PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tomi Atomi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pluto Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Atomi comes to the cage accompanied by Stratovarius - Abyss Of Your Eyes. Palhares is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by TOQUINHO. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Atomi
vs
Palhares

191 cm
33
175 lbs
30 - 7 - 1

181 cm
33
171 lbs
35 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Milwaukee's Best 160
Bloodlust Horde Fightwear

Reaper Combatwear
Conviction

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 30 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tomi Atomi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pluto Palhares!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Glass and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Atomi misses with a body kick.
Atomi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Atomi lands with a straight right. Palhares didn't see that one coming.
Atomi throws an overhand right that lands on Palhares's shoulder, as Palhares tries to avoid the shot.
Palhares dives in for a single leg takedown but Atomi sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Palhares stalls.
Palhares misses with a punch to the body.
Palhares lands with a right to the head.
Atomi gets underhooks to prevent Palhares's takedown attempt.
Palhares stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Palhares gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Atomi's coaches at Consortium Private LA have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky 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!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Palhares controlling the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Palhares drops an elbow to the side of Atomi's head.
Atomi trying to control but Palhares postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares is pressing down on Atomi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Atomi is holding on for now.
Atomi tries to roll over but Palhares keeps him under control.
Palhares lands with a punch from half guard.
Palhares uses his free foot to push down on Atomi's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Atomi.
Palhares landing strikes from the mount and Atomi is in trouble!
Atomi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Palhares pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Palhares with a couple of short strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Atomi is looking to escape.
Atomi is working to get back to half guard.
Palhares trying to control but Atomi is having none of it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Atomi is looking to get to half guard.
Palhares trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Palhares prevents Atomi from getting the reversal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares with the ground and pound from mount.
Palhares working the ground and pound effectively.
Palhares avoids the attempt from Atomi to control.
BOOM! Palhares connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Atomi is looking to get to half guard.
Palhares with the ground and pound from mount.
Palhares prevents Atomi from getting the reversal.
Atomi sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice strikes from Palhares there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Atomi wants to improve his position but Palhares is controlling well.
Palhares trying to control the action but Atomi is working from the bottom.
Atomi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Palhares is working away from the top position though.
Palhares thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Atomi's head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Palhares stalling.
Atomi tries to roll over but Palhares keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pluto Palhares dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Palhares throws the kick towards the body but Atomi avoids it.
Palhares throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Palhares looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Palhares slips under a jab from Atomi.
Palhares lands with a thumping leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Palhares.
Atomi lands with an overhand left.
Palhares takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Palhares lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Palhares swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Atomi.

It looks like Tomi Atomi has been cut.
Palhares with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Atomi is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Atomi cracks Palhares with an open hand slap.
Atomi jabs Palhares right on the nose. Palhares blinks but takes it well.
Palhares misses with a two punch combination.
Atomi checks a low kick from Palhares.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares shoots for a takedown but Atomi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Atomi fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Palhares to the ground. Atomi is now in Palhares's guard.
Atomi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Palhares swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Atomi is looking to pass into half guard but Palhares pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Palhares is in guard.
Palhares wants to control from the top but Atomi keeps moving.

Atomi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Palhares is aware though and is defending well.
Atomi wants to sweep but no luck.

Atomi looking for subs off his back but Palhares has passed one foot through into half guard.
Palhares missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atomi makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Atomi.
Atomi keeping moving, preventing Palhares from controlling successfully.

Atomi looking for a guillotine here but Palhares defends easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Atomi keeping full guard, as Palhares tries to pass.
Palhares looking to sit in guard and control but Atomi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atomi throws an elbow that misses. Palhares uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Atomi's guard. Nice move by Palhares!
Palhares wants to control from the top but Atomi keeps moving.
Palhares has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Atomi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Palhares manages to get himself to full guard.
Atomi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Palhares swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Palhares manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Atomi is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares landing punches.
Atomi wants to hold on but Palhares pushes him away.
Atomi is looking to get to half guard.
Atomi is squirming around, avoiding Palhares's attempts to control the action.
Atomi is working to get back to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Palhares content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pluto Palhares will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Tomi Atomi's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Palhares throws a push kick but Atomi slaps the foot to one side.
Nice cross by Palhares.
Palhares closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Atomi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Palhares throws a head kick that misses.
Atomi throws a low kick but it's checked well by Palhares.
A cross from Atomi lands.
An inside leg kick lands from Palhares.
Palhares misses with a kick to the body.
Palhares misses with a wild body shot.

