to get back to his feet but Silvia is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Aijala rushes Silvia and presses him up against the cage.

Aijala manages to pull guard.
Aijala wants to sweep here but Silvia controlling him for the moment.

Aijala escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Silvia gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Aijala not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Aijala working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Silvia doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Silvia manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Aijala keeping full guard, as Silvia tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aijala working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Silvia.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Aijala closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Aijala pulls guard.
Aijala working a defensive guard here.

Aijala looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Aijala is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Aijala is looking for a triangle but Silvia pushes his legs off easily.
Aijala controlling the position.
Aijala not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Aijala looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Aijala throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Aijala looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four 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.

Aijala gets a clinch.

Aijala has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Silvia uses from the top position.
Aijala wants to stand and escape but Silvia is having none of it.

Aijala had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Silvia is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Aijala Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Silvia's back instead.
Aijala is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
A lull in the action here.
Aijala is really struggling to control Silvia but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Aijala working for the choke.
Silvia trying to control but not successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keke Aijala dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Wagani Silvia's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Aijala gets the takedown into side control.
Aijala is looking to take a break and control but Silvia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Silvia prevents Aijala from improving position.

Aijala stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Aijala throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Silvia.

Aijala changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Silvia looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Aijala tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Silvia manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Silvia is thwarting Aijala's attempts to control the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Aijala gets full guard.
Silvia is breathing heavily.
Aijala controls Silvia momentarily but Silvia frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aijala has his foot on Silvia's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Silvia works his way back into a safe position though.
Aijala is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Aijala wants to sweep but no luck.
Aijala has his hands on Silvia's head, controlling the position.

Silvia thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Aijala wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Silvia walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Aijala checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Aijala changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Silvia looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Aijala is looking to take a break and control but Silvia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Aijala is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Silvia is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aijala decides to stand back up.

Aijala changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Silvia looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Silvia being controlled for a moment.
Silvia is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Aijala is looking to take a break and control but Silvia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aijala is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Keke Aijala just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Aijala gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Silvia jumps guard but Aijala stands there with Silvia around his waist. Silvia gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Aijala clinches up with Silvia and pushes him back against the cage.

Aijala pulls Silvia into guard.
Silvia looking to pass the guard.
Aijala is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Aijala wants to stand but Silvia is controlling the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Aijala holds on and takes a little breather.
Aijala wants to sweep but no luck.
Aijala is trying to keep Silvia in close.

Silvia drops back looking for a leg! Aijala is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Aijala manages to kick Silvia off! Silvia jumps back into Aijala's guard.
Aijala is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Silvia feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Aijala controls Silvia momentarily but Silvia frees himself.

Aijala pushes Silvia off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Aijala fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Silvia sprawls well initially but Aijala persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Silvia is not content to let Aijala control the position.
Aijala prevents Silvia from improving his position.
Aijala wants to control but Silvia is keeping him busy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aijala tries to stand but can't do so whilst Silvia controls his leg.
Silvia is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Aijala content to control rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keke Aijala dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Wagani Silvia's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Aijala has managed to clinch.

Aijala pulls guard effortlessly.
Silvia postures up.

Aijala throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Silvia preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Aijala looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Aijala trying to control the position from guard on top but Silvia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aijala distracts Silvia with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Aijala trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Aijala trying to control but Silvia is working from the bottom.
Aijala wanted to stand there but Silvia had control of the position.
Aijala wants to control from the top but Silvia keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Aijala has managed to clinch.

Aijala pulls guard effortlessly.
Keke Aijala overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Aijala controlling the position.
Aijala working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Aijala controlling Silvia's posture.
Aijala is trying to control the position but Silvia postures up.

Aijala looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Aijala is trying to control the position from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Aijala has Silvia up against the cage in a clinch.

Aijala jumps into guard, dragging Silvia to the mat.
Aijala trying to control the position.
Aijala is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Aijala not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Aijala keeping moving, preventing Silvia from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aijala is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Silvia trying to control but Aijala is working from the bottom.

Aijala is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Silvia scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Aijala is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Aijala is working hard here to advance position.
Aijala is pressing down on Silvia's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Aijala working a defensive guard here.
Silvia won't allow Aijala to get back to his feet.
Aijala tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Aijala can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Silvia controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silvia trying to control the position from guard on top but Aijala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aijala controls Silvia momentarily but Silvia frees himself.
Aijala is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Aijala uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Wagani Silvia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Aijala gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The is referee keeping an eye on Aijala - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Aijala gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Aijala tries to free his leg and advance position but Silvia is retaining full guard.
Silvia keeping moving, preventing Aijala from controlling successfully.
Wagani Silvia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Silvia being controlled here, momentarily.
Aijala trying to control the position from guard on top but Silvia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keke Aijala showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Aijala 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keke Aijala!