PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Klaus Silverstein (ranked 4159 p4p, 344 weight class) and Chuck Liddel (ranked 4907 p4p, 0 weight class). Chuck Liddel will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Silverstein
vs
Liddel

168 cm
25
145 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

192 cm
18
150 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Klaus Silverstein!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chuck Liddel!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Thiago Cunha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liddel will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Silverstein misses with a body shot.
Liddel shoots in for a takedown but Silverstein shows good takedown defense.
A telegraphed right hand from Silverstein misses the target.
Liddel is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Liddel defending well as Silverstein loads up on a big left hand.
Silverstein fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Liddel manages to avoid it.
Liddel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Liddel misses with a double jab.
Liddel uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Silverstein.

Liddel closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Liddel lands in his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silverstein is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Silverstein controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silverstein throwing shots but Liddel is blocking nicely.
Liddel is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Silverstein's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Silverstein's back!
Silverstein needs to remain patient if he's going to get out of this sticky situation.
Silverstein tries to roll but Liddel sticks to his back.
Silverstein surviving as best he can, preventing damage.

Liddel has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silverstein can't escape the position.

Liddel is persistently looking for the submission but Silverstein is defending it well.
Liddel is looking to control Silverstein but Silverstein is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Silverstein tries to roll but Liddel sticks to his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddel wants to control the position but Silverstein frees himself and scrambles - Liddel manages to regain control in side control.
Liddel wants to control but Silverstein is keeping him busy.
What's Silverstein going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Silverstein tries to bench press Liddel off him but Liddel keeps the position.
Liddel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silverstein keeps working.
Silverstein is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

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.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Silverstein manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Silverstein seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Silverstein passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Liddel!
Liddel tries to hold on but Silverstein postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Klaus Silverstein will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Liddel closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Liddel shoots in looking for a takedown but Silverstein manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Liddel's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Silverstein tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Liddel shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Silverstein sprawls well. Silverstein wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Liddel gets slowly back to his feet.
Silverstein rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Liddel moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Liddel looks to clinch
and Liddel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liddel is looking to clinch.
No joy there for Silverstein, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Silverstein thuds his right hand into Liddel's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Silverstein throws out a loose jab but Liddel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Liddel avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silverstein fails to land with a series of punches.
Silverstein misses with a wild body shot.
Liddel unleashes a big counter combination but Silverstein bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Silverstein showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Liddel.
Silverstein appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Silverstein blocks the body kick.
Liddel swats away the attempt to clinch by Silverstein.
Silverstein throws a series of punches but Liddel moves out of range.
Liddel dives in for a single leg takedown but Silverstein sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Klaus Silverstein has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chuck Liddel.
Silverstein throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Liddel shoots and misses
and Silverstein counters with a stiff right hand.
Liddel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Liddel is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Liddel is defended easily by Silverstein.
Liddel uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Silverstein.
Silverstein just misses with a punch to the body.
Liddel stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Silverstein tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Liddel manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Silverstein avoids a kick to the body.
Silverstein is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Liddel can do to turn this around?
Liddel tries for a takedown but Silverstein circles away easily
letting Silverstein counter with a right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Liddel feints and as Silverstein raises his hands in defense, Liddel changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Silverstein wants to sweep but no luck.
Silverstein pulls Liddel in close to his closed guard and prevents Liddel from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silverstein has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Silverstein has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Liddel is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Silverstein.
Silverstein holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.

That's four 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.
Silverstein is looking to reverse the position.
Silverstein regains half guard, as Liddel was trying to land strikes.
Silverstein controlling the position for now.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Silverstein.
Chuck Liddel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Silverstein is looking to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silverstein is controlling Liddel's trapped leg to prevent Liddel from advancing to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Klaus Silverstein dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Silverstein misses with a hook. Liddel ducked under it nicely.
It seemed like Liddel was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A head kick misses from Liddel.
Liddel blocks a jab.
A countering left hand to the body from Liddel misses.
Liddel misses with a few strikes there.
Liddel slips a jab and a cross from Silverstein.
Silverstein is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Liddel swats away the attempt to clinch by Silverstein.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silverstein will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Liddel slips a straight right by Silverstein.

Silverstein shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Liddel is trying to defend but Silverstein finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Silverstein in particular looking to stall.
Liddel is looking for a sweep. Silverstein is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Silverstein is looking for a kimura but Liddel is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Silverstein to get the leverage.
Silverstein prevents Liddel from standing back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silverstein controlling the pace.
Liddel scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Silverstein manages to mount him!

That's two 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.

Silverstein looking for a guillotine from mount but Liddel is having none of it.
Silverstein controlling the position easily from mount.
Liddel tries to lock up and control but Silverstein gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Silverstein controlling from mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Silverstein there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddel is looking to improve his position but Silverstein isn't that keen on the idea.
Silverstein tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

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.
Liddel is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Silverstein is working for a guillotine from mount but Liddel frees his head quite easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Klaus Silverstein showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Silverstein has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight for Klaus Silverstein!
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Klaus Silverstein!
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight for Klaus Silverstein!

Klaus Silverstein wins by unanimous decision!