PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ben Dover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manuel 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.

Dover
vs
Silva

185 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

171 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

2KMMA Ultimate Nutrition 144 Quality

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ben Dover!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Manuel Silva!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Andrew Berry and James Glass.

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

Silva moves into the clinch.
Dover tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Dover is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Silva manages to break the clinch.
Dover blocks a head kick by Silva.
Silva wants to clinch.
Silva wants to clinch up but Dover keeps it at a distance.
Dover throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Dover tries to clinch but Silva moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A lazy left from Dover finds it's target.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dover swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dover digs a good body shot into Silva's ribs.
Silva lands a nice shot that snaps Dover's head back.

It looks like Ben Dover has been cut.
Silva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dover but Dover pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dover avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A big right from Silva misses.
Dover avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Manuel Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Silva checks a leg kick nicely.
Dover wants to clinch up but Silva keeps it at a distance.
Dover shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Silva as he jumps to the side.
Silva tries to clinch there but Dover circles away.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Dover swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Silva avoids a punch combination nicely.
A jab from Dover finds it's way through Silva's defenses.
Silva doesn't manage to clinch there - Dover circles away.
Dover throws a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Silva closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Dover counter with a right hand.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Dover checks a leg kick.
Silva throws a leg kick but Dover checks it.
Silva tries to clinch but fails miserably
letting Dover counter with a right hand.
Dover is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Dover. That's going to slow Silva down.
Horrible takedown by Silva or perhaps it was just good defense by Dover which made him look bad.
Dover misses with a double jab.
Silva avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dover fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Silva wants to clinch.
Silva wants to clinch but Dover slips to the side
and Dover counters with a left and a right that stings Silva.
Silva tries to clinch but Dover moves away
and Dover counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Silva lands a jab to Dover's midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva looks to clinch
and Dover counters with a one-two to the body.
Dover is looking to clinch.
Silva tries to clinch up but Dover circles away and keeps his distance.
Silva thows a left - swing and a miss!
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Dover swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dover throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Silva changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dover tries to avoid it but Silva manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dover to the ground. Dover escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ben Dover has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manuel Silva.
Dover moves in looking to clinch but Silva pushes him off.
Silva tries to clinch
and Dover counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Silva closes the distance but Dover moves to the side

and Dover holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Silva breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Silva digs a good hook to Dover's body.
Silva tries to clinch
and Dover counters with a two punch combo.
Silva displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silva looks to clinch
and Dover counters with a left and a right that stings Silva.
Silva wants to clinch but Dover slips to the side
and Dover counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Silva looks gassed!
Silva misses with a double jab.

Dover moves into the clinch.
Silva is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Silva gets control of Dover's arms and successfully pulls guard. Silva will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Silva wants to get back to his feet but Dover is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Silva trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Dover from controlling successfully.
Dover won't allow Silva to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Dover dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ben Dover's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Dover slips under a jab from Silva.
Silva throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Silva waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Dover.

Dover clinches.
Dover really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A short uppercut from Silva.

Silva breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Silva looks for a takedown but Dover sprawls well.
Dover throws out a leg kick but Silva moves out of range and Dover only half commits.
Dover circles away from the clinch attempt
and Dover counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Silva wants to clinch but Dover slips to the side
and Dover counters with a left to the body.
Dover throws a series of strikes that have Silva backpedaling.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Some wild striking there from Dover.
Silva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dover.
Dover throws a front kick aimed at Silva's knee but Silva avoids it well.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dover swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Silva avoids a punch combination nicely.
Silva closes the distance but Dover moves to the side
and Dover counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Dover tries to clinch up but Silva circles away and keeps his distance.
Silva darts in trying to clinch
and Dover cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Silva is looking to clinch but Dover is avoiding it.
Silva slips a jab and a cross from Dover.

That's two 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.
Dover keeps the fight on the outside.
Dover takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Silva tries to clinch there but Dover circles away.
Dover circles away from the clinch attempt

and Dover moves into the clinch.

Silva breaks from the clinch.
Dover cracks Silva with an open hand slap.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dover looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ben Dover is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dover moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Silva closes the distance and clinches up with Dover, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes Dover against the cage but Dover circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Dover lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Dover.
Silva looks to clinch
and Dover counters with a two punch combo.
Dover misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva looks to clinch
and Dover counters with a one-two to the body.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dover tries to close the distance and clinch up but Silva swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dover looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Silva drops Dover with a left and a right! Oh, Dover is hurt - Silva dives into side control looking to finish!

Dover is rocked!
Silva working the body and head with strikes.
Oh Dover is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Silva working the ground and pound but Dover is defending the strikes.

Silva stands up.
Dover seems to have got his legs back now.
Silva throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Silva fails with the takedown.
Ben Dover has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manuel Silva.
Dover tries to clinch there but Silva circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dover changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Silva tries to avoid it but Dover manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Silva to the ground. Silva escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Dover throws a right and a left that both miss.

Silva moves into the clinch.

Silva breaks the clinch.
Silva doesn't manage to clinch there - Dover circles away.

Silva takes the fight into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dover circles away from the clinch attempt
and Dover counters with a one-two to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silva throws a combination that misses
and Dover connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Silva tries to clinch
and Dover counters with a series of strikes. Silva will be more careful next time no doubt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ben Dover will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ben Dover's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Dover tries to clinch up.
Dover dodges the punch combination from Silva.
Silva is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Silva tries to keep at a distance but Dover has taken the fight into the clinch.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dover circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dover misses with a wild combination.
Silva throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Silva slips a jab and a cross from Dover.
Silva tries to clinch there but Dover circles away.
Silva smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Dover fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva scores with a hook.
Silva loads up on a big right hand but Dover slips the punch.
Dover is working the combinations to good effect here.
Dover scores with a three punch combo!
Silva has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Silva tries to clinch but Dover moves out of range.
Silva tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Dover counters by moving into the clinch.
Dover has had enough of the clinch but Silva keeps him there for the moment.
Dover fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Silva breaks the clinch.
Ben Dover is winning the standup battle so far.
Dover swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
Dover misses with a wild combination.
Silva looks to clinch
and Dover counters with a straight right hand.
Silva connects with a body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva just misses with a punch to the body.
Silva closes the distance and clinches up with Dover, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes Dover against the cage but Dover circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Silva lands with a shot to the body.
Dover dips to his left and cracks Silva with an uppercut!
Silva closes the distance but Dover moves to the side
and Dover counters with a series of strikes. Silva will be more careful next time no doubt.
Silva tries to clinch up
and Dover counters with a one-two to the body.
Silva is looking to clinch but Dover is avoiding it.
The fighters circling - Silva throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Silva misses the shot to the body.
Silva wants to clinch.
Dover pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dover will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Silva doesn't manage to clinch there - Dover circles away.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
Manuel Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Silva throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Silva fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Dover swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Silva.
Dover misses with a double jab.
Silva waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Dover.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Silva tries to clinch
and Dover counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Silva takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Silva closes the distance looking to clinch
and Dover makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Dover lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Dover.
Silva tries to clinch but Dover moves away
and Silva takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dover as he avoids it easily.
Ben Dover has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manuel Silva.
Nice shot by Dover.
Dover throws a front kick aimed at Silva's knee but Silva avoids it well.
Dover displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Dover is looking to clinch.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ben Dover is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
An inside leg kick from Silva misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Dover showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dover, 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Dover!