PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cain Mcgregor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucifer Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mcgregor
vs
Palhares

165 cm
21
170 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
19
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good in bed

Dangerous GnP
Basic striking
Very confident

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cain Mcgregor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lucifer Palhares!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Robert Twigg and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palhares stuffs the takedown attempt from Mcgregor. Mcgregor gets slowly back to his feet.
Palhares throws the left hand but Mcgregor avoids the punch easily.
Mcgregor shoots for a takedown but Palhares saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Mcgregor decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Mcgregor is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Palhares is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mcgregor's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mcgregor's back!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mcgregor wants to escape the position.
Palhares misses with punches from the back.
Palhares is looking to control Mcgregor but Mcgregor is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Palhares is looking for the choke from the back position but Mcgregor is controlling his hands well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares missing with strikes from the back.
Palhares looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Mcgregor prevents Palhares from getting a body triangle.
Mcgregor tries to escape but Palhares has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Mcgregor is working hard here to advance position.
Can Mcgregor hold on?! Palhares is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Mcgregor tries to escape the position.
Palhares scores with punches to the body.
Palhares has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mcgregor wants to escape the position.
Palhares missing with punches from the back.
Palhares gets his hands free as Mcgregor looks to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Mcgregor's coaches at 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.
Palhares missing with strikes from the back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Palhares is working the ground and pound. Can Mcgregor escape?
Palhares scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Mcgregor is looking for a way out.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mcgregor covers up after that shot from Palhares.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Palhares punches the canvas rather than the man.
Palhares connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Mcgregor to escape the position.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Palhares's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Palhares not allowing Mcgregor to control his hands.
Even with his hooks in, Palhares manages to miss with strikes from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcgregor prevents Palhares from getting a body triangle.
Mcgregor tries to escape but Palhares has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Palhares loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Mcgregor hold on?
Palhares is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Let's hope that Palhares has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Palhares is trying to stick to Mcgregor's back but Mcgregor is turning into Palhares. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Palhares's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Mcgregor.
Palhares looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mcgregor is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares looking to control.

Palhares throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mcgregor postures up.
Mcgregor looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Mcgregor pushes down on Palhares's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucifer Palhares dominated that round.
That's time! Mcgregor's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mcgregor scores with a takedown into Palhares's guard.
Palhares working a defensive guard here.
Mcgregor won't allow Palhares to sweep him here.
Palhares is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Palhares is trying to control the action in half guard but Mcgregor is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Palhares sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mcgregor defending well though.
Mcgregor is trying to control but can't.
Palhares trying to control from half guard but Mcgregor is working away.
Mcgregor is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares throwing shots but Mcgregor is blocking nicely.
Palhares wants to pass the guard but Mcgregor is defending well.
Palhares lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Mcgregor is looking to improve his position.
Mcgregor is staying active underneath Palhares, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Palhares is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Mcgregor keeping hold of Palhares's head, controlling as best he can.
Palhares thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mcgregor's head.
Palhares seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mcgregor does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Palhares trying to control the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mcgregor slips under a jab.
Palhares is looking to clinch.
Mcgregor dives in and grabs Palhares's left leg, looking for a takedown. Palhares pushes down on Mcgregor's head and hops out.
A nice side step and Palhares releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

Palhares shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Palhares wants to pass the guard but Mcgregor is keeping the position.
Mcgregor not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Palhares wants to pass the guard but Mcgregor is keeping the position.
Mcgregor keeping moving, preventing Palhares from controlling successfully.
Mcgregor looking to hit a scissor sweep but Palhares is one step ahead there.
Palhares has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares trying to control the position from guard on top but Mcgregor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Palhares throws a big elbow that misses.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Palhares trying to control the position from guard on top but Mcgregor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Mcgregor misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A big left from Palhares misses.
Palhares just misses with a punch to the body.
Palhares is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mcgregor.
Palhares throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nice defenses there by Palhares.
It seemed like Palhares was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mcgregor displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Palhares throws out the jab.

Mcgregor looking to score a takedown here. Palhares is defending well but Mcgregor drives through and ends up in Palhares's guard.

Mcgregor has gone for a leg lock! Palhares slips out almost immediately though and dives into Mcgregor's guard.

Palhares controls from within his opponent's guard.
Palhares trying to control but Mcgregor is working from the bottom.
Lucifer Palhares has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Palhares throwing strikes from guard but Mcgregor blocks nicely.
Palhares postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucifer Palhares showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Palhares closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Palhares lands in his opponent's guard.
Mcgregor looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Palhares throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mcgregor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mcgregor has his hands on Palhares's head, controlling the position.
Palhares trying to control the position from guard on top but Mcgregor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcgregor seems keen to control Palhares's posture.
Palhares content to stall in guard here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Mcgregor keeping moving, preventing Palhares from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Palhares wants to clinch.
Mcgregor attempts a counter takedown but Palhares avoids it well and moves away.
Mcgregor fails to land the takedown.
Palhares misses with a double jab

and Mcgregor counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares is looking for a sweep.
Mcgregor trying to control the position but Palhares is working away.
Palhares is looking for a sweep.

Mcgregor is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Palhares is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Palhares can't do much from the bottom here.

Mcgregor wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Palhares, who protects the arm well.
Palhares is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcgregor is looking to take a break and control but Palhares is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Palhares is looking to regain half guard here but Mcgregor keeps moving and retains side control.

Mcgregor tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Palhares tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mcgregor wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Palhares is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Mcgregor wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Palhares, who protects the arm well.
Palhares is trying to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Mcgregor swings around for an armbar but Palhares sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Mcgregor's guard.
Cain Mcgregor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Mcgregor is looking for a triangle here but Palhares uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lucifer Palhares.
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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lucifer Palhares!
A very excited looking Lucifer Palhares made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.