Palhares changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Atomi looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Atomi is not content to let Palhares control the position.
Palhares working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Palhares trying to control the position but Atomi is working away.
Atomi is trying to improve his position.
Atomi is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Palhares off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares tries to break free.
Atomi thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Atomi thows a strike but Palhares uses the opportunity to reverse the position! Great move by Palhares as he ends up in Atomi 's guard!
Palhares slips nicely into half guard.
Atomi tries to get to full guard but Palhares has control of the leg.
Palhares not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Palhares is thwarting Atomi's attempts to control the position.
Atomi is looking to improve his position.
Atomi is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Atomi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Palhares pulls his head out easily.
Palhares trying to control the action but Atomi is working from the bottom.
Atomi tries to get to full guard but Palhares has control of the leg.

Atomi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Atomi trying to hold on to Palhares's head to control him but Palhares postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Palhares working Atomi over with strikes.
Palhares is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Palhares is trying to control. Atomi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Palhares is looking to stall here but Atomi recovers full guard.
Palhares wants to control from the top but Atomi keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Atomi looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Palhares passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pluto Palhares really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tomi Atomi's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Palhares decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Palhares content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Atomi wants to control but Palhares is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Palhares trying to pass the guard but Atomi defending well.

Atomi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Palhares is nestled in close to Atomi, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ground and pound from Palhares.
Atomi has a hand on Palhares's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Palhares takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Palhares takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Palhares lands a big elbow.
Atomi is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Palhares raining down shots from the mount!
Atomi tries to hold on but Palhares pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares landing strikes from the mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Palhares wants to control the pace but Atomi is squirming around nicely.
Atomi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Palhares unloading with bombs!
Atomi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Palhares trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares punishing his opponent with strikes.
Palhares can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Atomi is looking to escape.
BOOM! Palhares connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Atomi is squirming around, avoiding Palhares's attempts to control the action.
Atomi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Atomi is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares looking to finish Atomi with some ground and pound. This is bad for Atomi!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Palhares controlling from the full mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Palhares trying to control but Atomi is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pluto Palhares dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Tomi Atomi's cut.
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 bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Atomi's head backwards.
Palhares ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Atomi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Palhares showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Atomi.
Palhares misses with an uppercut.
Nice shot lands for Palhares.
Palhares checks a leg kick nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Palhares. Atomi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Palhares moves out of range of the leg kick from Atomi.
Atomi bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Atomi finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Atomi circles away quickly and effectively.
Atomi misses with a jab to the body

and Palhares decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Atomi's guard.
Palhares has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Atomi looking to control.
Palhares showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Palhares connects with a couple of short punches.
Palhares trying to control but Atomi is working from the bottom.

Atomi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Palhares gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Atomi wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Atomi throws his legs up looking for a submission but Palhares uses it to pass to side control.
Palhares moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Palhares has control of an arm but Atomi manages to advance to Palhares's back!
Tomi Atomi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Palhares wants to control his opponent's hands but Atomi gets his hands free.
Atomi lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Palhares hold on?!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares trying to control the position but Atomi manages to sink in the hooks.
Palhares breaks Atomi's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Palhares wants to control from the top but Atomi keeps moving.
Atomi is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Atomi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Palhares trying to control the position from guard on top but Atomi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Atomi wants to sweep here but Palhares controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares is looking to work some ground and pound but Atomi has wrist control.

Atomi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Palhares is aware though and is defending well.
Palhares trying to control but Atomi is working from the bottom.

Atomi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Palhares looking to pass the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Atomi has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Palhares has passed into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pluto Palhares comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Palhares has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 45:50
Judge James Glass scores the fight 45:50
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pluto Palhares!
An out of breath Pluto Palhares thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.