PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marcos Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antti Hammer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hammer is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Bolt Thrower - IV Crusade. Marcos Silva has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Silva
vs
Hammer

167 cm
35
146 lbs
13 - 12 - 0

155 cm
33
134 lbs
23 - 17 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160

Firebird Designs - 10% Laundry commission

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marcos Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Antti Hammer!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, William Peck and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hammer tries a head kick but it misses.
Hammer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hammer jabs at Silva's body.

Hammer closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hammer lands in his opponent's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Silva is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Hammer from controlling successfully.
Hammer might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Silva haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Silva is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Combat Zone [15 Elite & Sauna that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Hammer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hammer cracks Silva with a solid left hand.
Hammer content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Hammer from controlling successfully.
Silva working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hammer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammer distracts Silva with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hammer is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hammer missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Hammer from controlling successfully.
Hammer cracks Silva with a solid left hand.
Hammer scoring with some ground and pound.
Hammer with a nice head shot there.
Hammer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hammer wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Hammer working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hammer tries to roll over but Silva keeps him under control.
Hammer is trying is best to control the position here.
Hammer is looking to control Silva's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hammer avoid being mounted?
Hammer is looking for a sweep. Silva is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Silva will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hammer is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hammer is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Silva's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Silva's back!
Hammer wants to control but Silva manages to buck him off and is now in Hammer's guard! Nice work there by Silva!
Silva is fighting to break Hammer's control of his arms but Hammer is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Silva's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hammer looking to control.
Silva throws an elbow that misses. Hammer uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Silva's guard. Nice move by Hammer!
Hammer won't allow Silva to get back to his feet.
Hammer sitting in guard here, content to control.
Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Silva throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hammer wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammer missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hammer throwing strikes but missing.
Silva is looking to sweep but instead, Hammer has passed into half guard.
Silva is staying active underneath Hammer, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Silva wants to get back to full guard.
Hammer is looking to take a break and control but Silva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva trying to control but Hammer postures up.
Silva gets full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Hammer dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Silva moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Hammer tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Silva defends well and Hammer ends up having to push Silva into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Silva wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hammer with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hammer tries to pull guard but Silva won't allow it.
Silva can't break the clinch.
Silva wants a takedown.
Hammer working Silva over with knees to the body.
Silva prevents a takedown attempt there.
Marcos Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antti Hammer.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Silva.
Silva looking for a takedown.
Hammer wants a takedown but no success here.

Silva breaks the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Silva misses with a body shot.

Silva closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Silva lands in his opponent's guard.
Hammer working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva stands up over Hammer, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Silva postures up in Hammer's guard and throws a big left but Hammer blocks it.
Silva preventing the sweep.
Silva postures up in Hammer's guard and throws a big left but Hammer blocks it.
Antti Hammer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Silva throws a big elbow that misses.

Hammer throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hammer is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hammer avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Silva missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammer wants to sweep but no luck.
Hammer working a defensive guard here.
Hammer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hammer keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Silva is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hammer looking to control.

Hammer looking for subs off his back but Silva has passed one foot through into half guard.

Silva seems to be looking for submissions.
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.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hammer wants to improve his position but Silva is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer trying to control here.
Hammer tries to roll over but Silva keeps him under control.
Hammer is trying to control but can't.
Silva missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Silva misses with a head shot. Hammer uses the momentum to regain guard.
Hammer keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Hammer controlling Silva's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammer wants to sweep here but Silva controlling him for the moment.
Silva working some strikes from top position.
Hammer is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hammer wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Hammer throws his legs up looking for a submission but Silva uses it to pass to side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Silva tries for a kimura but Hammer is defending well.
Silva working the ground and pound.
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 Marcos Silva will probably get the nod.
That's time! Silva's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hammer checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Hammer takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Hammer uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Silva.
Hammer walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Marcos Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hammer fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Silva avoids it really well and circles away.
Hammer tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hammer drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hammer misses with a head kick.
Hammer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Hammer looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hammer looking to sit in guard and control but Silva gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Silva throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hammer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Silva is one step ahead there.
Silva throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hammer is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hammer keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Silva accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Silva throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Hammer has his foot on Silva's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Silva works his way back into a safe position though.
Hammer preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hammer is trying to keep Silva in close.
Hammer has control of Silva's left arm, preventing Silva from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to control but Hammer is working from the bottom.
Hammer trying to keep a closed guard but Silva is proving a slippery customer.
Hammer working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Silva.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Silva preventing the sweep.
Hammer 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 slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Silva throwing strikes but Hammer manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Hammer working away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Silva sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Silva wants to control but Hammer is keeping busy.
Silva blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hammer.
Silva makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Silva.
Silva working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hammer.

Silva looking for a guillotine here but Hammer defends easily.
Silva working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hammer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hammer's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Silva looking for a sweep. Not yet Silva, not yet.
Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hammer's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hammer tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hammer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hammer postures up in Silva's guard and throws a big left but Silva blocks it.

Silva looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

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 Marcos 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcos Silva!
After winning the bout, Marcos Silva thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.