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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Merik Hunt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pluto Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hunt kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Comfortably Numb. Palhares has chosen TOQUINHO as his entrance music. Pluto Palhares has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 175 cm
32
170 lbs
33 - 14 - 0 |
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181 cm
33
171 lbs
33 - 4 - 0 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
33 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Merik Hunt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
33 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pluto Palhares!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Daniel Bishop and Colin Fotheringham.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palhares sizes up Hunt with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Palhares gets the takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Hunt on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Palhares controls the position from side control.
Palhares looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Hunt can't do much from the bottom here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares in side control lands a decent elbow.
The ground and pound from Palhares seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Palhares wants to control for a moment but Hunt uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Palhares is taking a breather. Hunt 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 trying to control. Hunt wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares controlling the pace.
Palhares trying to control from half guard but Hunt is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
OK we're going to have a standup here. Pluto Palhares hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Palhares misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hunt.
Hunt closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The fighters circle momentarily. Palhares darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Hunt avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Palhares throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hunt stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A momentary lapse in concentration from Palhares enables Hunt to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Palhares manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Palhares is trying to keep Hunt in close.
Hunt working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Palhares keeping moving, preventing Hunt from controlling successfully.
Palhares trying to control the position here.
Hunt postures up in Palhares's guard and throws a big left but Palhares blocks it.
Hunt throws a big elbow that misses.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunt throws a big right hand that misses.
Palhares trying to control the position.
Hunt makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hunt missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hunt makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Palhares keeping moving, preventing Hunt from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Palhares is on top in guard.
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 is looking to work some ground and pound but Hunt has wrist control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Palhares content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Pluto Palhares dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Palhares throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hunt's waist but Hunt gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Palhares off to one side.
Hunt waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Palhares.
Good standup being displayed there by Hunt as he connects with a hook.
Palhares shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hunt pinned against the cage. Hunt gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hunt misses with a head kick.
Palhares misses with a looping right.
Palhares throws a half hearted mid kick.
Palhares dodges the punch combination from Hunt.
Hunt throws a nice looking combination but Palhares bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hunt checks the leg kick nicely there.
Hunt on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Hunt throws an overhand right that lands on Palhares's shoulder, as Palhares tries to avoid the shot.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hunt.
Palhares slips under a jab from Hunt.
Palhares darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Palhares is looking to take a break and control but Hunt is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hunt preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Hunt's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunt is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hunt takes a kick to the side of the head.
Palhares throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Palhares tried to score with a low kick but Hunt checks it.
Palhares walks into a straight right hand from Hunt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Palhares lands a jab to the nose.
A slow jab from Palhares misses its intended target.
Hunt bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Palhares stuffs the takedown.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares is looking to slow Hunt down with leg kicks.
Palhares takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Palhares connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hunt's hands.
Palhares scores with a three punch combo!
Palhares goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Palhares tries for a takedown but Hunt circles away easily
and Hunt counters with a takedown into side control.
Merik Hunt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pluto Palhares.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hunt cracks Palhares with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Hunt has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Palhares struggling a bit here.
Palhares is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Palhares manages to get to full guard.
Hunt postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunt working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Palhares's head.
Hunt working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Palhares controlling the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hunt accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hunt advances position into side control!
Palhares stops Hunt from passing to mount.
Palhares is not content to let Hunt control the position.
Palhares felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hunt wants to control for a moment but Palhares uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Merik Hunt will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
A punch lands to the side of Palhares 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Pluto Palhares seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hunt misses with a double jab
and Palhares counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Palhares sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hunt defending well though.
Palhares missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hunt tries to roll over but Palhares keeps him under control.
Palhares wants to take a breather but Hunt is having none of it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Palhares trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Palhares throws some wild stikes that Hunt manages to avoid easily.
Palhares misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Pluto Palhares has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hunt wants to control but Palhares is having none of it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares looking to control and managing it successfully.
Palhares lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Palhares looking to secure an arm triangle but Hunt defends it well.
