PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Massey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Silva
vs
Massey

175 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Anderson Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Craig Massey!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Skip Squint and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Massey slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

It looks like Anderson Silva has been cut.
Silva works the jab nicely.

Massey gets tackled into the cage by Silva. Silva maintains the clinch.
Massey tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Silva smiles and moves away.
Massey throws a head kick but Silva moves out of range.
Massey shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Silva but Silva pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Massey dives in and scores a takedown into Silva's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silva pulls Massey in to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Massey wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.
Silva trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Silva has an active guard here but Massey has managed to pass into half guard.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like Massey is going to stand back up.
Silva is refusing to be controlled, as Massey sits in half guard.
Silva is looking to escape.

Massey is working for a kimura here but Silva manages to reverse the position and he's now in Massey's guard.
Silva throwing strikes but missing.
Silva won't allow Massey to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Massey has a closed guard, preventing Silva from standing up.
Massey looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Silva throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Massey works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Silva looking to sit in guard and control but Massey gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Silva seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Massey tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.

Silva looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Silva wants to sweep here but Massey controlling him for the moment.
Silva controls Massey momentarily but Massey frees himself.

Massey decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Silva, up you get!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Massey shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Silva as he avoids it easily.
Anderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Massey.
Massey shoots in but Silva avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Massey looks gassed!
Silva fails with the takedown.
Silva avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Silva slaps away a takedown attempt from Massey, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Massey swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Silva counters with a low kick, right behind Massey 's knee.
Silva slaps away a takedown attempt from Massey, before circling back to the center of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Silva fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Massey, pushing him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Craig Massey will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Anderson Silva's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Silva closes the distance and pushes Massey back into the cage.
Silva prevents the takedown attempt.
Massey tries to pull guard but Silva holds him up against the cage and eventually Massey drops back down to his feet.
Silva prevents the takedown attempt.
Anderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Massey.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Silva fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Massey tries for a takedown. No joy.

Silva jumps guard.
Massey sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Silva wants to sweep here but Massey controlling him for the moment.
Massey is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Massey passes Silva's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Silva wants to improve his position but Massey is controlling well.
Silva flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Silva is not content to let Massey control the position.
Silva won't allow Massey to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to improve his position but Massey is controlling well.
Silva is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Silva might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Massey takes the fight into the clinch.
Massey is trying to drag Silva to the mat but Silva just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva scores with a nice hook to the head.

Silva breaks from the clinch.
Silva shoots for a double leg takedown but Massey sprawls well. He's pushed Silva's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Massey shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Silva defends it nicely.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Massey.

Silva gets a takedown into half guard.
Silva is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Massey is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Silva is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Massey has managed to free his arm - good work.
Silva trying to mount his opponent but Massey defends it.
Anderson Silva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Massey wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Silva dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Anderson Silva'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!

Massey tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Silva is able to avoid easily.
Massey lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Massey keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Silva defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Massey.

Silva changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Massey looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Massey looks to move to half guard but instead Silva has passed into mount! Damn!
Massey tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva controlling from mount.
Silva could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Massey slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Massey takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Massey is trying to maintain the position but Silva is very close to passing his half guard.
Silva looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Silva decides to stand and escape the position.
Massey tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Silva throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Massey forces Silva back against the cage and clinches.
Silva is pushing Massey up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva fails to pull guard.

Silva breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Massey tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Massey pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Massey misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Silva has a takedown stuffed.
Massey shoots for a double leg takedown but Silva sprawls well. He's pushed Massey's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Silva has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva gets a clinch.
Massey is trying to break the clinch but Silva has him pressed against the cage.

Silva breaks the clinch.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Massey defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Silva.
Massey lands a really nice looking cross but Silva seems unphased.
Massey wants to clinch up but Silva keeps it at a distance.
Massey is looking to clinch.
Massey closes this distance looking for a takedown but Silva circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Massey misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Silva moves in looking to clinch but Massey pushes him off.
Silva shoots for a takedown but Massey saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Silva fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Massey manages to avoid it.

Massey moves into the clinch successfully.
Massey tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva taking a breather.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Anderson Silva.
I think Silva has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:28
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Anderson Silva!