PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Starling Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Lopez (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.

Silva
vs
Lopez

191 cm
25
192 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

185 cm
32
187 lbs
14 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Starling Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Frank Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Valeri Chadov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Lopez lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Silva has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Silva and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Silva scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Silva throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Silva has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Lopez finds it's way round the side to connect with Silva's head.
Silva ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lopez moves away.
Silva punishes Lopez's body with a nice straight punch.
Lopez walks into a jab.
Lopez dips to his left and cracks Silva with an uppercut!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Lopez wants to land a leg kick but Silva is out of range.
Silva misses with a body kick.
Silva throws a wild body kick that Lopez sees coming a mile off.
It seemed like Lopez was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Silva tries to land a body kick
and Lopez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lopez misses with a few strikes there.
Silva thuds his shin into the meat of Lopez's side.
Starling Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lopez connects with a crisp jab.
Silva throws a lazy uppercut
and Lopez counters with a thumping low kick.
A head kick misses from Silva.
Silva throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Silva misses with the body kick
and Silva takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lopez misses with an attempted mid kick.
Silva throws a hook but Lopez blocks it.
Lopez takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silva wants to clinch up but Lopez keeps it at a distance.
Lopez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Silva.
Silva misses the shot to the body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Lopez lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Silva has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Silva and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Silva tries to counter by clinching up but Lopez breaks away and moves out of range.
Lopez looks to score with a jab to the body but Silva is just out of range.
A lazy body kick from Silva
and Lopez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Silva uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lopez.
Lopez avoids the head kick by Silva.

Silva gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Silva lands with a right to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez wants to break the clinch but can't.
A short body shot lands from Silva as the two fighters clinch.
Lopez takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Frank Lopez has been cut.
Silva scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Silva misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lopez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lopez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short left from Silva.
Silva lands a right hand.
Silva scores with a shot to the side of Lopez's head.

Lopez is rocked!
Silva blocks an elbow strike.
Lopez is still on wobbly legs! Can Silva finish him?
Silva lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Lopez is trying to break the clinch but Silva is controlling him.
Silva lands a shoulder strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Lopez just misses with a elbow thrown towards Silva's brow.
Nice body punch from Silva.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Silva lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Lopez breaks from the clinch.
Good work by Lopez as he checks the leg kick.
Lopez seems to have recovered his senses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva works the jab nicely.

That has opened up Frank Lopez's cut even more.
Lopez chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Silva can pounce on him.
Lopez drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Silva moves out of range of the strikes.
A slapping body kick lands there for Silva.
Lopez throws the left hand but Silva avoids the punch easily.
Lopez takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Silva tries to land a body kick
and Lopez counters with a nice body kick.
Silva throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Lopez appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Silva tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lopez was well out of range. Poor timing from Silva.
Silva avoids the head kick by Lopez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Starling Silva dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Frank Lopez's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lopez blocks the body kick.
Lopez just misses with a punch to the body.
Silva looks to throw a body kick
and Lopez counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Silva thinking.
Silva blocks a low kick nicely.
Silva seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Silva throws a shot to the body.
Silva lands a nice looking body kick.
Silva throws a nice outside leg kick.
Lopez doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Silva.
Silva fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Silva punishes Lopez's body with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Silva blocks the leg kick.
Silva tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Lopez manages to circle out of the way.
Silva lands with a nice body kick.
Lopez closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Silva looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Silva pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Silva lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A shot to the body from Silva misses
and Lopez counters with a straight right hand.
Silva misses with a body shot.
Silva is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lopez can do to turn this around?
Silva throws a front kick that sends Lopez stumbling back into the cage.
Silva looks to score with a jab to the body but Lopez is just out of range.
Starling Silva is winning the standup battle so far.
Silva thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Lopez if he has to take too many more of those.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva scores with a kick to the body.
Lopez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Silva seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Lopez throws out a loose jab but Silva uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Silva avoids the head kick by Lopez.
That kick from Silva tenderised Lopez's leg. Lopez is trying to keep his angry face on.
Silva misses with a low kick.
Silva lands with a shot to the body.
Silva scores with a spinning back kick!
Silva misses with an attempted mid kick.
Silva misses with a body kick.
Nice body punch from Silva.
Lopez has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Silva.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Silva lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Silva pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Lopez lands with a shot to the body.
Silva throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Lopez counters with a one-two to the body.
Silva tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Lopez is able to avoid easily.
Silva throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Silva lands a nice looking kick to the body. Lopez takes a step back to recover.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez trying to stall but Silva improves his position.
I was talking to Silva's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A frustrated look appears on Lopez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Silva pushes Lopez back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lopez is trying to break the clinch but Silva has him pressed against the cage.
Silva struggles to land a body shot inside as Lopez controls his hands.
Silva working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lopez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Silva lands an elbow inside that Lopez shrugs off.
Silva lands a nice shot to the body.
Lopez lands a nice shot to the body.

Lopez breaks from the clinch.
Silva takes a swing at Lopez's ribcage but misses.
Lopez appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Silva lands with a kick to the ribs.
Silva bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Lopez is breathing heavily.

Silva gets in close and instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Starling Silva dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Frank Lopez's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Silva just misses with a punch to the body.
Silva smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Silva fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Silva gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Lopez counters with a leg kick.
Lopez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Silva was well out of range. Poor timing from Lopez.
Silva throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Lopez counters with a straight right hand.
Lopez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Silva is looking to land body kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva is looking to land body kicks.
Silva fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lopez manages to avoid it.
Silva throws a push kick but Lopez slaps the foot to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva misses with a body kick.
Silva throws a hook to the side of Lopez's head but Lopez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lopez misses with a wild body shot.
Silva cracks Lopez with a good jab.
Lopez throws a poor cross that misses

and Silva counters by clinching up.
Silva prevents a body shot from Lopez.
Silva is leaning against Lopez and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Silva scores with a nice hook to the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Lopez.
Starling Silva has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Silva lands a right hand.
Silva working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Lopez manages to break the clinch.
Silva throws a wild body kick that Lopez sees coming a mile off.
Silva misses with a body kick.
Starling Silva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez misses with a two punch combination.
Lopez misses with a hook.
Silva stuns Lopez with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Lopez walks into a left hand.
Lopez takes a swing at Silva's ribcage but misses.
Silva throws a wild body kick that Lopez sees coming a mile off.
Lopez takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Silva stuns Lopez with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Lopez misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Lopez throws a lazy body kick

and Silva counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Lopez pushes off an throws an elbow but Silva leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Silva lands an uppercut.
Silva lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Silva misses with a punch to the body.
Lopez takes an elbow to the temple.
Lopez is trying to break free.
Good body shot from Lopez.
Silva tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lopez's elbow.
Silva lands with a right to the head.
Silva doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Silva tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Silva gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lopez.
Silva keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lopez's efforts to push away.
Silva lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lopez backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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 an elbow that stopped Lopez in his tracks for a moment.

The cut above Frank Lopez's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Silva lands a big right hand that drops Lopez! The killer instinct kicks in and Silva finishes his opponent with a series of strikes from mount. A dominating finish by Silva!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:17 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Starling Silva!