PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Cainbridge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rousimar Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Cainbridge
vs
Palhares

185 cm
26
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
21
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Thomas Cainbridge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rousimar Palhares!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Albert Achterberg and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palhares shoots for a takedown but Cainbridge saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Palhares avoids the head kick by Cainbridge.
Nice sprawl there from Palhares as Cainbridge shoots in.
Cainbridge looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cainbridge looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Palhares is looking to clinch.
Cainbridge tries to land a leg kick but Palhares saw it coming and moves away.
Palhares tries to clinch up.
Palhares fails with a takedown attempt.
Palhares shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cainbridge as he avoids it easily.
Thomas Cainbridge has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rousimar Palhares.
The fight stays on the outside here - Palhares looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Palhares motions for Cainbridge to come forward. Palhares throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares leaves Cainbridge with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Palhares closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Cainbridge's guard.
Palhares wants to pass the guard but Cainbridge is keeping the position.

Cainbridge looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cainbridge keeping full guard, as Palhares tries to pass.
Palhares must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Palhares looking to sit in guard and control but Cainbridge gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Palhares keeping moving, preventing Cainbridge from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cainbridge drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Palhares manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cainbridge has Palhares in his guard.
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 looking to pass the guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Palhares trying to control but Cainbridge is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Palhares is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes 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.
Cainbridge controls Palhares momentarily but Palhares frees himself.

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.
Cainbridge changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Palhares tries to avoid it but Cainbridge manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Palhares to the ground. Palhares escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Palhares looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Palhares fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares closes the distance and clinches up with Cainbridge, looking for a takedown. Palhares pushes Cainbridge against the cage but Cainbridge circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Palhares with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cainbridge counters with a two punch combo.

Cainbridge 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.
Palhares is trying to keep Cainbridge in close.
Palhares looks winded!
Cainbridge throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Palhares works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cainbridge accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Palhares keeping moving, preventing Cainbridge from controlling successfully.
Cainbridge trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Thomas Cainbridge 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.

Palhares changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cainbridge tries to avoid it but Palhares manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cainbridge to the ground. Cainbridge escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cainbridge tries to clinch but Palhares is having none of it.

Palhares looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Palhares pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cainbridge is keeping the position for now.
Palhares trying to control but Cainbridge is working from the bottom.
Cainbridge trying to strike off his back.
Palhares looking to sit in guard and control but Cainbridge gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Cainbridge won't allow Palhares to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Cainbridge working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cainbridge trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cainbridge pushes down on Palhares's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Palhares regains full guard. Nicely done.
Palhares working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares looking for a sweep. Not yet Palhares, not yet.
Palhares is breathing heavily.
Cainbridge forces his way into half guard.
Cainbridge sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Palhares defending well though.
Palhares is staying active underneath Cainbridge, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Palhares is in trouble now - Cainbridge has advanced to mount!
Cainbridge with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Palhares is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cainbridge landing strikes from the mount.
Cainbridge controlling from mount.
Cainbridge fails to move to back control.
Cainbridge looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Cainbridge content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares tries to hold on but Cainbridge pushes him away.
Cainbridge tries to control but Palhares wriggling away.

Cainbridge wants to finish this one by submission but Palhares is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Cainbridge.

Cainbridge is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Palhares can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Palhares is squirming around, avoiding Cainbridge's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Cainbridge dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Cainbridge keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cainbridge fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
No luck for Palhares with that takedown attempt.
Palhares tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cainbridge swivels and escapes.
Thomas Cainbridge has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rousimar Palhares.
Cainbridge fails to land the takedown.
Cainbridge scores with a crisp jab that stopped Palhares in his tracks.
Cainbridge shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Palhares but Palhares pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Cainbridge gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Palhares got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cainbridge has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Palhares has managed to get both his arms back between Cainbridge's legs - danger averted.
Palhares wants to control from the top but Cainbridge keeps moving.
Palhares tries to free his leg and advance position but Cainbridge is retaining full guard.
Cainbridge wants to stand but Palhares is controlling the position.
Palhares passes Cainbridge's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Palhares trying to control from half guard but Cainbridge is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares trying to mount his opponent but Cainbridge defends it.
Palhares takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Palhares with the ground and pound but Cainbridge uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Palhares is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Cainbridge trying to keep a closed guard but Palhares is proving a slippery customer.

Palhares thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Palhares wants to pass the guard but Cainbridge is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cainbridge utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Cainbridge looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Cainbridge has his foot on Palhares's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Palhares works his way back into a safe position though.
Thomas Cainbridge is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Palhares wants to control from the top but Cainbridge keeps moving.
Palhares stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cainbridge swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Palhares forces his way into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Palhares is looking for a kimura here.
Palhares is looking to advance position but Cainbridge won't allow it.
Thomas Cainbridge overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cainbridge has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Palhares is working away from the top position though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cainbridge gets back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rousimar Palhares.
Well Cainbridge has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Rousimar Palhares!