PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joe Swanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Housimar Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Palhares has chosen Sound of Madness by Shinedown as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Swanson
vs
Palhares

178 cm
33
182 lbs
21 - 20 - 0

173 cm
33
182 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

ADCC Champion
Basic striking
Powerful

ORANJE
5th Round Clothing

5th Round 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 21 - 20 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joe Swanson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Housimar Palhares!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Joseph Jones and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Swanson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Palhares moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Swanson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Palhares moves away.

Palhares feints and as Swanson raises his hands in defense, Palhares changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Palhares trying to control the position from guard on top but Swanson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Swanson looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Palhares puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Palhares is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Palhares wants to work for an arm triangle but Swanson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Palhares is taking a breather. Swanson 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.
Palhares trying to mount his opponent but Swanson defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Swanson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Swanson keeping moving, preventing Palhares from controlling successfully.
Palhares pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Swanson is keeping the position for now.
Palhares trying to control the position from guard on top but Swanson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Swanson keeping full guard, as Palhares tries to pass.
Swanson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swanson being controlled here, momentarily.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Housimar Palhares hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Swanson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Palhares. Palhares circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A looping hook to the body misses from Swanson. Palhares does a little dance to reset his feet.
Swanson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Swanson.
Swanson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Palhares.
Swanson bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Palhares's head backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Palhares closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Swanson to the mat! Swanson manages to get full guard.
Swanson keeping moving, preventing Palhares from controlling successfully.
Swanson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Palhares controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Swanson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Palhares content to stall in guard here.
Swanson wants to sweep but no luck.

Swanson 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.
Palhares is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Palhares got a little sloppy there for a moment and Swanson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Palhares has managed to get both his arms back between Swanson's legs - danger averted.
Palhares pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Swanson is keeping the position for now.
Palhares is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Palhares stopping the sweep attempt from Swanson.
Palhares throwing strikes from guard but Swanson blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Housimar Palhares will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

No joy there for Swanson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Palhares shoots in and drives through. Swanson sprawls well.
Palhares shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Palhares avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

Palhares looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Palhares is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Palhares stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Swanson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Swanson looking for a guillotine here but Palhares defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares trying to control but Swanson is working from the bottom.
Palhares is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Palhares is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Palhares trying to control but Swanson is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Housimar Palhares was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Palhares misses with a body shot.
Swanson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Palhares slaps away a takedown attempt from Swanson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Swanson. Palhares does a little dance to reset his feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Swanson enables Palhares to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Swanson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Swanson wants to sweep here but Palhares controlling him for the moment.

Swanson working for a triangle but Palhares defends it easily.
Swanson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares controls from within his opponent's guard.
Palhares trying to control the position from guard on top but Swanson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Palhares advances position into side control!

Palhares tries for a kimura but Swanson is defending well.
Palhares tries to score with some ground and pound. Swanson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Swanson is not content to let Palhares control the position.

Palhares is working for a kimura but Swanson is defending it quite comfortably.
Palhares not doing much here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Housimar Palhares showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Swanson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Palhares.
Swanson throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Palhares on the side of the head.
Swanson scores with a crisp jab that stopped Palhares in his tracks.
Swanson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Palhares doesn't seem bothered though.
A left and a right from Swanson both land. Nice combination.
Swanson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Palhares doesn't seem bothered though.
Swanson is looking to wear down Palhares with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A looping hook to the body misses from Swanson. Palhares does a little dance to reset his feet.
Palhares drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Palhares shoots for a takedown but Swanson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
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 looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Swanson!
Swanson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Swanson regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Swanson.
Swanson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Swanson keeping moving, preventing Palhares from controlling successfully.
Swanson 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.
Palhares showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Joe Swanson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Swanson keeping moving, preventing Palhares from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Housimar Palhares.
Palhares moves forwards but Swanson connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Palhares feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Swanson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Palhares thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Palhares stands and throws Swanson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
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!
Swanson sneaks back into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares is looking to take a break and control but Swanson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Swanson is looking for a sweep. Palhares is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Swanson trying to hold on to Palhares's head to control him but Palhares postures up.
Palhares tries to pass the half guard into mount. Swanson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Housimar Palhares has got the better of the ground game so far.
Palhares is taking a breather. Swanson 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.

Palhares is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Swanson sees it coming and defends easily.
Housimar Palhares is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Palhares is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Swanson is just riding it out for now. Palhares eventually gives up the hold.
Swanson tries to roll over but Palhares keeps him under control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Palhares blocks the strikes from Swanson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Swanson showed his dominance in that final round.
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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... 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.