PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dirk Nowitzki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dirk Nowitzki is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Silva
vs
Nowitzki

187 cm
20
190 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

185 cm
22
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Intelligent

Diamond Design Clothing
Team S.W.A.T.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anderson 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, Dirk Nowitzki!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Matheus Silva and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nowitzki swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.

Nowitzki has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nowitzki tries to stall but Silva uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Nowitzki lands an elbow inside that Silva shrugs off.
Nowitzki wants a takedown but no success here.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nowitzki lands an elbow just above Silva 's eye.
Knees to the body from Nowitzki.
Nowitzki lands a left hand that snaps the head of Silva backwards.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Nowitzki blocks it.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Nowitzki is blocking nicely.
Silva takes an elbow to the forehead.
Nowitzki is stalling here.
Nowitzki continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Nowitzki comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nowitzki leaning his opponent against the cage.
Nowitzki lands a damaging elbow.
Silva prevents a takedown attempt there.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Nowitzki blocks it.
Nowitzki lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Anderson Silva has been cut.
Nowitzki tries to land a knee to the head but Silva blocks with his arms.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Nowitzki has Silva pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Silva manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Anderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dirk Nowitzki.
Nowitzki lands an elbow inside.
Nowitzki connects with a nasty looking knee right to Silva's face.
Nowitzki gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nowitzki lands a damaging elbow.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A short right from Nowitzki on the inside.
Nowitzki lands an elbow just above Silva 's eye.
Nowitzki lands a damaging elbow.
Silva letting Nowitzki take a breather here.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Nowitzki is blocking nicely.
Nowitzki controlling the action here for a moment.
Nowitzki gets through Silva's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A shot in the inside from Nowitzki.
Nowitzki content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Nowitzki lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nowitzki connects with a knee to the head.

Nowitzki is trying to trip Silva. He has hold of a leg but Silva is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Nowitzki persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Silva trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Nowitzki won't allow Silva to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nowitzki trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Nowitzki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nowitzki controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Nowitzki throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Silva works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nowitzki preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Nowitzki clinches up against the cage.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nowitzki comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nowitzki lands an elbow inside that Silva shrugs off.
Nowitzki holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Nowitzki is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nowitzki lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Silva takes an elbow to the temple.
Nowitzki lands a damaging elbow.
Nowitzki lands with a light punch inside.
Silva prevents a takedown attempt there.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nowitzki is trying to drag Silva to the mat but Silva just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Nowitzki is looking to control Silva's arms but Silva gets an underhook and turns him. Now Nowitzki has his back to the cage.
Silva takes a shot to the head.
Nowitzki lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nowitzki wants a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva takes a knee right on the jaw!
Nowitzki lands a hook that snaps the head of Silva backwards.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Nowitzki blocks it.
Nowitzki can't get the takedown.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Nowitzki blocks it.
Nowitzki lands a damaging elbow.
Nowitzki creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Silva's defenses.
Nowitzki lands a knee to the body.

Nowitzki has clasped his hands together around Silva's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Silva gets back to half guard.
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.
Silva moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Silva lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nowitzki!
Nowitzki takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Nowitzki holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Silva tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nowitzki holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Silva tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Nowitzki wants to control but Silva is having none of it.
Nowitzki flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Nowitzki tries to hold on but Silva postures up.
Silva with shots to the head and body - Nowitzki looks very uncomfortable down there.
Nowitzki holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Silva tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Nowitzki tries to reverse the position but Silva maintains control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nowitzki can do anything to dispel that myth.
Nowitzki wants to control but Silva is having none of it.
Silva lands a big shot there that rocks Nowitzki but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nowitzki takes the fight into the clinch.
Nowitzki lands a nice elbow.
Nowitzki lands an elbow inside.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nowitzki blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nowitzki blocks it with crossed arms.
Nowitzki with a knee to the head.
Nowitzki stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nowitzki is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Silva gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Nowitzki changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Silva fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Good leg kick by Nowitzki there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Nowitzki closes the distance and clinches.
Nowitzki lands a nice elbow.
Nowitzki comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nowitzki lands an elbow inside that Silva shrugs off.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nowitzki taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Nowitzki connects with a knee to the head.
Nowitzki lands an elbow just above Silva 's eye.
Nowitzki lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Nowitzki drops down looking for an ankle pick but Silva pulls his leg out and moves away.
Anderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dirk Nowitzki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to clinch but Nowitzki moves away

and Nowitzki moves into the clinch.
Nice elbow from Nowitzki.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nowitzki blocks it with crossed arms.
Nice elbow from Nowitzki.
Silva is pressed up against the cage. Nowitzki has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Silva down to the mat. Silva avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Silva tries to clinch

and Nowitzki counters by moving into the clinch.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nowitzki has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva takes an elbow to the temple.
Nowitzki taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Silva gets underhooks to prevent Nowitzki's takedown attempt.
A short left from Nowitzki.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nowitzki has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silva letting Nowitzki take a breather here.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nowitzki with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Silva is pressed up against the cage. Nowitzki has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Silva down to the mat. Silva avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Silva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nowitzki lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Silva closes the distance looking to clinch

