PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hiro Protagonist (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joey Silvera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Protagonist kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Teenage Bottlerocket - Bigger Than Kiss. The crowd seem to be enjoying Silvera's choice of entrance music: Wedlock. 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.

Protagonist
vs
Silvera

183 cm
36
195 lbs
33 - 13 - 1

185 cm
29
193 lbs
18 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!

Perkele!
Hardcore Nutrition

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 33 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Hiro Protagonist!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Joey Silvera!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Protagonist connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Protagonist misses with a body kick.
Silvera ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Protagonist misses with an uppercut. Silvera saw that one coming.
Protagonist lands an overhand right.
Silvera walks into a stiff left hand from Protagonist.
Silvera takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Protagonist feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Silvera's calf.
Silvera takes one to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Protagonist clobbers Silvera with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Protagonist throws a left and a right that both miss

and Silvera holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Protagonist goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Protagonist pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Protagonist fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Silvera looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Protagonist avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Protagonist keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Silvera lands an overhand right.
Protagonist misses with a wild body shot.
Silvera rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Protagonist counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Protagonist chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Silvera uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Protagonist.
A nice leg kick lands there from Protagonist.
Protagonist throws a hook but Silvera blocks it.
Silvera keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Protagonist feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Silvera's calf.
Silvera takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A low kick from Protagonist is predictable there
and Silvera counters with a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silvera has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Protagonist finds it's way round the side to connect with Silvera's head.
Silvera staying out of range there.
Silvera takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Protagonist throws a right and a left that Silvera avoids nicely.
Protagonist misses with a hook

and Silvera moves into the clinch.
The referee calls for Silvera to work.
Silvera doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Silvera pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Protagonist blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Silvera.
Silvera struggles to land a body shot inside as Protagonist controls his hands.
Silvera blocks a body shot from Protagonist.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silvera lands a nice elbow.
Silvera goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Silvera fails to land.
A shot in the inside from Silvera.
Silvera digs a right hand underneath Protagonist's ribcage. Protagonist let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Silvera lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Protagonist blocks a body shot from Silvera.
A frustrated look appears on Protagonist's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Silvera with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silvera scores with a knee to the head.
Silvera scores with a nice hook to the head.
Silvera connects with a knee to the head.
Silvera using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Silvera has a couple of punches blocked by Protagonist.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Protagonist can't find room to land a body shot as Silvera controls the action.
Silvera throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Silvera blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Silvera misses with an elbow over the top.
Silvera misses with a punch on the inside.
Protagonist blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Protagonist blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Protagonist.
Silvera misses with a punch on the inside.
Silvera lands on the inside with an uppercut.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Silvera working aggressively here.
Protagonist wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Silvera tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Protagonist's elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Protagonist dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Protagonist jabs Silvera to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Protagonist throws a shot from downtown. Silvera moves away and avoids it.
Silvera takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Joey Silvera is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Protagonist thumps Silvera with a low kick.
Protagonist moves into range and connects with a jab.
Protagonist is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Silvera.
Protagonist connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Silvera on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Protagonist. Protagonist obviously looking to wear him down.
Silvera moves out of range as Protagonist strikes.
Nice defenses there by Silvera.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice uppercut there from Silvera.
Protagonist turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Protagonist just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Protagonist scores with a jab. Silvera acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Protagonist scores with a hook to the body. Silvera takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Silvera lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Donk. Protagonist catches Silvera right on the button with a cross.
Protagonist throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Protagonist misses with a leg kick.
Protagonist tries to work over Silvera's front leg with a kick but Silvera checks it.
Nice defenses there by Silvera.
Silvera walks into a left hand.
Protagonist throws a head kick that misses

and Silvera moves into the clinch.
Silvera doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Protagonist is looking to control Silvera's arms but Silvera gets an underhook and turns him. Now Protagonist has his back to the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Protagonist blocks an elbow strike.
Silvera with a knee to the head.
Silvera is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Protagonist is keeping busy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Silvera blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Silvera misses with a punch on the inside.
Silvera misses with a punch on the inside.
Silvera misses with a hook to the ribs.
Silvera scores with a shot to the side of Protagonist's head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Silvera holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Protagonist wants to break free but Silvera has control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Protagonist has a couple of punches blocked by Silvera.

Protagonist breaks from the clinch.
Protagonist with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Decent striking displayed by Protagonist there.

Silvera takes the fight into the clinch.
Protagonist lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Protagonist lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Protagonist.
Silvera throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Protagonist blocks it with crossed arms.
Silvera tries to throw a body punch but Protagonist avoids it by throwing Silvera back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Silvera misses with an elbow over the top.
Joey Silvera seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Good body shot from Silvera.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Protagonist takes a shot to the head.
Silvera dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Silvera's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Silvera goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Protagonist blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Silvera misses with a short punch on the inside.
Silvera is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Silvera.
Silvera tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Silvera lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Protagonist dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Decent striking displayed by Protagonist there.
Protagonist tests Silvera's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Silvera throws a hook but Protagonist avoids it easily.
Silvera takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Silvera keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Protagonist throws a jab when Silvera was well out of range.
A low kick from Protagonist misses
and Silvera counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Protagonist is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Protagonist throws a hook to the side of Silvera's head but Silvera sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Silvera drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
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!
Silvera throws the kick towards the body but Protagonist avoids it.
Protagonist throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Protagonist misses.
Silvera slips under a jab.
Protagonist throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Protagonist waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Silvera.
Silvera blocks a jab.
Protagonist throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Silvera takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Protagonist misses with a double jab.
Silvera throws a head kick but Protagonist moves out of range.
Silvera swinging wildly here.
Hiro Protagonist is winning the standup battle so far.
Silvera wants to clinch up but Protagonist keeps it at a distance.
Joey Silvera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Protagonist ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Protagonist misses with a body shot.
A solid leg kick lands there for Protagonist.
Nice jab there from Protagonist.
Silvera checks a low kick from Protagonist.
A shot to the liver by Protagonist. Beautiful body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silvera takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Silvera moves out of range of the strikes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Silvera. Protagonist does a little dance to reset his feet.
Protagonist jabs Silvera to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Protagonist thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Protagonist dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Silvera jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Protagonist's corner calls for a 1-2. Protagonist obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Protagonist tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Silvera was well out of range. Poor timing from Protagonist.
Protagonist uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Silvera.
Silvera moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Silvera throws a head kick but Protagonist moves out of range.
Protagonist lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Protagonist fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Silvera looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Silvera takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Hiro Protagonist seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Protagonist connects with the punch.
Protagonist throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Silvera.
Hiro Protagonist is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Protagonist bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Silvera's head backwards.
Protagonist lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Protagonist lands with a kick to the ribs.
A big right from Protagonist misses.
Silvera takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Protagonist throws a nice outside leg kick.
Protagonist moves into range and connects with a jab.
Protagonist throws a nice inside leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Silvera on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Protagonist connects with a body shot.
Silvera misses with a straight left.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hiro Protagonist showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Protagonist, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiro Protagonist!
A very excited looking Hiro Protagonist made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.