PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Emil Swiderski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Palhares
vs
Swiderski

173 cm
23
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Palhares!
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, Emil Swiderski!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Seu Braga and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Palhares closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Swiderski quickly recovers to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Palhares in particular looking to stall.

Palhares stands up and beckons Swiderski to join him on the feet.
Swiderski looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Palhares scores with a takedown into Swiderski's guard.
Palhares seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Swiderski avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Palhares accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Palhares might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Palhares has gone for a leg lock! Swiderski slips out almost immediately though and dives into Palhares's guard.
Palhares is adopting a defensive guard.
Swiderski looking to pass the guard.
Swiderski looks gassed!
Palhares wants to stand up but Swiderski is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Palhares looking to control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Swiderski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Palhares is keeping the position for now.

We're going to have a standup here because Paulo Palhares wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Swiderski loads up on a big right hand but Palhares slips the punch.

That's two 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.

Palhares scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Swiderski is trying to stand back up but Palhares is controlling him
Palhares is thwarting Swiderski's attempts to control the position.
Palhares thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Palhares content to control rather than advance.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Palhares throwing shots but Swiderski is blocking nicely.
Palhares wants to pass to mount but Swiderski is defending the position.
Palhares trying to control from half guard but Swiderski is working away.
Swiderski on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swiderski keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Swiderski trying to control but Palhares postures up.
Palhares thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Swiderski's head.
Palhares landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Palhares stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
A left and a right from Palhares both land. Nice combination.

Swiderski gets caught napping as Palhares dives in and scores a takedown. Swiderski manages to retain guard.

Palhares gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Palhares gets a double leg takedown into Swiderski's guard.
Swiderski is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Palhares throws a strike but Swiderski rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Palhares throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Palhares is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Palhares wants to stand and escape but Swiderski is having none of it.
Palhares is trying to keep Swiderski in close.

Swiderski avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Palhares could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Palhares controls Swiderski momentarily but Swiderski frees himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Palhares working a defensive guard but Swiderski passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Palhares dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Swiderski shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Palhares as he jumps to the side.
Swiderski is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Palhares.

Palhares drives through with a takedown into guard.
Palhares throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Palhares is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Palhares has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Palhares seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Swiderski for as long as he can get away with.
Swiderski is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Palhares showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Paulo Palhares wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Palhares lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Swiderski backs up against the cage.
Paulo Palhares seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Palhares looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Swiderski trying to keep a closed guard but Palhares is proving a slippery customer.
Palhares slips nicely into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Palhares lands a nice short elbow.
Palhares sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Swiderski defending well though.
Palhares is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Swiderski wants to get back to his feet.
Palhares is keen to just control but Swiderski is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Palhares stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Palhares gets a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Palhares trying to control the action but Swiderski is working from the bottom.
Paulo Palhares overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Palhares is taking a breather. Swiderski says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Swiderski is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Palhares's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Palhares's back!
Palhares wants to get back to his feet.
Palhares tries to roll but Swiderski sticks to his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Palhares wants to escape the position.
Swiderski gets his hands free as Palhares looks to control.

Palhares is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Palhares breaks Swiderski's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Palhares wants to control from the top but Swiderski keeps moving.
Swiderski can't keep his opponent in guard - Palhares advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Palhares stands up and beckons Swiderski to join him on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares scores with a nice body kick.
No luck for Swiderski with that takedown attempt.

Palhares bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Swiderski sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Palhares trying to control from half guard but Swiderski is working away.
It looks like Palhares is going to stand back up.
Palhares is looking to take a break and control but Swiderski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Palhares not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Palhares dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Palhares shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Swiderski napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Palhares tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Palhares working the body and head with strikes.

Palhares tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Swiderski sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Palhares controlling the pace.
Swiderski is not content to let Palhares control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Swiderski trying to control here.
Palhares sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Swiderski defending well though.
Swiderski blocking the ground and pound attempt from Palhares.
Palhares throws a strike but Swiderski avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Palhares is stalling in the full guard.
Palhares is working Swiderski over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Palhares postures up in Swiderski's guard and throws a big left but Swiderski blocks it.
Swiderski keeping moving, preventing Palhares from controlling successfully.

That's two 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.
Swiderski looking for a sweep. Not yet Swiderski, not yet.
Swiderski is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Swiderski keeping moving, preventing Palhares from controlling successfully.

Palhares stands up and waves to Swiderski to follow him.
A head kick misses from Palhares.
Paulo Palhares is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Swiderski tries a head kick but it misses.
Palhares throws a head kick that half lands.
Palhares checks a low kick from Swiderski.

Palhares closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Swiderski did well to prevent Palhares getting side control.
Palhares thows a huge punch but Swiderski dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Palhares there.

Palhares seems to be working for a kimura but Swiderski defends the submission attempt.
Swiderski is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Palhares scores with a couple of nice shots.
Palhares is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Swiderski can do to turn this around?
Palhares seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Swiderski trying to hold on to Palhares's head to control him but Palhares postures up.
Swiderski has hold of Palhares's hands but Palhares slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Palhares performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Swiderski is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Palhares throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Swiderski wants to get back to his feet.
Swiderski avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Palhares.
Palhares not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Swiderski looking for submissions off his back.
Swiderski is refusing to be controlled, as Palhares sits in half guard.

Palhares seems to be working for a kimura but Swiderski defends the submission attempt.
Swiderski moves into full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paulo Palhares showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Palhares 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paulo Palhares!