PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hannu Yabal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Silvers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yabal comes to the cage accompanied by New Divide, Linkin Park. Silvers comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Con te Partiro kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Chris Silvers enters the cage!

Yabal
vs
Silvers

170 cm
23
141 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

168 cm
23
133 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Prefers standup

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

Rocha Nutrition
Comedy Fight Club Clothing

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hannu Yabal!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chris Silvers!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Silvers.
Yabal manages to work his way to half guard, despite Silvers's best efforts.
Yabal is in trouble now - Silvers has advanced to mount!

Silvers is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Yabal is surviving well by controlling Silvers's body position as best he can.
Yabal keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Silvers looking to finish with strikes here!

Silvers working for a submission but Yabal is keeping him at bay.
Yabal is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Yabal tries to reverse the position but Silvers maintains control.

Silvers working for a guillotine from mount but Yabal is in no mood to give up.
Yabal sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silvers is working for a submission of some sort.

Silvers decides to stand and escape the position.
Hannu Yabal is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yabal misses with a head kick.
Yabal misses with a double jab.
Yabal pivots, looking for a leg kick but Silvers is out of range and Yabal settles back down.
Yabal is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Yabal pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Yabal misses with a few strikes there.

Silvers closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silvers trying to control the action but Yabal is working from the bottom.
Yabal avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Silvers.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yabal managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Silvers.

Silvers is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Yabal has escaped the position, nice work there.
Silvers looks gassed!
Yabal manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Yabal wants to pass to mount but Silvers is defending the position.
Silvers on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Yabal is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Silvers is just riding it out for now. Yabal eventually gives up the hold.
Silvers missing with punches from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yabal is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Silvers is just riding it out for now. Yabal eventually gives up the hold.

Silvers looking for submissions off his back.
Silvers is trying to maintain the position but Yabal is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silvers is not content to let Yabal control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Silvers takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Yabal tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Silvers scores with a takedown into Yabal's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silvers avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Silvers is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Yabal looking to hit a scissor sweep but Silvers is one step ahead there.

Silvers thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Yabal will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Yabal manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Yabal can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Silvers is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Silvers dominated that round.
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.

Silvers shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Yabal manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Yabal looking to control but Silvers is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Silvers slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Yabal is looking to stall here but Silvers recovers full guard.
Yabal postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Yabal would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Silvers has his foot on Yabal's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Yabal works his way back into a safe position though.
Yabal wants to control from the top but Silvers keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yabal throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Silvers looking for a guillotine here but Yabal defends easily.
Yabal works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Silvers misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Yabal working over Silvers with some ground and pound. Silvers looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Yabal throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Yabal is trying to work for a kimura but Silvers is defending well.
Silvers tries to get to full guard but Yabal has control of the leg.

Yabal gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silvers looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Yabal!
Yabal tries to reverse the position but Silvers maintains control.
Silvers tries to control but Yabal wriggling away.
Silvers sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Silvers throws some wild stikes that Yabal manages to avoid easily.
Yabal slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Yabal is trying to stand up here but Silvers is controlling him well.

Silvers is looking for a kimura here.
Yabal tries to get to full guard but Silvers has control of the leg.

Silvers wants to work for an arm triangle but Yabal is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yabal is looking to improve his position.
Yabal is working hard here to advance position.
Silvers thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Yabal's head.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Yabal throws a head kick but Silvers moves out of range.
Yabal looks to score with a jab to the body but Silvers is just out of range.

Silvers shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Silvers was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Silvers working for a submission but Yabal is keeping him at bay.
Silvers avoids the attempt from Yabal to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silvers throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Yabal flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Yabal is wriggling around trying to escape.
Silvers tries to control but Yabal wriggling away.

Silvers is working for a guillotine from mount but Yabal frees his head quite easily.
Yabal working to try and regain half guard.

Silvers is going olschool here, as he tries to force Yabal to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Yabal shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Silvers showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Yabal's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Yabal misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick misses from Yabal.
Silvers throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Yabal's waist but Yabal gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Silvers off to one side.
Yabal throws a head kick but Silvers moves out of range.
Yabal misses with an uppercut. Silvers saw that one coming.
Silvers ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yabal moves away.
Yabal swinging wilding here.
Yabal looks to score with a jab to the body but Silvers is just out of range.

Silvers scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Yabal blocking the ground and pound attempt from Silvers.

Silvers is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Yabal is just riding it out for now. Silvers eventually gives up the hold.
Yabal throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silvers is working for a submission of some sort.
Yabal tries to roll over but Silvers keeps him under control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Yabal looking for submissions off his back.
Silvers moves nicely into side control.

