PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Silver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tano Gianacopulos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Silver
vs
Gianacopulos

179 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matt Silver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tano Gianacopulos!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Donatello Bradman and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silver drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gianacopulos is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Silver tries to stand but Gianacopulos is controlling his head.

Silver stands up.
Gianacopulos tries to clinch up but Silver circles away and keeps his distance.
Tano Gianacopulos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A clash of legs there as Silver blocks the low kick.
Gianacopulos tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silver paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silver looks for a takedown but Gianacopulos sprawls well.
Silver changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gianacopulos tries to avoid it but Silver manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gianacopulos to the ground. Gianacopulos escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Silver takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Matt Silver has been cut.
Silver takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gianacopulos with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silver jumps guard but Gianacopulos stands there with Silver around his waist. Silver gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Silver. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gianacopulos manages to break the clinch.
Silver shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gianacopulos pinned against the cage. Gianacopulos gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gianacopulos stuffs the takedown.
Gianacopulos lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Gianacopulos is looking to clinch but Silver is avoiding it.
Silver changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gianacopulos tries to avoid it but Silver manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gianacopulos to the ground. Gianacopulos escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Silver is breathing heavily.
A low kick from Silver is predictable there
and Gianacopulos counters with a nice leg kick.
Silver could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gianacopulos clinches with his opponent.

Gianacopulos manages to break the clinch.

Gianacopulos moves into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gianacopulos with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Gianacopulos.
A knee to the head by Gianacopulos.
Gianacopulos scores a nice knee to the body.
Silver takes a shot to the head.

Gianacopulos breaks the clinch.
Gianacopulos tries to close the distance and clinch but Silver swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gianacopulos tries to clinch but Silver is having none of it.
Silver avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Gianacopulos gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Gianacopulos landing knees to the head.
A knee to the head by Gianacopulos.

Gianacopulos escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Gianacopulos clinches.
Gianacopulos lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Gianacopulos breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silver tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gianacopulos swivels and escapes.

Gianacopulos instigates a clinch.
Gianacopulos lands a shot to the body.
Gianacopulos scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Gianacopulos is pushing Silver up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Silver takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gianacopulos landing knees to the head.

Gianacopulos breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Gianacopulos rushes Silver and presses him up against the cage.
Gianacopulos lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Silver tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gianacopulos just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gianacopulos scores with a hook to the body.
Gianacopulos connects with a knee to the head.

Matt Silver's cut is getting worse.
Gianacopulos scores with a nice hook to the head.
Gianacopulos landing knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Gianacopulos.
Gianacopulos landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gianacopulos pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Silver fails with an attempt to clinch.
Silver has a takedown stuffed.
Gianacopulos fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Silver.
Silver swats away the attempt to clinch by Gianacopulos.
Silver shoots in looking for a takedown. Gianacopulos tries to sprawl out of it but Silver keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gianacopulos manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gianacopulos moves in looking to clinch but Silver pushes him off.

Gianacopulos gets in close and instigates a clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silver goes for a takedown in the clinch but Gianacopulos prevents it.

Gianacopulos escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Gianacopulos takes the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tano Gianacopulos dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matt Silver's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gianacopulos tries to clinch but Silver moves away
and Silver counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Gianacopulos misses with a kick to the body.
Silver connects with a jab.
Gianacopulos tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gianacopulos tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Silver counters with a left and a right that stings Gianacopulos.
Gianacopulos throws a nice outside leg kick.
Silver wants to clinch
and Gianacopulos counters with a nice leg kick.

Gianacopulos forces Silver back against the cage and clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gianacopulos lands a hook that snaps the head of Silver backwards.

Gianacopulos pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gianacopulos pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Gianacopulos. No joy for Silver on that attempt.
Gianacopulos feints and then cracks Silver's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Silver down.
Gianacopulos tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silver paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Gianacopulos has Silver up against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gianacopulos manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gianacopulos rushes Silver and presses him up against the cage.
Silver goes for a takedown in the clinch but Gianacopulos prevents it.
Gianacopulos lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Silver takes a knee right on the jaw!

Gianacopulos breaks the clinch.
Silver keeps the fight on the outside.
Tano Gianacopulos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A good leg kick by Gianacopulos.

Gianacopulos fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Silver, pushing him back against the cage.

Gianacopulos breaks the clinch.
Gianacopulos tries to clinch up
and Silver counters with a three punch combo that has Gianacopulos backing up. Gianacopulos nods at Silver to acknowledge the strikes.

Gianacopulos clinches up with Silver and pushes him back against the cage.
Gianacopulos lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Knees in the clinch landing for Gianacopulos.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gianacopulos breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A good leg kick by Gianacopulos.
Gianacopulos tries to clinch but Silver moves out of range.

