PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Housimar Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lawrence Cohen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Palhares comes into the arena with Sound of Madness by Shinedown blaring out of the sound system. Cohen has chosen Season in the Abyss as his entrance music. Lawrence Cohen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Palhares
vs
Cohen

173 cm
31
182 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

178 cm
27
178 lbs
16 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

5th Round Clothing

Sublime Supplements
Virtual Fighter Clothing

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 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Housimar Palhares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 15 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lawrence Cohen!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Steve Montenegro and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palhares with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cohen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Palhares tries for a takedown but Cohen circles away easily
and Cohen counters with a right hand to the body.
Cohen lands a nice hook to Palhares's body. Palhares takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Palhares tries to keep at a distance but Cohen has taken the fight into the clinch.
Palhares drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Housimar Palhares. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cohen has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Palhares clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cohen has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Palhares's body.
Palhares wants to control his opponent's hands but Cohen gets his hands free.

Palhares defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Cohen's arms.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Palhares defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cohen is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Palhares has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Cohen gets his hands free as Palhares looks to control.

Cohen looking for the RNC.

Palhares defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Cohen doesn't have the hooks in and Palhares manages to turn into his guard.
Palhares wants to control from the top but Cohen keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cohen trying to keep a closed guard but Palhares is proving a slippery customer.
Palhares wants to control from the top but Cohen keeps moving.
Palhares stopping the sweep attempt from Cohen.

We're going to have a standup here because Housimar Palhares wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Palhares fails with the takedown
and Cohen counters with a right hand to the body.
Palhares misses with a takedown
and Cohen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cohen fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Palhares to the ground. Cohen is now in Palhares's guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Palhares managing to control the position.

Palhares is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cohen is aware though and is defending well.
Cohen controls from within his opponent's guard.
Cohen throwing strikes from guard but Palhares blocks nicely.

Cohen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cohen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

Palhares looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cohen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares keeping moving, preventing Cohen from controlling successfully.
Cohen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Palhares is keeping the position for now.
Cohen stands and throws Palhares's legs to the side, diving into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Palhares tries to buck Cohen off but Cohen is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cohen advances to mount.
Cohen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Cohen landing punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lawrence Cohen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Palhares's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Cohen connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Palhares scrambles back to his feet.
Cohen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Palhares defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cohen.

Cohen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Palhares has Cohen pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cohen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Palhares jumps into guard, dragging Cohen to the mat.

Palhares escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cohen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Palhares has his foot on Cohen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cohen works his way back into a safe position though.
Palhares can't keep his opponent in guard - Cohen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Palhares moves into full guard.
Cohen controlling from the top position.
Cohen works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cohen seems to be working for a kimura but Palhares defends the submission attempt.
Palhares trying to control here.

Palhares looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cohen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Palhares keeps working.
Cohen is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Palhares tries to roll over but Cohen keeps him under control.

Cohen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cohen moves into full mount! Palhares won't be happy about that!
Palhares really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Palhares wants to hold on but Cohen pushes him away.
Cohen with the ground and pound from mount.
Palhares is wriggling around trying to escape.

Cohen swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Palhares is now in Cohen's guard. A big mistake from Cohen there, giving up the dominant position!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cohen sneaks back into half guard.
Cohen is staying active underneath Palhares, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Cohen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Palhares throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cohen has his hands clasped together around Palhares's back. He's all about the action.
Cohen works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares is pushing down on Cohen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Cohen is fighting to maintain full guard but Palhares has managed to sneak the leg through.

Cohen actively working from the bottom here.

Palhares is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cohen wants to improve his position but Palhares is controlling well.
Palhares moves into full mount! Cohen won't be happy about that!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cohen is desperately trying to improve his position but Palhares has a good base and remains in mount.

Cohen tries to improve his position but Palhares has taken his back! Palhares has a choke - it's sunk in pretty tight... Will Cohen tap? No... maybe... yes! He's tapped! Palhares pushes Cohen away and gets up to celebrate with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Housimar Palhares!
Housimar Palhares very nearly forgot to thank 5th Round Clothing amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.