PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andrei Berdugo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Berdugo
vs
Silva

189 cm
26
195 lbs
12 - 7 - 1

180 cm
28
190 lbs
14 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

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 12 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Andrei Berdugo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Lyoto Silva!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Ian Loll and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.

Silva scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Berdugo wants to control but Silva postures up.
Silva tries to advance to mount but can't.
Berdugo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Berdugo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Berdugo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ground and pound from Silva seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Berdugo tries to bench press Silva off him but Silva keeps the position.
Berdugo wants to control but Silva postures up.
Silva misses with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berdugo is looking for a sweep.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on Berdugo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Berdugo tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Silva swings around for an armbar but Berdugo sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Silva's guard.
Berdugo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Berdugo is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berdugo seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A slapping leg kick lands for Silva.
Berdugo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Silva tries to clinch but Berdugo is having none of it.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Berdugo. Those never looked like landing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Silva feints and as Berdugo raises his hands in defense, Silva changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Berdugo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Silva stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Berdugo swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Berdugo looking for a guillotine here but Silva defends easily.
Silva trying to control but Berdugo is working from the bottom.

Berdugo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Silva defends well.
Berdugo keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.

Berdugo looking for a guillotine here but Silva defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Berdugo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Berdugo is keeping the position.
Silva throws a big elbow that misses.
Silva throws a big right hand that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Berdugo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Berdugo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Berdugo controlling Silva's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lyoto Silva will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Berdugo throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Silva counters with a series of strikes. Berdugo will be more careful next time no doubt.
Berdugo throws a jab but it's blocked by Silva.
Berdugo smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Lyoto Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Berdugo avoids the head kick by Silva.
Berdugo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Berdugo scores with a nice strike.
Silva tries to clinch but Berdugo moves out of range.
Berdugo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Berdugo takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Berdugo moves out of range of the body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Silva takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Silva ducks right into an uppercut from Berdugo.
Berdugo works Silva's body with a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva moves to clinch but Berdugo breaks away
and Berdugo makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Berdugo looks to throw the jab but Silva is out of range.
Berdugo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Silva defends it nicely.
Silva misses with a wild combination.
Silva tries to clinch up
and Berdugo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Silva fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Berdugo, pushing him back against the cage.
Silva is working Berdugo over against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Silva obliges.
Berdugo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Berdugo goes for a takedown in the clinch but Silva prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrei Berdugo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Berdugo goes for a takedown in the clinch but Silva prevents it.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Berdugo is blocking nicely.
Silva lands a knee to the head.
Berdugo wants a takedown but no success here.

Silva successfully pulls guard.
Silva is trying to control the position but Berdugo postures up.
Berdugo wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.
Berdugo won't allow Silva to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to stand but Berdugo is controlling the position.
Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Berdugo from controlling successfully.
Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Silva keeping full guard, as Berdugo tries to pass.
Silva looking for a sweep. Not yet Silva, not yet.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Berdugo connects with a good right hand that stumbles Silva. Silva circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Berdugo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Silva throws a sloppy head kick and Berdugo moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Berdugo is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Berdugo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Berdugo tries to score a body lock takedown but Silva shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Silva scores with a nice hook to the head.
A nice left hand lands by Silva.
Silva blocking some punches.
Silva lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Andrei Berdugo has been cut.

Silva gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Berdugo regains guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Silva got a little sloppy there for a moment and Berdugo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Silva has managed to get both his arms back between Berdugo's legs - danger averted.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Silva slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Silva has knee on belly and moves into mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Silva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Andrei Berdugo'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. And we move into the final round!

Berdugo takes a swing at Silva's ribcage but misses.

Silva clinches up with Berdugo and pushes him back against the cage.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Silva throws a right and a left that Berdugo avoids nicely.
Lyoto Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Silva shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Berdugo manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Berdugo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Silva throwing strikes from guard but Berdugo blocks nicely.

Berdugo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Silva working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva won't allow Berdugo to sweep him here.
Berdugo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Berdugo throws his legs up looking for a submission but Silva uses it to pass to side control.
Silva scoring with punches from side control.
Berdugo is trying to get back to half guard.
Silva scores with punches from side control.
Berdugo manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Berdugo looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Andrei Berdugo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Berdugo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Berdugo thows a huge punch but Silva dodges it nicely.
Silva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Berdugo wants to control but Silva is keeping him busy.

Berdugo is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Berdugo looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Berdugo wants to work for an arm triangle but Silva is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Silva tries to kick Berdugo off but Berdugo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Lyoto Silva is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Lyoto Silva has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Silva is trying to get back to full guard.
Berdugo stops Silva from getting back to his feet.

Berdugo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Silva sees it coming and defends easily.

Berdugo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Silva is just riding it out for now. Berdugo eventually gives up the hold.
Berdugo with the ground and pound but Silva uses the opportunity to regain guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lyoto Silva.
Well Silva has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyoto Silva!
A victorious Lyoto Silva thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.