PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Ramalho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulo Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carlos Ramalho has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Ramalho
vs
Palhares

190 cm
21
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
24
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Ramalho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Palhares!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Felipe Paraventi and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Palhares closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Palhares lands in his opponent's guard.
Palhares trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ramalho's guard.
Palhares content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
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.

Ramalho has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Palhares can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Palhares controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Palhares accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Palhares should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Palhares accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares controlling from the top position.
Palhares trying to control but Ramalho is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Paulo Palhares.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ramalho enables Palhares to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ramalho manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Ramalho has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Palhares can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Palhares working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ramalho's head.

Palhares gets to his feet - Ramalho follows without any prompting.
Palhares throws a head kick that misses.

Palhares shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Ramalho manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Palhares throws a big right hand that misses.

Palhares avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Palhares thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

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

Palhares stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Palhares is looking to slow Ramalho down with leg kicks.
Ramalho fails with the takedown.

Palhares decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ramalho keeps working.
Ramalho is looking to improve his position.
Palhares scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Palhares is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ramalho has managed to free his arm - good work.
Palhares not doing much here.
Ramalho gets back to full guard.
Palhares is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ramalho's head.
Palhares has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ramalho is proving hard to escape from.

Ramalho is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Palhares defends well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Palhares won't allow Ramalho to sweep him here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Palhares trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Palhares scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Palhares decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Ramalho, up you get!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Palhares dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Palhares shoots in and gets a takedown into Ramalho's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ramalho wants to sweep here but Palhares controlling him for the moment.
Palhares wants to stand but Ramalho is controlling his posture from full guard.

Ramalho looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Palhares distracts Ramalho with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Palhares passes into half guard.

Ramalho looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Palhares trying to work for an americana but Ramalho has managed to regain full guard.
Palhares must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Palhares trying to control but Ramalho is working from the bottom.

Ramalho working for a triangle but Palhares defends it easily.

Palhares decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Palhares scores with a takedown into Ramalho's guard.
Palhares trying to control but Ramalho is working from the bottom.
Palhares's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Palhares trying to control but Ramalho is working from the bottom.

Ramalho is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Paulo Palhares has got the better of the ground game so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ramalho keeping moving, preventing Palhares from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Palhares controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Palhares wants to control from the top but Ramalho keeps moving.

Paulo Palhares has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ramalho enables Palhares to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ramalho manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ramalho is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Palhares content to stall in guard here.

Ramalho working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Palhares doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Palhares manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ramalho can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Palhares controls the pace.
Palhares stands up over Ramalho, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Palhares keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ramalho's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Palhares gets to his feet - Ramalho follows without any prompting.
Ramalho shoots in for a takedown but Palhares shows good takedown defense.
Palhares wants to clinch.
Palhares throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Palhares looking to score a takedown here. Ramalho is defending well but Palhares drives through and ends up in Ramalho's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Palhares is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Palhares trying to control the position from guard on top but Ramalho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ramalho is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Ramalho is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Palhares is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Palhares showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Palhares closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Palhares decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Ramalho closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ramalho lands in his opponent's guard.
Ramalho will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ramalho wants to pass the guard but Palhares is keeping the position.

Palhares pushes Ramalho off and gets back to his feet.

Palhares shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ramalho is trying to defend but Palhares finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Palhares is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ramalho doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Palhares.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ramalho actively working from the bottom here.
Ramalho is staying active underneath Palhares, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Ramalho actively working from the bottom here.
Palhares performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Palhares decides to stand and escape the position.

Palhares decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares thows a huge punch but Ramalho dodges it nicely.
Palhares lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Palhares lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ramalho moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Ramalho escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Palhares gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Palhares working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Palhares wants to control from the top but Ramalho keeps moving.
Palhares landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares is looking to work some ground and pound but Ramalho has wrist control.
Palhares distracts Ramalho with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Palhares stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Ramalho misses with a takedown attempt - Palhares sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nice takedown defense from Palhares. No joy for Ramalho on that attempt.

Palhares rushes Ramalho and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Palhares breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ramalho.
Ramalho works to advance to full mount. Palhares defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Palhares is trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ramalho looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Palhares defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Ramalho.
You get the feeling that Palhares really doesn't like being in this position too much.

Ramalho looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Palhares is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ramalho with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Palhares trying desperately to get to his feet.
Carlos Ramalho has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paulo Palhares is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paulo Palhares comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Palhares has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

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