PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Wanderlei Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Martin Atkinson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Silva
vs
Atkinson

180 cm
22
142 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wanderlei Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Martin Atkinson!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Atkinson closes the distance and clinches up with Silva, looking for a takedown. Atkinson pushes Silva against the cage but Silva circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Martin Atkinson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Atkinson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Atkinson.
Atkinson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Atkinson darts in and clinches Silva up against the cage.
Atkinson can't get the takedown.
Wanderlei Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Martin Atkinson.
Atkinson tries to score a body lock takedown but Silva shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Atkinson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Atkinson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Atkinson is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Atkinson is looking to break free of the clinch but Silva has double underhooks.
Atkinson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Silva has him pressed against the cage.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Atkinson blocks it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Atkinson tries to pull guard but Silva holds him up against the cage and eventually Atkinson drops back down to his feet.
Silva lands a knee to the head.
Atkinson wants to break free but Silva has control.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Atkinson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Atkinson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

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 gets underhooks to prevent Atkinson's takedown attempt.
Atkinson 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.
Atkinson looks gassed!
Silva is pressed up against the cage. Atkinson 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.
Nice sprawl there from Silva as Atkinson shoots in.
Silva doesn't manage to clinch there - Atkinson circles away.
Atkinson tries to clinch up

and Silva counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Atkinson blocks with his arms.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Atkinson is blocking nicely.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Atkinson blocks with his arms.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Atkinson blocks with his arms.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Atkinson is blocking nicely.
Atkinson trying to control the position but instead, Silva has worked for underhooks and has pushed Atkinson into the cage.
Silva lands a knee to the head.
Atkinson tries to pull guard but Silva won't allow it.
Atkinson tries to break the clinch but Silva is controlling the position.
Silva is pressed up against the cage. Atkinson 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Silva gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Atkinson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Silva gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Silva lands a knee to the head.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Atkinson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Silva prevents it.
A knee to the head by Silva.
Atkinson is trying to break free.
Silva really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Atkinson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Silva walks away with a smile on his face. Atkinson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Atkinson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Atkinson clinches but Silva breaks the clinch

and Silva counters by clinching up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Silva dominated that round.
That's time! Silva's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Atkinson fails with the takedown

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch.
Silva landing knees to the head.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Atkinson is looking to break free of the clinch but Silva has double underhooks.
Atkinson tries a knee to the head but Silva blocks it.
Atkinson is breathing heavily.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atkinson goes for a takedown attempt but Silva pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A low kick from Atkinson is predictable there

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Silva.
Atkinson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Silva walks away with a smile on his face. Atkinson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Wanderlei Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Martin Atkinson.
Atkinson fails with the takedown

and Silva holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Silva connects with a knee to the head.
Atkinson misses with the head strike.
Atkinson swings wildly with an uppercut but Silva uses good head movement to avoid it.
Silva with a knee to the head.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Atkinson takes a knee right on the jaw!
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Atkinson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Atkinson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Silva pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A knee to the head by Silva.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Atkinson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Silva smiles and moves away.
Atkinson darts in trying to clinch

and Silva holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Atkinson blocks with his arms.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Atkinson is blocking nicely.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Atkinson blocks with his arms.
Atkinson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Silva smiles and moves away.
Silva moves in looking to clinch but Atkinson pushes him off.
Atkinson misses with a takedown attempt

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch.
Atkinson throws an elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Atkinson's face.
Atkinson takes a knee right on the jaw!
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Atkinson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Atkinson blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Atkinson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Atkinson blocks it.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Atkinson is blocking nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Atkinson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Atkinson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Silva dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Silva moves into the clinch.
Atkinson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Silva pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Atkinson tries to pull guard but Silva holds him up against the cage and eventually Atkinson drops back down to his feet.
Atkinson tries to score a body lock takedown but Silva shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Wanderlei Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Martin Atkinson.
Atkinson tries to score a body lock takedown but Silva shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Atkinson blocks it with crossed arms.
Atkinson stalling the fight.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Atkinson tries to pull guard but Silva won't allow it.
Atkinson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atkinson wants a takedown.
Silva lands a knee to the head.
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, lands a knee to the head.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Atkinson blocks it.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Atkinson is blocking nicely.
Atkinson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Silva prevents it.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva landing knees to the head.
Silva connects with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Silva.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Atkinson tries to break the clinch but Silva is controlling the position.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Atkinson is blocking nicely.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Atkinson blocks with his arms.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Atkinson is blocking nicely.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Martin Atkinson has been cut.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Atkinson tries to break the clinch but Silva is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Atkinson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Atkinson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Silva has him pressed against the cage.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva is pressed up against the cage. Atkinson 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.
Atkinson misses with a takedown

and Silva moves into the clinch.
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Atkinson has Silva pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Silva manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Silva with a knee to the head.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Atkinson is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Atkinson is blocking nicely.
Silva slows down the pace here.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Atkinson blocks it with crossed arms.
Atkinson taking a breather.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Atkinson blocks it.
Atkinson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Silva pulls his leg out and moves away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Atkinson with a poor takedown

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Martin Atkinson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wanderlei Silva showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Silva has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wanderlei Silva!