PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Housimar Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hipolito Adalberto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Housimar Palhares had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 187.6lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Palhares
vs
Adalberto

173 cm
23
195 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

179 cm
23
190 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Experienced

ADCC Champion
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Housimar Palhares!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hipolito Adalberto !
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Thiago Cunha and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Adalberto gets the takedown into side control.
Palhares looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Adalberto throws a strike aimed at the side of Palhares's head but Palhares avoids it well.
The referee asks Adalberto politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Adalberto prefers to stall for the moment though.
Adalberto wants to control but Palhares is keeping him busy.
Adalberto working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Adalberto trying to control the position but Palhares is working away.
Palhares is looking to reverse the position.
Palhares takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Palhares is looking for a sweep.
Palhares taking a bit of punishment here - Adalberto scoring with strikes.
Adalberto cracks Palhares with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Palhares takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Adalberto tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adalberto working the ground and pound.
Adalberto working the ground and pound.
Adalberto wants to control but Palhares is keeping him busy.
Palhares tries to improve position but can't.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Palhares is not content to let Adalberto control the position.
Adalberto might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Palhares kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Adalberto working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Adalberto trying to control the action but Palhares is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Adalberto shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Palhares but Palhares pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Adalberto 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.
Adalberto trying to control the position from guard on top but Palhares is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Adalberto advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adalberto trying to mount his opponent but Palhares defends it.
Adalberto is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Adalberto is trying to control the action in half guard but Palhares is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Adalberto is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Palhares!
Adalberto trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Adalberto has isolated one of Palhares's arms. Palhares looking to fight him off but Adalberto twists into an armbar. It's tight... Will he tap?? YES, he's tapped! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:48 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Hipolito Adalberto !
Hipolito Adalberto is the new middleweight champion!