PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Fabricio Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rousimar Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Costa
vs
Palhares

182 cm
25
191 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

173 cm
19
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Granite 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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fabricio Costa!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rousimar Palhares!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Seu Braga and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Palhares looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Costa wants to control but Palhares passes into side.
Palhares happy to just control the position for now.
Costa tries to bench press Palhares off him but Palhares keeps the position.
Costa is being controlled here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa wants to control but Palhares postures up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Costa fails in his attempt to clinch.

Palhares closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Costa did well to prevent Palhares getting side control.
Palhares with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Costa is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Rousimar Palhares has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Palhares shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Costa as he jumps to the side.
No luck for Palhares with that takedown attempt.

Costa gets caught flat footed, as Palhares shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Palhares slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Costa is trying to hold Palhares in close to prevent damage but Palhares has managed to pass into half guard.

Costa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Palhares pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Palhares not doing much here.
Costa is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Palhares jumps into side control!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Costa tries to buck Palhares off but Palhares is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Palhares shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Palhares trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Palhares is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Costa throws his legs up looking for a submission but Palhares uses it to pass to side control.
You can see the frustration on Costa's face as Palhares controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Palhares has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rousimar Palhares hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Costa wants to clinch.

Palhares is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Costa's half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa tries to get to full guard but Palhares has control of the leg.
Palhares is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Costa wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa trying to control from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Palhares is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Fabricio Costa has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Costa gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Palhares to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Costa being controlled here, momentarily.
Costa looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Palhares throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Costa tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Palhares is in Costa's guard.
Costa is trying to keep Palhares in close.
Costa 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.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Palhares controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rousimar Palhares showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action!

Costa gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Palhares to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Palhares is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Costa looking for subs off his back but Palhares has passed one foot through into half guard.
Palhares passes to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares controls the position.
Costa is looking for a sweep.
Palhares controlling from side mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Palhares tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Palhares is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Costa's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rousimar Palhares was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Palhares circles away from the clinch attempt.
Costa throws a leg kick which misses Palhares's front leg but catches the back leg as Palhares tries to avoid it.

Palhares fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Costa to the ground. Palhares is now in Costa's guard.
Palhares showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rousimar Palhares hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Palhares shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Palhares was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Palhares looking to control and managing it successfully.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Costa is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Palhares shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Palhares was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rousimar Palhares has got the better of the ground game so far.
Costa is working to get back to half guard.
Palhares controlling his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rousimar Palhares was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Palhares tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Costa doesn't manage to clinch there - Palhares circles away.
Costa tries to clinch but Palhares moves out of range.

Costa rushes Palhares and presses him up against the cage.
Costa prevents the takedown attempt.
Costa is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Costa connects with a knee to the head.
Costa lands a knee to the head.
Costa scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Rousimar Palhares has been cut.
Costa looking to stall.
Costa connects with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa taking a breather.
Costa tries for a takedown but Palhares manages to get underhooks.
Palhares is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Costa gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Costa missing with knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Costa obliges.
Palhares is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Costa gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Fabricio Costa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rousimar Palhares.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Costa unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Palhares is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Costa is defending well.
Palhares gets underhooks to prevent Costa's takedown attempt.
Costa stops a takedown attempt from Palhares.
Palhares is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Palhares wants a takedown but no success here.
Costa unloads a knee to the mid-section. Palhares lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Costa on the inside.
Nice body punch from Costa - that landed with a thud.
Palhares wants a takedown.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Palhares is looking to take this one to the mat.
Palhares takes a knee right on the jaw!
Costa lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Palhares backwards.
Costa lands a good knee to the midsection. Palhares won't want to take too many of those.
Costa lands a good knee to the midsection. Palhares won't want to take too many of those.
Costa unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Costa wants to stall.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Costa tries to break the clinch but Palhares is controlling the position.
Costa trying to stall but Palhares improves his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabricio Costa had his way with Rousimar Palhares in that round.
The cut man is working on Rousimar Palhares's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Costa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Costa lands a head kick!

Palhares scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Costa tries to improve position but can't.
Costa is working hard here to advance position.
Palhares taking a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa is looking to reverse the position.
Costa can't do much from the bottom here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Palhares changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Costa looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Costa is letting Palhares control him for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Palhares trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rousimar Palhares was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Palhares closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Costa did well to prevent Palhares getting side control.
Costa regains full guard. Nicely done.
Palhares content to stall in guard here.
Palhares prevents Costa from getting back to his feet.
Palhares controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rousimar Palhares was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Costa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Palhares manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Palhares throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Costa's waist but Costa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Palhares off to one side.
A nice leg kick lands there from Costa.

Palhares shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Palhares showed some decent athleticism there.
Palhares is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Palhares looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Fabricio Costa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rousimar Palhares comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Palhares has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 46:49
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 46:49
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rousimar Palhares!
Rousimar Palhares is the new middleweight champion!
A relieved looking Rousimar Palhares thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.