and Nowitzki moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nowitzki looking to throw knees to the head but Silva is blocking nicely.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nowitzki has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Silva is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nowitzki looking to stall.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Nowitzki.
Nowitzki tries for a takedown. No joy.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nowitzki blocks it with crossed arms.
Nowitzki lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Nowitzki blocks with his arms.
Silva takes an elbow to the forehead.
Nowitzki lands an elbow just above Silva 's eye.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nowitzki lands an elbow just above Silva 's eye.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nowitzki blocks it with crossed arms.
Nowitzki connects with a knee to the head.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Nowitzki is blocking nicely.
Nowitzki tries for a takedown. No joy.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nowitzki has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nowitzki comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nowitzki lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Nowitzki changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Silva fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Silva tries a head kick but it misses.
Silva pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Nowitzki has managed to clinch.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Nowitzki blocks with his arms.
A knee to the head by Nowitzki.
Nowitzki just leaning against Silva, taking a breather.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Nowitzki blocks with his arms.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nowitzki with a knee to the head.
Silva takes an elbow to the forehead.
Nowitzki stalling the fight.
Nowitzki is trying to stall.
Nowitzki is working for takedown but Silva is calmly controlling the position for now.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Nowitzki blocks with his arms.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Nowitzki blocks it.
Nowitzki taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Silva on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nowitzki creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Silva's defenses.
Nowitzki wants a takedown.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.

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 with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nowitzki is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Silva pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Nowitzki misses with an elbow strike.
Nowitzki drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nowitzki connects with a nasty looking knee right to Silva's face.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Nowitzki just misses with a elbow thrown towards Silva's brow.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Nowitzki is blocking nicely.
Nowitzki is working for takedown but Silva is calmly controlling the position for now.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nowitzki comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nowitzki stalls.
Nowitzki lands a shot to the body.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nowitzki has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nowitzki with a knee to the head.
Nowitzki lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nowitzki with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva takes an elbow to the temple.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nowitzki blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva takes an elbow to the temple.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nowitzki blocks it with crossed arms.
Nowitzki lands an elbow inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dirk Nowitzki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Anderson Silva's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Silva closes the distance looking to clinch

and Nowitzki holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nice elbow from Nowitzki.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Nowitzki blocks it.
The is referee keeping an eye on Nowitzki - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A knee to the head by Nowitzki.
Nowitzki misses with a knee strike.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Nowitzki comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A bit of stalling here from Nowitzki.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nowitzki.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Silva letting Nowitzki take a breather here.
Nowitzki drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nowitzki creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Silva's defenses.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nowitzki lands an elbow that stopped Silva in his tracks for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nowitzki has Silva pressed against the cage.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Nowitzki blocks with his arms.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nowitzki stalling in the clinch.
The crowd are getting on Nowitzki's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Silva misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nowitzki.
A knee to the head by Nowitzki.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nowitzki lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Dirk Nowitzki seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Nowitzki landing some nice looking knees to the body.
The referee calls for Nowitzki to work.
Nowitzki lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nowitzki using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Silva has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nowitzki blocks it with crossed arms.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Nowitzki takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Nowitzki lands an elbow just above Silva 's eye.
Nowitzki looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Nowitzki lands a knee to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Silva as Nowitzki tries to tie him up.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nowitzki working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva being controlled against the cage.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nowitzki lands a nice uppercut.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nowitzki connects with a knee to the head.
Nowitzki throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Nowitzki is stalling here.
Silva prevents a takedown attempt there.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nowitzki has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nowitzki is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Nowitzki is working for takedown but Silva is calmly controlling the position for now.
Anderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dirk Nowitzki.
Nowitzki gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Nowitzki lands an elbow that stopped Silva in his tracks for a moment.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nowitzki has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Nowitzki blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nowitzki goes for a takedown in the clinch but Silva prevents it.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nowitzki has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nowitzki lands a nice elbow.
Nowitzki lands a right hand.
Nowitzki stalling in the clinch.
Silva takes an elbow to the forehead.
Nowitzki lands a nice elbow.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Nowitzki drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nowitzki lands an elbow just above Silva 's eye.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Nowitzki blocks it.
Nowitzki lands a damaging elbow.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Nowitzki blocks with his arms.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Nowitzki blocks it.
Nowitzki slowing the pace effectively.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nowitzki lands a knee to the head.

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.
Nowitzki misses with an elbow strike.
Nowitzki lands a nice elbow.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nice elbow from Nowitzki.
Nowitzki has Silva pushed against the cage.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Nowitzki blocks with his arms.
Nowitzki lands an elbow inside.
Nowitzki content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Nowitzki is trying to maintain a safe position but Silva gets an underhook and turns Nowitzki into the cage.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nowitzki has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Nowitzki blocks it.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nowitzki can't get the takedown.
Silva blocks an elbow strike from Nowitzki.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nowitzki with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nowitzki blocks it with crossed arms.
Dirk Nowitzki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nowitzki blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Anderson Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nowitzki blocks it with crossed arms.
Nowitzki has Silva pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Silva manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dirk Nowitzki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nowitzki 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dirk Nowitzki!