Palhares prevents Hunt from getting the reversal.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares tries to control but Hunt wriggling away.
Hunt regains half guard.
Palhares tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hunt knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunt is controlling Palhares's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Hunt keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hunt is holding on to half guard well.
Hunt tries to get to full guard but Palhares has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Pluto Palhares really dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Hunt drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Palhares misses with a leg kick.
Palhares has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hunt.
Hunt blocks a head kick by Palhares.
Palhares takes a swing at Hunt's ribcage but misses.
A low kick from Hunt is predictable there
and Palhares counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hunt won't be happy with that.
Palhares is staying tight to Hunt's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Palhares working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Palhares in side control lands a decent elbow.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares lands a decent elbow from side control.
Palhares just content to control the position.
Palhares tries to score with some ground and pound. Hunt controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares misses with the ground and pound.
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!
Hunt is trying to get back to half guard.
Palhares working away.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares swings around for an armbar but Hunt sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Palhares's guard.
Hunt throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hunt is looking to work some ground and pound but Palhares has wrist control.
Palhares not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hunt makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hunt throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Palhares works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hunt won't allow Palhares to sweep him here.
Palhares working a defensive guard here.
Palhares wants to sweep here but Hunt controlling him for the moment.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Palhares is on top in guard.
Palhares stays in close to Hunt's body and controls the position.
The ref stands the fighters back up. Pluto Palhares was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Hunt tries to score with a low kick but Palhares moves his leg out of the way.
Hunt paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Hunt looks to land a left hand but Palhares moved out of range nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hunt misses with a body shot.
Hunt uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Palhares.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Palhares tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Hunt counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hunt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Pluto Palhares dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!
Hunt throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Palhares waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hunt.
Nice straight punches there by Palhares. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Palhares.
Hunt closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Palhares's guard.
Palhares manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hunt manages to get himself to full guard.
Palhares trying to control the position from guard on top but Hunt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Palhares with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hunt has control of Palhares's left arm, preventing Palhares from doing any damage.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares is looking to work some ground and pound but Hunt has wrist control.
Palhares trying to control but Hunt is working from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Palhares changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Palhares throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hunt moves in looking to clinch but Palhares pushes him off.
Palhares is looking to land body kicks.
Palhares swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hunt catches Palhares with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Hunt looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares wants to clinch.
Hunt with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A bone on bone clash there as Palhares blocks the leg kick.
Palhares throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hunt.
Hunt throws an overhand right that lands on Palhares's shoulder, as Palhares tries to avoid the shot.
Hunt throws a looping overhand right but Palhares ducks down to avoid it.
Palhares tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hunt defends well and Palhares ends up having to push Hunt into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Palhares throws a head punch that misses.
Palhares takes a shot to the head.
Hunt blocking some punches.
Palhares tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hunt's elbow.
Palhares's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hunt wants to break free but Palhares has control.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hunt is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Palhares gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hunt lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hunt struggles to land a body shot inside as Palhares controls his hands.
Palhares swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Palhares blocks an uppercut.
Hunt tries to throw a body punch but Palhares avoids it by throwing Hunt back against the cage.
Palhares lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hunt blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Palhares misses with the head strike.
Hunt misses with a punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Palhares.
Hunt blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Palhares throws a punch but it's blocked by Hunt.
Palhares blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hunt throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Merik Hunt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunt is trying to push Palhares away but Palhares has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Hunt working aggressively here.
Hunt tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A left hand lands to the body for Hunt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hunt misses with a hook from the clinch.
Palhares can't find room to land a body shot as Hunt controls the action.
Hunt tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hunt lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Palhares backwards.
Palhares lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hunt pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hunt throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pluto Palhares seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hunt misses with a low kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hunt throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Palhares counters with a takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Hunt's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Merik Hunt.
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 Paul Tew scores the fight 46:49
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 47:49
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 47:48
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pluto Palhares!
A victorious Pluto Palhares thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
100% |
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