PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Dantas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dantas's entrance music is Fear of the Dark. A fine choice. Silva has chosen Duality as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Dantas
vs
Silva

180 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

189 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Dantas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Silva!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Daniel Cesar and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silva gets a takedown into half guard.
Silva tries to pass to full mount but Dantas defends it.
Silva wants to control but Dantas is keeping him busy.
Silva working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Dantas makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Dantas.

Dantas looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Silva's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Dantas looking for a guillotine here but Silva defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dantas is breathing heavily.
Dantas keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dantas is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva passes Dantas's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Dantas is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Silva pulls his head out easily.
Silva slips a nice elbow through Dantas's hands, connecting with Dantas's forehead.
Silva with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Dantas actively working from the bottom here.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Dantas is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Silva lands with a punch from half guard.
Silva works his foot free and advances to mount.
Silva dominating with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Dantas is looking to get to half guard.
Silva is landing with some decent strikes but Dantas is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Dantas is looking to get to half guard.

Silva working for a submission but Dantas is keeping him at bay.
Dantas is squirming around, avoiding Silva's attempts to control the action.

Silva has control of Dantas's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Dantas regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Dantas on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Dantas tries to get out of the position.
Silva working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Silva landing strikes from the mount and Dantas is in trouble!
Silva with shots to the head and body - Dantas looks very uncomfortable down there.

Silva is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Dantas can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Silva sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Dantas tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Silva in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Dantas looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

Silva is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Dantas knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Dantas for a finish.
Silva scores with punches to the body.
The referee is taking a good look at Dantas as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Silva!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Silva dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Silva shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Silva was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Dantas knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Silva on the ground.
Dantas tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Silva trying to control but Dantas is having none of it.
Silva putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Silva controlling from the full mount.
Dantas is working to get back to half guard.
Silva raining down shots from the mount!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva controlling the pace for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Silva lands a big shot there that rocks Dantas but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Dantas is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Dantas is working hard here to advance position.
Silva can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Dantas is looking to escape.

That's two 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 controlling the pace for now.
Silva working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Silva controlling from mount.

Despite being in the dominant position, Thiago Silva just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Silva clinches with his opponent.
The is referee keeping an eye on Silva - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Silva wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dantas tries to pull guard but Silva won't allow it.

Silva turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Silva has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Silva stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dantas swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Silva shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Dantas's guard.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Dantas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Dantas looking for a guillotine here but Silva defends easily.
Thiago Silva has got the better of the ground game so far.
Silva wants to control from the top but Dantas keeps moving.
Silva pushes down on Dantas's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dantas actively working from the bottom here.
Silva wants to take a breather but Dantas is having none of it.
Silva working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Dantas is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Silva pulls his head out easily.
Silva landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Dantas looking for submissions off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Silva tries to clinch up.

Silva fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Dantas sprawls well initially but Silva persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Silva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Silva scores a takedown into full mount!
Silva with good strikes from the mount here!
Silva is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Dantas can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Silva trying to control but Dantas is having none of it.
Dantas is wriggling around trying to escape.
Silva looking to control but Dantas is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Dantas is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Silva in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dantas keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva manages to capitalize on a mistake by Dantas to take his back!
Silva controlling the position well here. Dantas rolled but Silva kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Dantas is keeping busy.
Dantas tries to escape but Silva has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Silva controlling the position well here. Dantas rolled but Silva kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Silva has the hooks in. Dantas is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Dantas covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Dantas staying busy and making it hard for Silva to control.

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.
Dantas is in bad spot here.
Silva lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Silva's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Silva throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Dantas!
Dantas is trying to break free.
Silva trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Dantas tries to escape but Silva has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Silva trying to control.
Silva has the hooks in. Dantas is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Silva is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! Dantas is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Thiago Silva!