PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tiago Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Barboza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, sambo de janeiro. Tiago Silva has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Silva
vs
Barboza

185 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 7 - 0

191 cm
23
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tiago Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Barboza!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Mauricio Rocha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barboza moves into the clinch.

Barboza has Silva pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Barboza pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Silva tumbling to the mat - Barboza dives into Silva's guard.
Barboza trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barboza wants to stand but Silva has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Thiago Barboza.
A jab lands there for Barboza.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barboza gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Barboza gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Silva regains guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barboza would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Barboza must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Barboza slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Thiago Barboza hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Barboza scores with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barboza lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Barboza closes the distance and clinches.
Silva wants a takedown but no success here.

Barboza pulls guard effortlessly.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Silva thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Silva is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Silva drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Barboza manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Silva has Barboza in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barboza wants to stand but Silva is controlling his posture from full guard.
Barboza missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

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.
Barboza not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Thiago Barboza was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Barboza feints and as Silva raises his hands in defense, Barboza changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Barboza trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Barboza dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Barboza moves in looking to clinch but Silva pushes him off.

Barboza moves into the clinch.
Silva avoiding damage as Barboza throws knees to the body.

Barboza jumps guard.

Silva drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Silva jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

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

Silva postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Barboza is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Silva, into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barboza throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.
Barboza slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Barboza trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Barboza 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.

Thiago Barboza has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Barboza scores with a head kick. Silva tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Nice uppercut lands for Barboza. That snapped Silva's head back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barboza fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Silva sprawls well initially but Barboza persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Barboza is looking to stall here but Silva recovers full guard.
Silva has his hands on Barboza's head, controlling the position.
Barboza looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Thiago Barboza wasn't active enough on the ground.
Barboza moves in looking to clinch but Silva pushes him off.
Barboza lands a nice looking kick to the body. Silva takes a step back to recover.

Barboza has Silva up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Barboza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Barboza moves in looking to clinch but Silva pushes him off.
Thiago Barboza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Barboza looking to score a takedown here. Silva is defending well but Barboza drives through and ends up in Silva's guard.
Barboza loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Barboza looking to pass the guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Silva looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Thiago Barboza wasn't active enough on the ground.

Barboza fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Silva, pushing him back against the cage.

Barboza's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Barboza gets a takedown into half guard.
Barboza looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Barboza controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Thiago Barboza hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Barboza throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Silva.

Barboza closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Barboza breaks from the clinch.

Barboza darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Silva keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Tiago Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barboza is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Silva reverses the position - he's now on top in Barboza's guard.

Silva is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Silva is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Barboza is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Barboza has escaped and now he's on top!
Silva is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago Barboza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Barboza 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thiago Barboza!