Gianacopulos moves into the clinch.
Gianacopulos stalling.
Gianacopulos with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Silver is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Gianacopulos working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Gianacopulos lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Gianacopulos manages to break the clinch.

Silver fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gianacopulos, pushing him back against the cage.
Silver tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Gianacopulos smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Silver. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silver shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Gianacopulos rushes Silver and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gianacopulos lands a knee to the head.

Gianacopulos breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gianacopulos takes the fight into the clinch.
Gianacopulos has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Silver wants to break free but Gianacopulos has control.
Silver on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Silver is looking to break free of the clinch but Gianacopulos has double underhooks.
Silver is working for takedown but Gianacopulos is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gianacopulos landing knees to the head.
Gianacopulos landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Gianacopulos landing knees to the body.
Silver is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Silver misses with a body punch.

Gianacopulos breaks the clinch.
Silver with a lazy takedown attempt
and Gianacopulos finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

Gianacopulos darts in and clinches Silver up against the cage.
Silver tries to pull guard but Gianacopulos holds him up against the cage and eventually Silver drops back down to his feet.
Gianacopulos throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Silver blocks it with crossed arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gianacopulos lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Silver misses with a knee to the head.
Gianacopulos using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Gianacopulos breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Silver looks for a takedown but Gianacopulos sprawls well.
Silver moves out of range as Gianacopulos throws a body kick.
Gianacopulos clinches but Silver breaks the clinch

and Silver counters by moving into the clinch.
Tano Gianacopulos seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Gianacopulos stops a takedown attempt from Silver.

Gianacopulos breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gianacopulos lands a nice leg kick that just misses Silver's sensitive parts.
Silver blocks a head kick by Gianacopulos.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silver tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gianacopulos paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Gianacopulos pushes Silver up against the cage in a clinch.
Gianacopulos with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tano Gianacopulos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Matt Silver's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Silver fails with a takedown attempt.

Gianacopulos gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Gianacopulos manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Gianacopulos landing knees to the head.
Gianacopulos lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Silver jumps guard.
Silver wants to sweep here but Gianacopulos controlling him for the moment.

Gianacopulos decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Silver, up you get!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silver changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gianacopulos tries to avoid it but Silver manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gianacopulos to the ground. Gianacopulos escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silver chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gianacopulos can pounce on him.
Silver throws a chopping leg kick but Gianacopulos manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Gianacopulos feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Silver's calf.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gianacopulos.

Gianacopulos pushes Silver up against the cage in a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Gianacopulos connects with a knee to the head.
Gianacopulos creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Silver's defenses.

Gianacopulos pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Gianacopulos moves into the clinch.
Gianacopulos creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Silver's defenses.
Silver is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gianacopulos gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Silver. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gianacopulos lands a knee to the head.

Matt Silver's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

Gianacopulos manages to break the clinch.
Gianacopulos is looking to clinch.
Silver avoids the head kick by Gianacopulos.

Gianacopulos clinches with his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silver gets control of Gianacopulos's arms and successfully pulls guard. Silver will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Gianacopulos is standing up over Silver. Silver looks to escape but Gianacopulos dives into side control.

Gianacopulos decides to stand back up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Silver tries a head kick but it misses.
Silver checks a leg kick nicely.

Gianacopulos takes the fight into the clinch.

Gianacopulos breaks from the clinch.
Gianacopulos tries to close the distance and clinch but Silver swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gianacopulos misses with a jab, cross combination.
Silver lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silver clinches up with Gianacopulos and pushes him back against the cage.
Silver tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gianacopulos just stands there and leans against the cage.

Gianacopulos breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gianacopulos stuffs the takedown.
Gianacopulos tries to clinch but Silver is having none of it.

Gianacopulos has taken the fight to the clinch.
Silver wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gianacopulos pushes Silver back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gianacopulos throws a knee to the head but misses.

Gianacopulos manages to break the clinch.
Silver shoots in and drives through. Gianacopulos sprawls well.

Gianacopulos rushes Silver and presses him up against the cage.

Gianacopulos escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Silver is looking to clinch but Gianacopulos is avoiding it.
Gianacopulos is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gianacopulos takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Matt Silver is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gianacopulos throws a push kick but Silver slaps the foot to one side.
Silver fails to land the takedown.
Gianacopulos moves in looking to clinch but Silver pushes him off.

Gianacopulos moves into range and clinches up with Silver.
Gianacopulos comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Gianacopulos misses with a knee strike.
Silver fails to pull guard.
Gianacopulos lands a knee to the body.
Silver fails to pull guard.
Gianacopulos tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silver is trying to maintain a safe position but Gianacopulos gets an underhook and turns Silver into the cage.

Gianacopulos breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gianacopulos swats away the attempt to clinch by Silver.
Matt Silver has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tano Gianacopulos is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Silver misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tano Gianacopulos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gianacopulos winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tano Gianacopulos!