PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ari Bahktiar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bahktiar kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Audio Slave. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bahktiar
vs
Silva

178 cm
22
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ari Bahktiar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Anderson Silva!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Summer Carpenter and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bahktiar closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Silva's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Silva looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bahktiar wanted to stand there but Silva had control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bahktiar drops back looking for a leg! Silva is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Silva manages to kick Bahktiar off! Bahktiar jumps back into Silva's guard.

Silva is working an open guard so Bahktiar takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Silva decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Bahktiar tries to kick Silva off but Silva keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
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!

Bahktiar looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bahktiar keeps working.
Silva tries to pass to full mount but Bahktiar defends it.

Bahktiar is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Silva pulls his head out easily.
Silva has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Bahktiar is looking to improve his position but Silva isn't that keen on the idea.
Bahktiar is breathing heavily.
Bahktiar is trying to stand up.
Silva pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Bahktiar to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Bahktiar shrugs it off.
Silva looking to ground and pound but Bahktiar is blocking nicely.
Bahktiar squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Bahktiar wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Silva.
Silva raining down shots from the mount!
Bahktiar is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

Bahktiar defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Silva.
Bahktiar is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Bahktiar is looking to improve his position but Silva isn't that keen on the idea.
Silva tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Bahktiar is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Bahktiar blocking the ground and pound.
Silva is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Bahktiar is in real trouble.
Bahktiar rolls, trying to escape but Silva keeps control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Silva looking for the choke from the back.
Bahktiar has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Silva is trying to stick to Bahktiar's back but Bahktiar is turning into Silva. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Silva's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Bahktiar.

Bahktiar avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Bahktiar drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Bahktiar seems to have locked his on tight now - Silva screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Bahktiar, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Ari Bahktiar!
A pretty intense looking Ari Bahktiar took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.