PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Derek Vinyard (ranked 302 p4p, 8 weight class) and Alex Silva (ranked 1620 p4p, 74 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Vinyard
vs
Silva

167 cm
23
145 lbs
11 - 1 - 0

163 cm
31
135 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

BuriedAlive// Fight Gear
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Derek Vinyard!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alex Silva!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Viktor Lagutenko and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from Vinyard misses.
Silva tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Vinyard lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Vinyard throws an off balance right hand

and Silva counters with a shoot takedown. Vinyard fights it but they end up in guard.
Silva passes Vinyard's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Silva is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Vinyard defends it well.
Vinyard's coaches at Devil Dogs have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Silva throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Vinyard is not content to let Silva control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva wants to free his trapped foot but Vinyard is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Silva works his way into side control.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Vinyard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Silva misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Silva wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Vinyard, who protects the arm well.
Silva scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Vinyard to see if he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva laying and praying for a moment but Vinyard takes advantage and regains half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Silva is keen to just control but Vinyard is a slippery customer.
Silva passes to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vinyard pushes Silva away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Silva gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Silva wants to control but Vinyard is keeping him busy.
Silva has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Vinyard!
Vinyard squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Silva lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Vinyard wants to try and get back to his feet.
Vinyard is bucking up trying to escape but Silva cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Silva looking to control and managing it successfully.
Silva unloading with bombs!
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Silva working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva breaks from Vinyard's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Silva tries to control but Vinyard wriggling away.
Silva might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Vinyard haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Vinyard is trying to stand up.
Silva sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Silva fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Silva cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Silva can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Vinyard is looking to escape.
Silva controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Silva dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Silva misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Vinyard waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Silva.
Silva keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vinyard.
And Silva tries to counter it with a takedown but Vinyard pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Silva fails with the takedown
and Vinyard counters with a stiff right hand.
Silva shoots in for a double leg but Vinyard sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Derek Vinyard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Silva.
Silva has a takedown stuffed.
Silva dives in and grabs Vinyard's left leg, looking for a takedown. Vinyard pushes down on Silva's head and hops out.
Silva throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Vinyard's waist but Vinyard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Silva off to one side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vinyard throws a lazy uppercut

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

Vinyard pushes Silva off and scrambles back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A big right from Vinyard misses.
Silva feints the counter takedown.
Vinyard throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Silva sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Vinyard throws an overhand right that lands on Silva's shoulder, as Silva tries to avoid the shot.
Silva has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Vinyard dips to his left and cracks Silva with an uppercut!
Vinyard throws a poor cross that misses

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

Vinyard pushes Silva off and scrambles back to his feet.
Silva is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Vinyard to counter with a crisp jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Vinyard counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Silva shoots in and drives through. Vinyard sprawls well.
Silva slips under a jab from Vinyard.
Vinyard chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vinyard motions for Silva to come forward. Vinyard throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nice takedown defense from Vinyard. No joy for Silva on that attempt.
Silva shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Vinyard pinned against the cage. Vinyard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Vinyard lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Vinyard fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Vinyard lands a jab to the head.
Alex Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vinyard tests Silva's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Silva gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Vinyard.
Vinyard misses with a jab, cross combination.
A slow jab from Vinyard misses its intended target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vinyard throws a big shot that misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Silva.
Derek Vinyard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vinyard lands with an overhand left.

Silva fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Vinyard to the ground. Silva is now in Vinyard's guard.
Silva looking to pass the guard.
Silva looking to sit in guard and control but Vinyard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Silva wants to sweep but no luck.
Vinyard wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.
Silva striking off his back but it's not causing Vinyard any problems.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Vinyard avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Silva looking to control.
Vinyard has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Silva is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Silva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vinyard doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vinyard manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Vinyard trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vinyard slips nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Silva uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Vinyard.
Silva closes this distance looking for a takedown but Vinyard circles away.
Silva looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Vinyard is fending him off so far but Silva persists. Nope, Vinyard circles away and we're back to standing.
A little feinted left hand from Vinyard on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Silva looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Silva has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Vinyard manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Vinyard lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Silva.
Silva goes for a takedown in the clinch but Vinyard prevents it.
Derek Vinyard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Silva.
A nice right hand lands inside from Vinyard.
Vinyard throws a punch but it's blocked by Silva.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Vinyard.
Silva is trying to pull guard but Vinyard has him pressed against the cage.
Vinyard lands an uppercut.

Silva ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Silva no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Vinyard trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vinyard slips nicely into half guard.
Alex Silva has got the better of the ground game so far.

