PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jesse Kotkaniemi (ranked 1387 p4p, 181 weight class) and Manuel Silva (ranked 1226 p4p, 156 weight class). Manuel Silva has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Jesse Kotkaniemi's chin.

Kotkaniemi
vs
Silva

183 cm
22
181 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

176 cm
21
172 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jesse Kotkaniemi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Manuel Silva!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Alyssa Summers and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kotkaniemi shoots in for a takedown but Silva shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kotkaniemi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Silva.
Kotkaniemi changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Kotkaniemi shoots in but Silva avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Silva slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Silva circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kotkaniemi moves out of range as Silva strikes.
Kotkaniemi attempts a counter takedown but Silva avoids it well and moves away.
Kotkaniemi moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kotkaniemi moves out of range as Silva strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kotkaniemi closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Silva's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kotkaniemi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Silva wants to stand up but Kotkaniemi is controlling him.
Kotkaniemi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kotkaniemi controlling from the top position.
Kotkaniemi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kotkaniemi stops Silva from standing up.
Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kotkaniemi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kotkaniemi won't allow Silva to get back to his feet.
Kotkaniemi wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Silva being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kotkaniemi misses with a takedown
and Silva counters with a straight right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesse Kotkaniemi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kotkaniemi feints and as Silva raises his hands in defense, Kotkaniemi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kotkaniemi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kotkaniemi being controlled here momentarily.
Silva has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Big Bear Fight Factory. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Silva preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kotkaniemi throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kotkaniemi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kotkaniemi won't allow Silva to sweep him here.
Kotkaniemi is stalling in the full guard.
Silva is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kotkaniemi is controlling him.
Kotkaniemi working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Silva's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Silva can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kotkaniemi controls the pace.
Kotkaniemi prevents Silva from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying to control the position but Kotkaniemi postures up.
Silva pulls Kotkaniemi in close to his closed guard and prevents Kotkaniemi from doing any damage or advancing position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Kotkaniemi trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Silva leaves Kotkaniemi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kotkaniemi looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kotkaniemi slips under a jab.
Silva pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kotkaniemi ducks under a wild hook from Silva.
Silva throws a big shot that misses.
Kotkaniemi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Silva swivels and escapes.
Kotkaniemi wants to land a leg kick but Silva is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kotkaniemi moves out of range of the strikes.
Danga de danga de dang - Silva scores with a four punch combination!
Silva's corner calls for a 1-2. Silva obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Silva might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

Kotkaniemi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Silva's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kotkaniemi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Silva wants to stand but Kotkaniemi is controlling the position.
Kotkaniemi scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kotkaniemi wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Silva wants to stand but Kotkaniemi is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manuel Silva dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Silva throws a hook to the side of Kotkaniemi's head but Kotkaniemi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kotkaniemi shoots in looking for a takedown. Silva tries to sprawl out of it but Kotkaniemi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Silva manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kotkaniemi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Silva fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Kotkaniemi throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Silva tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kotkaniemi is in Silva's guard.
Silva has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Silva wants to stand up but Kotkaniemi is controlling him.
Silva can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kotkaniemi controls the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva wants to stand and escape but Kotkaniemi is having none of it.
Kotkaniemi sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kotkaniemi is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kotkaniemi is fighting to break Silva's control of his arms but Silva is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Kotkaniemi throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Silva is on top in guard.

Silva wants to control from the top but Kotkaniemi keeps moving.
Silva throwing strikes but missing.
Kotkaniemi keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Silva working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kotkaniemi controls Silva momentarily but Silva frees himself.
Silva postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Silva content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kotkaniemi has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kotkaniemi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Kotkaniemi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Silva misses the shot to the body.
Manuel Silva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva thows a left - swing and a miss!

Kotkaniemi takes the fight into the clinch.
Silva is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Kotkaniemi has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Silva uses from the top position.
Kotkaniemi looking to control.

Kotkaniemi looking for a guillotine here but Silva defends easily.
Kotkaniemi wants to stand up but Silva is controlling him.
Silva chips away with some ground and pound.

Kotkaniemi is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kotkaniemi looking to control but Silva passes into half guard.
Silva working Kotkaniemi over with strikes.
Oh Kotkaniemi is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kotkaniemi is looking to improve his position.
Silva scores with a big shot! Kotkaniemi's head bounced off the canvas with a huge thud! More strikes land and the referee has jumped in to save Kotkaniemi! He was hurt real bad - good stoppage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Manuel Silva!
A victorious Manuel Silva thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.