PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Apolo Marshall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alvaro Palomo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marshall is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Apolo Marshall has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Marshall
vs
Palomo

175 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
23
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Apolo Marshall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alvaro Palomo!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Edson Gomes and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Palomo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Palomo looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Palomo working some strikes from top position.
Palomo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Palomo working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Marshall's head.
Marshall has momentary wrist control but Palomo slips an elbow through the middle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marshall wants to stand up but Palomo is controlling him.
Palomo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Marshall wants to stand and escape but Palomo is having none of it.
Palomo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Palomo is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Marshall has momentary wrist control but Palomo slips an elbow through the middle.
Palomo landing some decent shots from guard.
Marshall is looking to stand up but Palomo isn't so interested in that idea.
Palomo is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palomo lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Marshall is looking to stand up but Palomo isn't so interested in that idea.
Palomo content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

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

Palomo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Marshall taking shots to the head.
Palomo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Palomo landing strikes from the mount and Marshall is in trouble!
Palomo landing shots from mount.
Palomo landing punches.
Marshall is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Palomo lands a heavy elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshall trying desperately to get to his feet.
Palomo has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Marshall's face.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Palomo breaks from Marshall's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Palomo looking to control but Marshall is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Marshall squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Palomo scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Marshall is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Palomo punishing his opponent with strikes.
Palomo lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Palomo has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Marshall's face.
Marshall knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Palomo on the ground.
Palomo landing shots from mount.
Palomo with good strikes from the mount here!
Palomo lands a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palomo landing strikes from the mount and Marshall is in trouble!
Marshall's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Palomo landing strikes, looking to finish!
Marshall is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Palomo lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Marshall in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Palomo lands a heavy elbow.
Marshall is bucking up trying to escape but Palomo cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Palomo lands a heavy elbow.
A nice elbow there by Palomo.
BOOM! Palomo connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Palomo landing strikes, looking to finish!
Palomo dominating with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palomo breaks from Marshall's wrist control and lands an elbow.
You get the feeling that Marshall really doesn't like being in this position too much.
The referee warns Marshall that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Palomo cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Palomo in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Palomo landing shots from mount.
Marshall taking shots to the head.
Marshall tries to buck Palomo off but he can't manage it.
Palomo lands with some strikes.
Palomo looking to finish Marshall with some ground and pound. This is bad for Marshall!
Palomo lands a big elbow.
Palomo looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Palomo lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Palomo lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Palomo lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alvaro Palomo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Apolo Marshall's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Palomo fails with the takedown.
Palomo has a takedown stuffed.
Marshall keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Apolo Marshall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alvaro Palomo.
Marshall lands a jab to the nose.
Palomo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Palomo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Marshall as he avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Palomo fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palomo looks for a takedown but Marshall sprawls well.
Marshall is looking to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Palomo.
Palomo shoots in but Marshall avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Palomo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Marshall's waist but Marshall gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Palomo off to one side.

Palomo shoots in and bounces Marshall off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Marshall working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Palomo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palomo is in close to Marshall's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Palomo content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Palomo is working Marshall over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Palomo lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Palomo landing with the ground and pound.
Palomo scoring with punches to the head and body.
Palomo stops Marshall from standing up.

Palomo stands and steps away. Marshall gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Palomo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Palomo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall stuffs the takedown attempt from Palomo. Palomo gets slowly back to his feet.
No luck for Palomo with that takedown attempt.

Palomo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Palomo working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Marshall is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Palomo is controlling him well.
Marshall taking punishment in the form of punches.
Marshall takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Marshall takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Palomo taking a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palomo connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Marshall some visible discomfort.
Palomo landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Palomo working the ground and pound from side control.
Palomo connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Marshall some visible discomfort.
Marshall takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Marshall taking a bit of punishment here - Palomo scoring with strikes.
Marshall on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Palomo lands an elbow.
Marshall taking a bit of punishment here - Palomo scoring with strikes.
Alvaro Palomo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Palomo works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Marshall on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Palomo working the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alvaro Palomo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Apolo Marshall's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Palomo is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Marshall.

Palomo gets the takedown into side control.
Palomo landing strikes.
Marshall on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Marshall takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Palomo working the head with strikes.
Palomo in side control lands a decent elbow.
Marshall is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Palomo scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Marshall to see if he's OK.
Palomo in side control lands a decent elbow.
Palomo scoring with punches from side control.
Palomo prevents Marshall from escaping the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Palomo lands a decent elbow from side control.
Marshall takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Marshall takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Palomo in side control lands a decent elbow.
Marshall takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Marshall taking punishment in the form of punches.
Marshall is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Palomo in side control lands a decent elbow.
Palomo working the ground and pound.
Palomo landing a few strikes.
Palomo in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Palomo cracks Marshall with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Palomo scoring with punches and elbows.
Palomo landing strikes.
Palomo cracks Marshall with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palomo is looking to take a break and control but Marshall is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Palomo works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Palomo works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Palomo landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Marshall wants to get back to his feet but Palomo drags him back down.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Palomo looks for a takedown but Marshall sprawls well.
Palomo fails with a takedown attempt.
Palomo keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palomo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Marshall avoids it really well and circles away.
Apolo Marshall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alvaro Palomo.
Palomo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Marshall swivels and escapes.
Palomo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Marshall connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Palomo shoots in looking for a takedown. Marshall tries to sprawl out of it but Palomo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Marshall manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Palomo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Apolo Marshall has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Palomo tries for a takedown but Marshall sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Palomo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Palomo lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Marshall down.
Palomo landing a few strikes.
Marshall is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Palomo has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Palomo working the head with strikes.

Palomo decides to stand back up.
Apolo Marshall is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Palomo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Marshall but Marshall pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Palomo has a takedown stuffed.
Alvaro Palomo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Marshall leaves Palomo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alvaro Palomo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Palomo 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 26:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 26:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alvaro Palomo!