Silvers looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Silvers goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Yabal has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Silvers but great work by Yabal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silvers wants to control but Yabal postures up.

Yabal decides to take the fight back to the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Silvers.
Yabal throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Yabal throws a series of punches but Silvers moves out of range.

Silvers clinches with his opponent.
Yabal tries to land a knee to the head but Silvers blocks with his arms.
Silvers is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Yabal pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hannu Yabal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Silvers.
Silvers tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Yabal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Silvers keeps the fight on the outside.

Silvers shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silvers is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Chris Silvers has got the better of the ground game so far.

Silvers is trying to work for a kimura but Yabal is defending well.

Silvers is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Yabal is just riding it out for now. Silvers eventually gives up the hold.
Yabal punching from the bottom.
Yabal is positioning himself well to prevent Silvers advancing to mount.
Silvers trying to pass the guard but Yabal defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Silvers is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Silvers trying to control from half guard but Yabal is working away.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A head kick misses from Yabal.
Yabal tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Silvers is able to avoid easily.
Silvers blocks a head kick by Yabal.
Yabal throws a head kick that misses.

Yabal gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Yabal looking for a guillotine here but Silvers defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Silvers tries to clinch up but Yabal circles away and keeps his distance.
Yabal dodges the punch combination from Silvers.
Horrible takedown by Silvers or perhaps it was just good defense by Yabal which made him look bad.
Hannu Yabal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yabal tries to land a front kick but Silvers steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Yabal throws a head kick that misses.
Yabal pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yabal misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Yabal throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Silvers.
Silvers throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Silvers dodges the punch combination from Yabal.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Silvers scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yabal is looking to regain half guard here but Silvers keeps moving and retains side control.

Silvers is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Yabal knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Yabal is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Silvers off and has taken his back!
Yabal misses with an elbow to the head.

Yabal patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Yabal avoiding Silvers 's attempts to control his hands.
Yabal doesn't have the hooks in and Silvers manages to turn into his guard.
Yabal looking for a sweep. Not yet Yabal, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yabal looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Silvers misses with a head kick.

Silvers scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Silvers sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Yabal is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Yabal is looking to regain half guard here but Silvers keeps moving and retains side control.

Silvers is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Yabal knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Yabal throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yabal is looking for a sweep.
Silvers has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Yabal is looking to get to half guard.
Yabal slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Silvers is looking for a kimura but Yabal is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Silvers to get the leverage.
Yabal works his way to full guard. Good work.

Yabal looking for a guillotine here but Silvers defends easily.
Yabal trying to keep a closed guard but Silvers is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yabal 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.

Yabal has his foot on Silvers's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Silvers works his way back into a safe position though.

Silvers drops back looking for a leg! Yabal is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Yabal manages to kick Silvers off! Silvers jumps back into Yabal's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Yabal is on top in guard.
Yabal would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Silvers looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Yabal lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Silvers dominated that fourth round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Silvers scores a takedown into full mount!
Yabal slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Yabal is refusing to be controlled, as Silvers sits in half guard.
Silvers blocks the strikes from Yabal.

Yabal looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Silvers is looking for a kimura here.
Silvers thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Yabal to regain full guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Yabal is on top in guard.

Silvers throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yabal drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Yabal jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Silvers has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Yabal can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Yabal throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Silvers works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Silvers keeping moving, preventing Yabal from controlling successfully.

Silvers is looking for a triangle but Yabal pushes his legs off easily.

Silvers has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Yabal can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Silvers looking for a guillotine here but Yabal defends easily.
Chris Silvers is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yabal forces his way into half guard.
Yabal missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Silvers actively working from the bottom here.
Yabal missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Silvers taking some punishment here, with Yabal in his half guard.
Yabal wants to pass to mount but Silvers is defending the position.
Yabal not landing any meaningful shots this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Silvers closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silvers controlling the action here.
Silvers prevents Yabal from improving his position.
Silvers missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Yabal wants to control the action here but instead Silvers manages to pass to full mount!
Silvers manages to capitalize on a mistake by Yabal to take his back!
Yabal rolls, trying to escape but Silvers keeps control of the position.

Silvers is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Yabal knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Yabal for a finish.

Silvers is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Yabal is defending well though. Silvers let's go of the attempt for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silvers has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Yabal has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Silvers doesn't have the hooks in and Yabal manages to turn into his guard.
Hannu Yabal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Silvers working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Yabal.

Silvers looking for a guillotine here but Yabal defends easily.
Silvers is trying to control the position from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Yabal accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Silvers comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Silvers 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 45:50
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 45:50
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Silvers! Chris Silvers retains his bantamweight title!