PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Brega (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leland Palmer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Palmer has chosen Portishead - Roads as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Brega
vs
Palmer

180 cm
20
198 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

186 cm
20
200 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Brega!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Leland Palmer!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Felipe Paraventi and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brega fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Palmer throws a body punch but Brega moves out of range.
A big right from Palmer misses.
Palmer cracks Brega with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Palmer keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Brega shoots in and bounces Palmer off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Brega avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Palmer working for a triangle but Brega defends it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Brega is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Palmer is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Brega defends well.
Brega has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Brega tries to free his leg and advance position but Palmer is retaining full guard.
Palmer keeping moving, preventing Brega from controlling successfully.

Palmer looking for a guillotine here but Brega defends easily.

Palmer is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Brega is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brega controls from within his opponent's guard.
Palmer manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Brega manages to get himself to full guard.
Palmer trying to control but Brega is working from the bottom.
Brega wants to sweep but no luck.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brega keeping moving, preventing Palmer from controlling successfully.

Palmer stands up and waves to Brega to follow him.
Brega keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Palmer.
Brega takes one on the button.
Palmer misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Brega bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Palmer looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmer missing with a left hand there. Brega was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Palmer swings for the body but Brega moves out of range.
Brega's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Palmer connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Brega scrambles back to his feet.
Palmer fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Palmer looks to land a combination but Brega avoids it well.
Leland Palmer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Brega changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Palmer looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Brega in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Palmer is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leland Palmer dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Brega looks for a takedown but Palmer sprawls well.
Palmer throws a big shot that misses.

Brega drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Palmer is looking for a triangle but Brega pushes his legs off easily.
Palmer wants to sweep here but Brega controlling him for the moment.

Brega got a little sloppy there for a moment and Palmer has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Brega has managed to get both his arms back between Palmer's legs - danger averted.

Palmer has his foot on Brega's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Brega works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Palmer has his foot on Brega's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Brega works his way back into a safe position though.
Brega knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Palmer on the ground.
Palmer wants to hit a switch here but Brega passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Palmer there!
Palmer can't escape the position.
Brega controlling the position easily from mount.
Palmer tries to reverse the position but Brega maintains control.
Leland Palmer has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brega controlling the pace for now.
Brega's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmer keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Brega controlling from mount.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Antonio Brega just wasn't active enough.
Brega showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Palmer.

Brega shoots in and bounces Palmer off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Palmer is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmer wants to control from the top but Brega keeps moving.
Brega has his hands on Palmer's head, controlling the position.
Palmer wants to control from the top but Brega keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Palmer wants to pass the guard but Brega is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Leland Palmer will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Palmer throws a jab but it's blocked by Brega.
Leland Palmer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Palmer lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Palmer defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Brega.
Brega shoots in for a double leg but Palmer sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Brega gets a takedown into half guard.
Palmer regains full guard. Nicely done.

Palmer looking for a guillotine here but Brega defends easily.
Brega looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Palmer is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Palmer has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Brega 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 Palmer.
Palmer tries to bench press Brega off him but Brega keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brega controlling the position from side mount.
Palmer is trying to improve his position.
Palmer manages to get back to half guard.
Palmer won't allow Brega to pass to mount.
Palmer makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Palmer.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Palmer tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Palmer had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Brega defends it easily.
Palmer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Palmer tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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

Palmer had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Brega defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmer can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Brega controls the pace.

Palmer looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Brega has picked Palmer up and slammed him! Palmer can't keep hold of the triangle and Brega manages to pass to side control!
Palmer tries to bench press Brega off him but Brega keeps the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Brega gets to mount! Palmer was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Palmer is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leland Palmer really dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nice takedown defense from Palmer. No joy for Brega on that attempt.

Brega moves into the clinch successfully.

Brega has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Palmer clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Brega doesn't have the hooks in and Palmer manages to turn into his guard.
Palmer wants to control from the top but Brega keeps moving.
Brega wants to get back to his feet but Palmer is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Brega looking for a sweep. Not yet Brega, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer advances position into side control!
Palmer is looking to take a break and control but Brega is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Palmer working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Palmer laying and praying for a moment but Brega takes advantage and regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmer trying to control from half guard but Brega is working away.
Palmer is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Brega!
Palmer content just to control the position here.

Palmer is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Brega can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brega keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Palmer can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Brega is looking to escape.

Palmer looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Brega sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmer is keen to just control but Brega is a slippery customer.
Palmer might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Brega kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Brega is controlling Palmer's trapped leg to prevent Palmer from advancing to side control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Brega is refusing to be controlled, as Palmer sits in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Leland Palmer was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Palmer misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leland Palmer dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Palmer misses with a hook.
Brega is looking to clinch.
Brega changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Palmer tries to avoid it but Brega manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Palmer to the ground. Palmer escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Palmer misses with a series of wild punches.
Palmer throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Horrible takedown by Brega or perhaps it was just good defense by Palmer which made him look bad.
A punch combination from Palmer misses.
Palmer tries to bum rush Brega with a series of wild strikes but Brega uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Palmer is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Palmer darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Palmer scores with a decent looking hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brega blocks a jab.

Palmer gets caught napping as Brega dives in and scores a takedown. Palmer manages to retain guard.

Palmer is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Brega trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Palmer is looking for a triangle but Brega pushes his legs off easily.
Brega looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Palmer looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Leland Palmer is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmer is trying to keep Brega in close.
Palmer wants to sweep here but Brega controlling him for the moment.
Palmer seems keen to control Brega's posture.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Brega is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmer is adopting a defensive guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Leland Palmer hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Palmer swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Brega moves out of range of the strikes.
Palmer tests Brega's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Brega rushes Palmer and presses him up against the cage.
Palmer stops a takedown attempt from Brega.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Brega. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brega looking for a takedown.
Brega is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Brega tries for a takedown. No joy.
Palmer tries to break free but Brega pushes him back against the cage.
Palmer stops a takedown attempt from Brega.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Brega is working for takedown but Palmer is calmly controlling the position for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leland Palmer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Palmer 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 45:50
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 45:50
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leland Palmer!
Leland Palmer is the new middleweight champion!