Vinyard is looking for a kimura but Silva is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Vinyard to get the leverage.
Vinyard trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.
Silva is looking to control Vinyard's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Silva avoid being mounted?

Silva is defending against the submission attempts here by Vinyard.

Vinyard is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Silva doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Vinyard.

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.

Vinyard is looking for a kimura but Silva is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Vinyard to get the leverage.
Silva has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Vinyard is working away from the top position though.

Silva actively working from the bottom here.
Silva wants to get back to full guard.

Vinyard wants to work for an arm triangle but Silva is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Silva wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Silva.
Silva looking for a sweep. Not yet Silva, not yet.

Silva had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Vinyard defends it easily.
Silva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vinyard wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Vinyard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vinyard is looking to advance position but Silva has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Silva connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Silva can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Vinyard is looking to escape.
Silva with a couple of short strikes.
Silva trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Silva throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Vinyard because Silva loaded up on that one.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vinyard's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
A nice elbow there by Silva.
Silva looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Alex Silva just about did enough to take it.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Silva defending well as Vinyard loads up on a big left hand.
Vinyard misses with a looping left.
Vinyard moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Alex Silva has been cut.
Silva shoots for a takedown but Vinyard saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Silva closes the distance and clinches up with Vinyard, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes Vinyard against the cage but Vinyard circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Vinyard throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Vinyard throws a good cross that connects.
Silva fails with the takedown
and Vinyard counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Derek Vinyard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Silva.
Vinyard lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Vinyard keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Silva takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.

Silva looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Silva stops Vinyard from getting back to his feet.
Silva is stalling here. Vinyard is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Silva seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Vinyard has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Vinyard tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Vinyard has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Silva is trying to control Vinyard's posture but Vinyard avoids it.

Vinyard tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Vinyard has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vinyard looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Silva tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Vinyard wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Vinyard is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Silva has escaped the position, nice work there.
Silva is trying to improve his position.

Vinyard is trying to get an arm triangle but Silva is defending well.

Vinyard is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Silva knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva sneaks back into half guard.
Silva manages to get to full guard.
Vinyard is pushing down on Silva's leg trying to pass to half guard. Silva is fighting to maintain full guard but Vinyard has managed to sneak the leg through.
Vinyard is looking to advance position but Silva won't allow it.
Vinyard seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Silva does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

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.

Vinyard is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Silva is just riding it out for now. Vinyard eventually gives up the hold.
Silva is trying to maintain the position but Vinyard is very close to passing his half guard.
Silva tries to get to full guard but Vinyard has control of the leg.
Silva regains full guard. Nicely done.

Vinyard has gone for a leg lock! Silva slips out almost immediately though and dives into Vinyard's guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva pushing down on Vinyard's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Vinyard had his way with Alex Silva in that round.
The cut man is working on Alex 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Vinyard swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nice takedown defense from Vinyard. No joy for Silva on that attempt.
Nice defenses there by Silva.
Silva takes one to the side of the head.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Silva looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Silva is keen to just control but Vinyard is a slippery customer.

Silva seems to be looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva is trying to control the action in half guard but Vinyard is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Silva passes to full mount!
Silva lands a couple of good shots and Vinyard has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vinyard is trying to get back to his feet but Silva has full control of the position and if anything, Vinyard has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Silva has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Silva trying to control.

Silva is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Vinyard is defending well though. Silva let's go of the attempt for now.
Vinyard wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva missing with punches from the back.

Vinyard showing good submission defense here.
Vinyard prevents Silva from getting a body triangle.
Silva throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Silva tries to get the hooks in deep but Vinyard pushed the leg off.

Silva looking for the choke but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to control the position but Vinyard frees himself and scrambles - Silva manages to regain control in side control.
Vinyard prevents Silva from improving position.
Silva is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Vinyard taking a bit of punishment here - Silva scoring with strikes.
Vinyard regains half guard, as Silva was trying to land strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Vinyard makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Vinyard throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Vinyard, right into the meat.
Silva uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Vinyard.
Silva slips under a jab from Vinyard.
Silva avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Silva changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Vinyard throws out a loose jab but Silva uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vinyard misses with an uppercut.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Vinyard appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Derek Vinyard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Silva.
A decent looking cross lands there for Vinyard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Alex Silva.
I think Silva has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 49:48
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 47:48
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 49:48

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Derek Vinyard!
Derek Vinyard is the new bantamweight champion!
An out of breath Derek Vinyard thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.