PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Christopher Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Smith
vs
Palhares

178 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Christopher Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jake Palhares !
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Thiago Cunha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Smith misses the target.
A combination from Smith does no damage.

Smith fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Palhares , pushing him back against the cage.

Smith turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Smith throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Smith scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Palhares to see if he's OK.

Smith goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Palhares has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Smith but great work by Palhares .
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Palhares tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Palhares has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Palhares goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Smith has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Palhares but great work by Smith.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The strikes coming from Smith are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Palhares is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Smith off and has taken his back!

Smith manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.

Palhares closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Smith's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares stands and throws Smith's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Palhares cracks Smith with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Palhares wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.

Palhares decides to stand back up. Palhares steps back and let's Smith get back to his feet.

Palhares closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Smith to the mat! Smith manages to get full guard.

Smith 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 stands up from Smith's guard - Palhares perhaps looking for a knockout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Palhares misses with a takedown

and Smith counters with a single leg into guard. Palhares didn't expect that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Palhares gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Palhares advances position into side control!
Smith tries to improve position but can't.

Palhares is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Smith has escaped the position, nice work there.

Palhares tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Palhares looks gassed!
Smith avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Palhares .

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares advances to full mount.
Smith tries to buck Palhares off but he can't manage it.
Smith is arching his back trying to strike from the bottom but Palhares turns him over and now has his back.
Palhares trying to control.
Smith trying to get back to his feet but Palhares is in full control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Palhares is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Smith knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Smith for a finish.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Palhares punches Smith on the ear.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smith is trying to get back to his feet but Palhares has full control of the position and if anything, Smith has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Smith is trying to shake Palhares off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Palhares won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
Palhares shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Smith sprawls well. Smith wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Palhares gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Palhares dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

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

Smith explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Palhares fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Smith closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Palhares did well to prevent Smith getting side control.
Palhares wants to control but Smith is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Smith winds up and cracks Palhares with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Palhares tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.
Palhares blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smith.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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 control Smith's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Palhares avoid being mounted?
Palhares flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Palhares kicks Smith off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith leaves Palhares with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Palhares is breathing heavily.
Palhares shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense.
Christopher Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Palhares .
Palhares swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
Palhares takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Smith throws a series of punches but Palhares avoids them all with ease.
Danga de danga de dang - Smith scores with a four punch combination!

Palhares feints and as Smith raises his hands in defense, Palhares changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Smith pushes Palhares off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Smith lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Smith.
Smith scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
No joy there for Smith, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Christopher Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith falls off balance throwing a combination

and Palhares counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Palhares .

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to stand up but Palhares isn't so interested in that idea.
Palhares chips away with some ground and pound.
Palhares prevents Smith from getting back to his feet.
Palhares trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Palhares scoring with some ground and pound.
Palhares trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith wants to stand but Palhares is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Palhares decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Smith, up you get!
Smith looks to land a left hand but Palhares moved out of range nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Smith. No joy for Palhares on that attempt.
Palhares shoots in but no luck this time.

Smith drives through and clinches with Palhares against the cage.
Palhares jumps guard but Smith stands there with Palhares around his waist. Palhares gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Smith taking a breather.

Smith has clasped his hands together around Palhares 's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Palhares . He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Smith trying to control the action but Palhares is working from the bottom.

Smith working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith working away.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Palhares keeps working.
Palhares is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Palhares 's head.
Smith wants to take a breather but Palhares is having none of it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The fighters are battling for position here. Palhares manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Smith wants to control from the top but Palhares keeps moving.
Palhares bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smith's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jake Palhares will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Palhares defending well as Smith loads up on a big left hand.
Smith throws a right and a left that both miss.
Smith throws a series of punches but Palhares avoids them all with ease.

Palhares scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Palhares wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.

Smith throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Nice sprawl there from Smith as Palhares shoots in.
Smith scores with a sloppy right hand. Palhares should have avoided that one.
Smith throws a right and a left that Palhares avoids nicely.
Palhares tries for a takedown but Smith sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Smith shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Palhares 's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Palhares kicks Smith off and gets to his feet.
Palhares shoots in but Smith avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Christopher Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Palhares .
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lands a jab-cross combination.

Smith closes the distance and pushes Palhares back into the cage.

Palhares jumps guard.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Palhares works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Smith has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Palhares is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smith is aware though and is defending well.

Palhares is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smith is aware though and is defending well.
Palhares keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Palhares doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Palhares utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith trying to control but Palhares is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares is trying to keep Smith in close.
Smith landing with the ground and pound.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Palhares trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Smith's corner is telling him to maintain position.
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 escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Smith trying to control but Palhares is working from the bottom.
Jake Palhares has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Smith works over Palhares with some ground and pound from guard.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Palhares works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Palhares is looking for a triangle but Smith pushes his legs off easily.
Palhares preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smith lands a couple of elbows.
Smith keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Palhares 's head.

Smith drops back, looking for a kneebar! Palhares looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Palhares looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Palhares !

Palhares wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Smith, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to improve position but can't.
Palhares moves into full mount!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Palhares trying to control but Smith is having none of it.
Palhares controlling the position easily from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jake Palhares .
I've got Palhares 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jake Palhares !
Jake Palhares got down on his knees post fight and begged the management for a title shot. 'Please, I want that title shot so bad! Give it to me!'