PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between RZ Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Dove (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for RZ Silva has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Silva
vs
Dove

180 cm
23
215 lbs
7 - 5 - 1

190 cm
27
205 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

Meet the Future

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 7 - 5 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, RZ Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Gary Dove!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksandr Martynov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva cracks Dove with a good jab.
Dove shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Silva counter with a right hand.
Dove fails with an attempt to clinch.
Silva circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dove misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Silva enables Dove to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Silva manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Silva trying to control the position.
Silva seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Silva keeping full guard, as Dove tries to pass.
Dove throws a big right hand that misses.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Dove working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Silva is trying to control the position but Dove postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of RZ Silva.
Silva waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dove.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva clobbers Dove with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Gary Dove seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva misses with a looping right.

Silva gets caught flat footed, as Dove shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Silva is really struggling to control Dove but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Dove throws a big elbow that misses.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Dove from controlling successfully.
Dove throws a big right hand that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dove accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dove pushing down on Silva's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dove lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Silva is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Elite MMA Gym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Silva has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dove is working away from the top position though.
Dove looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Dove throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Silva is pulling down on Dove's head. It's preventing any offense from Dove, at least for the moment.
Silva is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dove trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Dove postures up.
Dove postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

RZ Silva has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Dove throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Silva's waist but Silva gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dove off to one side.
RZ Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gary Dove.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dove fails with a takedown attempt.
Silva paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
The crowd cheers as Silva lands an impressive looking overhand right. Dove doesn't seem phased though.
Silva works the jab nicely.
Dove misses with a head kick.
Silva pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Dove back to the cage. Silva follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Dove goes for a double leg but Silva avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Silva continues to drive forward.
Silva has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Dove pulls guard effortlessly.
Dove keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Silva stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dove swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dove keeps working.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dove pushes Silva away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Silva gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that RZ 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!

Dove fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Dove tries to score a power double leg takedown but Silva sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dove somewhat.
Dove tries to close the distance and clinch but Silva swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Silva swats away the attempt to clinch by Dove.
Silva keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Dove tries to clinch but Silva moves out of range.
Silva keeps the fight on the outside.
Dove shoots in looking for a takedown but Silva manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dove's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
RZ Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gary Dove.
Dove dives in and grabs Silva's left leg, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes down on Dove's head and hops out.
Dove fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Dove is breathing heavily.
Silva misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Decent striking displayed by Silva there.
Silva jabs at Dove's body.
Dove throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Silva's waist but Silva gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dove off to one side.
Nice sprawl there from Silva as Dove shoots in.
Silva lands the left hand.
Silva works over Dove's head and body with a nice combination.
Silva misses with a wild combination.
Silva lands a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva lands a body shot.
Dove has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
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!
Silva lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Dove shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Silva pinned against the cage. Silva gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Dove takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Silva cracks a nice hook into Dove's ribs.
Dove shoots in for a takedown but Silva shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Silva lands a lovely overhand right.
Dove closes the distance and clinches up with Silva, looking for a takedown. Dove pushes Silva against the cage but Silva circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Dove shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Silva as he avoids it easily.
Dove takes one to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dove fails to land the takedown.
Silva wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Silva scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Dove misses with a takedown attempt
and Silva counters with a nice uppercut.
Silva comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Silva lands the left hand.
Silva stuffs the takedown.
A nice combination there by Silva.
Silva fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Dove is rocked!
Silva misses with a straight left.
Dove is still on wobbly legs! Can Silva finish him?
RZ Silva is winning the standup battle so far.
Silva swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Silva thows a left - swing and a miss!
Dove avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gary Dove is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dove has his takedown stuffed
and Silva counters with a right hand to the body.
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!
OH! Dove has been rocked by a huge right hand and is in deep trouble! Silva smells blood and charges in for the finish! Silva unloads a vicious overhand right and connects to the jaw of Dove sending him face first to the canvas! Unbelievable!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). RZ Silva!
RZ Silva decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.