PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between David Luiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marijo Palavra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). David Luiz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Luiz
vs
Palavra

170 cm
38
143 lbs
23 - 21 - 1

170 cm
35
140 lbs
25 - 28 - 1

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, David Luiz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 28 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marijo Palavra!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luiz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Luiz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Palavra shoots for a takedown but Luiz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Palavra tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Luiz swivels and escapes.
Palavra tries to score a power double leg takedown but Luiz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Palavra somewhat.
David Luiz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marijo Palavra.
Luiz misses with a looping left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Luiz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Palavra shoots in looking for a takedown. Luiz tries to sprawl out of it but Palavra keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Luiz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palavra shoots for a takedown but Luiz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Luiz lands a nice shot to the body.

Luiz closes the distance and pushes Palavra back into the cage.
Palavra is looking for a takedown.
Palavra has Luiz pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Luiz manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Palavra drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Luiz gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Luiz lands a nice uppercut.

Luiz has hold of one of Palavra's legs. Palavra is fighting the takedown attempt but Luiz gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Luiz throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palavra lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Luiz is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Roosters Coop that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Palavra postures up in Luiz's guard and throws a big left but Luiz blocks it.
Palavra throwing strikes but missing.
Luiz wants to stand up but Palavra is controlling him.
Palavra wants to control from the top but Luiz keeps moving.
Luiz wants to stand up but Palavra is controlling him.
Luiz is trying to control the position but Palavra postures up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Palavra throwing strikes from guard but Luiz blocks nicely.
Palavra is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palavra wants to control from the top but Luiz keeps moving.
Luiz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Palavra pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Luiz is keeping the position for now.
Palavra postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Palavra throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Luiz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Luiz keeping full guard, as Palavra tries to pass.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Palavra working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Palavra has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Luiz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Palavra.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Palavra fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
David Luiz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Luiz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Palavra moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Palavra on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Palavra shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Luiz counters with a straight right hand.
Luiz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Palavra.
Luiz misses with a double jab.

Luiz fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Palavra to the ground. Luiz is now in Palavra's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Palavra wants to sweep here but Luiz controlling him for the moment.
Palavra preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Luiz dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Palavra takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Luiz jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

Palavra shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Luiz kicks Palavra off and gets back to his feet.
Luiz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Palavra was well out of range. Poor timing from Luiz.
Palavra changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Luiz tries to avoid it but Palavra manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Luiz to the ground. Luiz escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Luiz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Palavra can do to turn this around?

Palavra manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Luiz on his heels. He'll look to pass Luiz's guard now, I'm sure.
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!

Luiz is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Palavra has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Luiz after a bit of a struggle.

Luiz has Palavra pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Luiz pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Palavra tumbling to the mat - Luiz dives into Palavra's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palavra looking to hit a scissor sweep but Luiz is one step ahead there.
Palavra preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Palavra looking to hit a scissor sweep but Luiz is one step ahead there.
Palavra wants to hit a switch here but Luiz passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Palavra there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palavra really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Palavra tries to lock up and control but Luiz gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Palavra really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Palavra is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Palavra really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Palavra tries to hold on but Luiz postures up.
Palavra is desperately trying to improve his position but Luiz has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luiz landing shots from mount.
Luiz controlling from the full mount.
Palavra regains half guard.
Palavra is trying to get back to full guard.
Luiz is thwarting Palavra's attempts to control the position.
Palavra gets back to full guard.
Palavra looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Palavra wants to control the position but Luiz says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Palavra flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palavra is trying to maintain the position but Luiz is very close to passing his half guard.
Palavra tries to roll over but Luiz keeps him under control.
Nice strikes from Luiz there.
Luiz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Palavra does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Palavra is trying to control but can't.

Palavra looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Luiz tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Palavra.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Luiz stuffs the takedown.
Luiz bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Palavra's head backwards.
Palavra misses with a takedown attempt - Luiz sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Luiz connects with a body shot that sends Palavra's belly button to the back.
A right-left combo lands from Luiz.

Palavra is rocked!
Luiz lunges in with a left hook that violently twists Palavra head around and knocks him out cold! Luiz hops onto the cage and yells out at the top of his lungs - Yeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaah! They're showing the replay on the big screens now; that was nasty! I hope one of the photographers got a good shot of it.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). David Luiz!