PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jese Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toquinho Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rodriguez
vs
Palhares

184 cm
21
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jese Rodriguez !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Toquinho Palhares!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Chris Downing and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez stuffs the takedown.
Sloppy strikes from Rodriguez . Those never looked like landing.
Palhares with the counter takedown but Rodriguez avoids it easily.
Palhares fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rodriguez with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Rodriguez gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rodriguez on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rodriguez tries to get out of the position.
Palhares passes Rodriguez 's left leg - he's now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Palhares wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rodriguez keeps working.
Palhares moves nicely into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares wants to control but Rodriguez is keeping him busy.
Palhares is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Palhares moves into full mount!

Palhares looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Palhares trying to control but Rodriguez is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Palhares is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Rodriguez to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Rodriguez shrugs it off.

Palhares looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodriguez is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

Palhares working for a submission but Rodriguez is keeping him at bay.
Palhares tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Palhares has hold of Rodriguez 's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Rodriguez manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Rodriguez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Palhares on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rodriguez is looking to escape.

Palhares looking for a guillotine from mount but Rodriguez is having none of it.

Palhares working for a guillotine from mount but Rodriguez is in no mood to give up.
Palhares looking to control and managing it successfully.

Palhares jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Rodriguez manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Palhares looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Palhares has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Rodriguez is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Palhares yanks on the arm and Rodriguez is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Palhares.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Toquinho Palhares!