PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pablo Rayden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rayden has chosen Riverside as his entrance music. Anderson Silva could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Pablo Rayden's chin.

Silva
vs
Rayden

190 cm
21
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pablo Rayden!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Leandro Rodrigues and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva tries for a takedown but Rayden sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Silva shoots in for a double leg but Rayden sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rayden as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rayden misses with a takedown

and Silva counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rayden's guard now.

Rayden is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rayden tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rayden keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Rayden doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rayden has his foot on Silva's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Silva works his way back into a safe position though.
Silva has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rayden is proving hard to escape from.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rayden wants to stand but Silva is controlling the position.
Silva wants to stand and escape but instead Rayden has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Silva wants to get back to his feet but Rayden is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Silva has his takedown stuffed

and Rayden counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Silva's guard now.
Rayden stops Silva from standing up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rayden's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Rayden drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rayden jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rayden content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rayden stops Silva from standing up.

Rayden drops back looking for a leg! Silva is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Silva manages to kick Rayden off! Rayden jumps back into Silva's guard.
Rayden content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Silva darts in trying to clinch

and Rayden counters with a nice double leg into side control. Silva won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rayden creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
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Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Silva wants to control but Rayden postures up.
Rayden scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Silva to see if he's OK.
Silva tries to improve position but can't.
Silva can't do much from the bottom here.
Silva wants to get back to his feet but Rayden drags him back down.
Silva avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Rayden.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Silva shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rayden counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rayden is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Silva is looking to stand up but Rayden isn't so interested in that idea.

Rayden drops back looking for a leg! Silva is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Silva manages to kick Rayden off! Rayden jumps back into Silva's guard.

Silva pushes Rayden off and gets back to his feet.

Silva drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Silva scoring with punches from side control.
Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rayden keeps working.

Silva stands up and beckons Rayden to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rayden closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Silva to the mat! Silva manages to get full guard.
Silva scores with a nice shot.
Silva is looking to stand up but Rayden isn't so interested in that idea.

Rayden stands and steps away. Silva gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Silva looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rayden!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rayden is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Silva controlling from the full mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rayden tries to buck Silva off but he can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Rayden dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rayden counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Silva's guard now.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Rayden is proving a slippery customer.
Silva is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rayden is controlling him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rayden accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rayden throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.
Rayden postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rayden content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Rayden drops back looking for a leg! Silva is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Silva manages to kick Rayden off! Rayden jumps back into Silva's guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rayden throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Silva's waist but Silva gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rayden off to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rayden with a poor takedown

and Silva counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rayden wants to get back to his feet but Silva is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Silva wants to control from the top but Rayden keeps moving.

Rayden is looking for a triangle but Silva pushes his legs off easily.
Rayden trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Rayden wants to stand but Silva is controlling the position.
Silva is looking to stand up but Rayden won't let him.

Silva decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Silva shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rayden counters by clinching up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rayden gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Silva regains guard.
Silva wants to sweep here but Rayden controlling him for the moment.
Rayden landing some decent shots from guard.
Silva seems keen to control Rayden's posture.
Rayden with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rayden is in close to Silva's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Silva working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rayden.
Silva trying to control the position.
Silva is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rayden is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rayden shoots and misses

and Silva counters with a takedown into side control.
Anderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pablo Rayden.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva decides to stand back up. Silva steps back and let's Rayden get back to his feet.
Silva tries for a takedown but Rayden circles away easily
and Rayden counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rayden counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Rayden is proving a slippery customer.

Rayden stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Rayden plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Silva throws a right and a left that both miss.

Silva shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rayden's guard.
Silva stands up over Rayden, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Rayden escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Silva gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rayden is looking to stand up but Silva isn't so interested in that idea.
Silva trying to control but Rayden is working from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Silva wants to get up but he can't break Rayden's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Rayden working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Silva doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Silva manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Silva trying to control but Rayden is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rayden.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pablo Rayden will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Silva doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rayden decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Silva's guard.
Rayden is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Silva wants to stand but Rayden is controlling the position.
Rayden throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.
Rayden is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Silva is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rayden is controlling him.
Rayden throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Silva is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rayden throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Silva changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rayden looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva decides to stand back up. Silva steps back and let's Rayden get back to his feet.

Rayden looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Silva is trying to get back to full guard.
Silva looks like he's trying to stand up.

Silva kicks off Rayden and gets to his feet.

Rayden drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rayden blocks the strikes from Silva.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Silva's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Silva is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Silva is looking to get back to his feet here but Rayden is keeping cool and he's managed to take Silva's back.
Rayden scores with punches to the body.
Rayden scores with punches from the back.

Silva defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Silva can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Can Silva hold on?! Rayden is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.

Rayden working for a choke but Silva is defending well.
Rayden lands punches and elbows.

Silva preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Rayden.
Silva is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Rayden throwing sloppy strikes.

Silva preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Rayden.
Silva is trying to get back to his feet but Rayden has full control of the position and if anything, Silva has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Pablo Rayden is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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 looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Silva fending off the submission attempt from Rayden.
Silva trying to control but not successfully.
Silva staying busy and making it hard for Rayden to control.
Anderson Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rayden gets his hands free as Silva looks to control.
Silva is trying to get back to his feet but Rayden has full control of the position and if anything, Silva has just worked his way into a worse spot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pablo Rayden comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rayden 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pablo Rayden!