PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Palmares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arana Kahui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kahui has chosen Mustasch - Dogwash as his entrance music. Rodrigo Palmares could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Arana Kahui's chin.

Palmares
vs
Kahui

181 cm
25
218 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

193 cm
26
221 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

No Contest Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rodrigo Palmares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Arana Kahui!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Alyssa Summers and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palmares defending well as Kahui loads up on a big left hand.
Arana Kahui seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kahui staying out of range there.
Palmares connects with a body shot that sends Kahui's belly button to the back.
Kahui takes a swing at Palmares's ribcage but misses.
Kahui swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Kahui drives through and clinches with Palmares against the cage.
Kahui is pressed up against the cage. Palmares has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kahui down to the mat. Kahui avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Palmares dives in and scores a takedown into Kahui's guard.
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 may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Palmares throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kahui told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Kahui keeping moving, preventing Palmares from controlling successfully.
Palmares stopping the sweep attempt from Kahui.
Kahui is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Palmares is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmares throws a strike but Kahui rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Palmares trying to keep a closed guard but Kahui is proving a slippery customer.
Palmares wants to improve his position but instead Kahui has moved into half guard.
Kahui is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmares is pressing down on Kahui's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Palmares has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Kahui is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Palmares.
Palmares can't do much from the bottom here.
Palmares sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Kahui is thwarting Palmares's attempts to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Palmares tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Kahui has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kahui trying to control but Palmares is having none of it.
Palmares really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Palmares regains half guard.
Kahui is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmares is trying to get back to full guard.
Palmares punching from the bottom.
Palmares moves into full guard.

Kahui avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Palmares is adopting a defensive guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Palmares dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Palmares shoots in and drives through. Kahui sprawls well.
Palmares circles away from the clinch attempt.
Good standup being displayed there by Palmares as he connects with a hook.
Kahui defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Palmares.
Kahui throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kahui throws a jab when Palmares was well out of range.
Kahui misses with a hook. Palmares ducked under it nicely.
Kahui moves out of range of the leg kick from Palmares.
Kahui scores with a body shot.
Kahui doesn't manage to clinch there - Palmares circles away.
Palmares misses with a hook.
Palmares throws a jab when Kahui was well out of range.
Kahui fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kahui connects with a single shot there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Palmares circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kahui missing with a left hand there. Palmares was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Palmares throws a hook but Kahui blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kahui on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Palmares misses with a low kick.
Kahui misses with a left hand

and Palmares counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kahui's guard now.
Kahui is looking to sweep but instead, Palmares has passed into half guard.
Palmares wants to free his trapped foot but Kahui is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Palmares seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kahui does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Palmares is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Palmares trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Palmares cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Palmares landing strikes from the mount and Kahui is in trouble!
Palmares postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Kahui badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Palmares around the waist but Palmares pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Palmares is the winner by TKO! Palmares jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rodrigo Palmares!
An out of breath Rodrigo Palmares thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.