PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Julio Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Duilio Tagliabue (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Kanye West - Amazing. Tagliabue comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Cage the Elephant - Ain't No Rest for the Wicked kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Duilio Tagliabue is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Silva
vs
Tagliabue

175 cm
23
165 lbs
3 - 1 - 2

173 cm
22
170 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 2, fighting out of New York, Julio Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Duilio Tagliabue!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Joseph Jones and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tagliabue tries to clinch but Silva moves out of range.
Silva checks a leg kick.
Good shot there by Tagliabue.
Tagliabue fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Silva is out of range.
Tagliabue throws a quick inside leg kick.
Tagliabue throws a nice outside leg kick.
Silva misses the jab.
Tagliabue looks to land a right hand but Silva moved out of range.
Tagliabue fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tagliabue throws a body punch but Silva moves out of range.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Tagliabue lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Silva has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Silva and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Tagliabue is looking to chop away at Silva's legs.
Silva looks for a takedown but Tagliabue sprawls well.
Silva tries to clinch there but Tagliabue circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva doesn't manage to clinch there - Tagliabue circles away.
Silva fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tagliabue manages to avoid it.
Silva throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Tagliabue stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Tagliabue throws a body kick that misses.
Tagliabue looks to land a left hand but Silva moved out of range nicely.
Tagliabue scores with a nice head shot.
Tagliabue misses with a low kick.
Duilio Tagliabue seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tagliabue throws a head kick but Silva moves out of range.
Silva blocks a leg kick.
Silva blocks a leg kick.
Tagliabue connects with a good right hand that stumbles Silva. Silva circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Tagliabue throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Silva swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tagliabue paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Silva drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Silva throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva wants to control from the top but Tagliabue keeps moving.
Tagliabue working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Silva.
Silva has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Silva in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tagliabue preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tagliabue really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Silva. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Silva wants to control from the top but Tagliabue keeps moving.
Silva throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva cracks Tagliabue with a solid left hand.
Silva forces his way into half guard.
Tagliabue is looking for a sweep. Silva is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Silva wants to free his trapped foot but Tagliabue is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Silva scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Silva wants to control but Tagliabue is keeping him busy.
Silva looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Silva passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Tagliabue!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Silva fails to advance to Tagliabue's back.

Silva has control of Tagliabue's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Tagliabue regains control of the situation pretty easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silva raining down hammerfists from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julio Silva dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tagliabue just misses with a punch to the body.
A clash of legs there as Silva blocks the low kick.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tagliabue swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tagliabue fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Silva.
Tagliabue lands a nice looking body shot.
Silva keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tagliabue.
Tagliabue feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Silva's calf.
Tagliabue connects with a leg kick. Silva looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Silva blocks a low kick nicely.
Silva tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Tagliabue throws a nice inside leg kick.
Tagliabue lands a nice leg kick that just misses Silva's sensitive parts.
Tagliabue looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Silva moves into range and clinches up with Tagliabue.

Silva has clasped his hands together around Tagliabue's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Tagliabue!
Silva wants to take Tagliabue's back here but Tagliabue is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Silva is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Tagliabue can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Silva lands a heavy elbow.

Silva is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Tagliabue is surviving well by controlling Silva's body position as best he can.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Silva cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Silva scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Silva has hold of Tagliabue's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Tagliabue manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Tagliabue is wriggling around trying to escape.
Silva in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Silva trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Tagliabue is working to get back to half guard.

Silva swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Julio Silva!