PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pertti Silsa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julio El Toro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silsa's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Candy by Robbie Williams. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Silsa
vs
El Toro

186 cm
32
203 lbs
16 - 10 - 1

178 cm
29
196 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 16 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pertti Silsa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Julio El Toro!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Ben Watson and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silsa throws a series of punches but El Toro moves out of range.
Silsa wants to clinch.
Silsa fails with a takedown attempt.

El Toro gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
El Toro's coach down at Guinness Stout was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on El Toro's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
A short body shot lands from El Toro as the two fighters clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by El Toro.
Silsa wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
El Toro trying to control the position but instead, Silsa has worked for underhooks and has pushed El Toro into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Toro blocking some punches.
Silsa working aggressively here.
El Toro throws a head punch that misses.
Silsa wants to break the clinch but can't.
Silsa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
El Toro lands an uppercut.

El Toro breaks from the clinch.
Silsa with a hook.

It looks like Julio El Toro has been cut.
Silsa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. El Toro manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Good work by Silsa as he checks the leg kick.
We've been told by Silsa's head coaches at LeBeau Ground Fighting that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
El Toro misses with a looping right.
Silsa tries to counter by moving into the clinch but El Toro manages to circle out of the way.
El Toro scores with a leg kick.
El Toro darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silsa throws a right and a left that both miss.
El Toro looks to score with a jab to the body but Silsa is just out of range.

El Toro dives in and scores a takedown into Silsa's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
El Toro trying to control the position from guard on top but Silsa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
El Toro loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
El Toro is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
El Toro throws a big elbow that misses.
Silsa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
El Toro throws a strike but Silsa rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

El Toro looking for a sweep. Not yet El Toro, not yet.

El Toro looking for a guillotine here but Silsa defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silsa wants to control from the top but El Toro keeps moving.

El Toro has his foot on Silsa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Silsa works his way back into a safe position though.
Silsa stopping the sweep attempt from El Toro.
El Toro is striking but Silsa is not phased and passes to half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
El Toro wants to get back to full guard but Silsa has passed into side control.

That's four 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.
El Toro wants to control but Silsa postures up.
Silsa moves into full mount!
El Toro in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Silsa manages to capitalize on a mistake by El Toro to take his back!
El Toro wants to escape the position.

Silsa working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

El Toro fending off the submission attempt from Silsa.
Will Silsa go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Julio El Toro will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Julio El Toro's cut.
That's time! Silsa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Silsa connects with a body shot.
Silsa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by El Toro.
Silsa looks to land a right hand but El Toro moved out of range.
El Toro throws a poor cross that misses

so Silsa counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Silsa drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Silsa jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
El Toro controls Silsa momentarily but Silsa frees himself.

El Toro looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silsa is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

El Toro escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Silsa gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
El Toro doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Toro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Silsa is one step ahead there.
Silsa wants to control from the top but El Toro keeps moving.
Silsa postures up.
Silsa pushes down on El Toro's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Silsa performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are battling for position here. El Toro manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
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.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Silsa stands and throws El Toro's legs to the side, diving into side control.
El Toro stops Silsa from passing to mount.
Silsa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that El Toro can do to turn this around?
Silsa wants to lay and pray for a moment but El Toro keeps working.
Silsa throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
El Toro tries to bench press Silsa off him but Silsa keeps the position.
El Toro manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The fighters are battling for position here. Silsa manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Silsa trying to keep a closed guard but El Toro is proving a slippery customer.
El Toro missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
El Toro working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
El Toro throws a big elbow that misses.
El Toro throws a big right hand that misses.
El Toro working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
El Toro keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Silsa's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
El Toro trying to control but Silsa is working from the bottom.
Silsa has momentary wrist control but El Toro slips an elbow through the middle.
El Toro makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
El Toro stopping the sweep attempt from Silsa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silsa managing to control the position.
El Toro throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Silsa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
El Toro is pushing down on Silsa's leg trying to pass to half guard. Silsa is fighting to maintain full guard but El Toro has managed to sneak the leg through.
Silsa moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Silsa controls El Toro momentarily but El Toro frees himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
El Toro throws a big right hand that misses.
El Toro postures up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
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 Pertti Silsa will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Julio El Toro's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Silsa throws a looping overhand right but El Toro ducks down to avoid it.
El Toro with the counter takedown but Silsa avoids it easily.
El Toro staying out of range there.
And El Toro tries to counter it with a takedown but Silsa pushes his down on his head and steps out.
El Toro is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Silsa.
Nice cross by El Toro.
An inside leg kick from Silsa misses.
El Toro tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Silsa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
El Toro tries to score a power double leg takedown but Silsa sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten El Toro somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A good leg kick by El Toro.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by El Toro.
Silsa takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Silsa blocks a head kick by El Toro.
Silsa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pertti Silsa is winning the standup battle so far.
El Toro thuds his right hand into Silsa's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
El Toro looks to land a left hand but Silsa moved out of range nicely.
Silsa is looking to counter punch.
A combination from Silsa does no damage.
El Toro throws a body punch but Silsa moves out of range.
El Toro throws an off balance right hand
and Silsa counters with a nice uppercut.
El Toro is looking to slow Silsa down with leg kicks.
El Toro throws a body punch but Silsa moves out of range.
Silsa is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from El Toro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
El Toro thows a left - swing and a miss!
El Toro sizes up Silsa with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

El Toro looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Silsa!
Julio El Toro has got the better of the ground game so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silsa tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but El Toro wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
El Toro trying to control the action but Silsa is working from the bottom.
Silsa is working to avoid the ground and pound but El Toro connects with a decent elbow.

El Toro tries for a kimura but Silsa is defending well.
Silsa tries to buck El Toro off but El Toro is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silsa avoids any damage from the ground and pound of El Toro.
Silsa holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
El Toro fails to land a wild elbow strike.
El Toro tries to score with some ground and pound. Silsa controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Silsa is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

El Toro is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

El Toro is looking for a kimura but Silsa is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for El Toro to get the leverage.

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.
Silsa regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from El Toro.
El Toro landing with the ground and pound.
El Toro postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Silsa has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
El Toro wants to control from the top but Silsa keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julio El Toro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well El Toro 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 Darius Henderson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Julio El Toro!
Our winner, Julio El Toro, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.