PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roger Roche (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Housimar Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Housimar Palhares has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Roche
vs
Palhares

180 cm
22
185 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

173 cm
22
195 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Team S.W.A.T.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Roger Roche!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Housimar Palhares!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Thiago Cunha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Palhares looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Roche!
Roche tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Roche wants to hold on but Palhares pushes him away.
Roche is trying to escape the mount but Palhares keeps good control and instead manages to take Roche's back.
Palhares is not going to allow Roche to sit and survive in this position.
Palhares missing with punches from the back.

Palhares is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Roche knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Roche for a finish.
Roche is trying to break free.
Roche looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Palhares missing with punches from the back.
Roche is covering up but some of the strikes from Palhares are getting through and doing damage.
Palhares gets his hands free as Roche looks to control.
Palhares has the hooks in. Roche is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Palhares scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Roche is looking for a way out.
Well, with Palhares on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Roche is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Roche tries to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Roche holding both Palhares 's hands and preventing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
I really don't envy Roche right now.

Palhares is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Roche is defending well though. Palhares let's go of the attempt for now.
You can see the frustration on Roche's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Roche manages to reverse the position and now he's in Palhares's guard. Nice work there by Roche.
Roche has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Palhares will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Palhares working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Roche doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Palhares is tightening it up a little... Roche has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Roche reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Roche taps out! nice BJJ there by Palhares!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:03 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Housimar Palhares! Housimar Palhares retains his middleweight title!