PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alejandro Palhares (ranked 5241 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Semu (ranked 5900 p4p, 667 weight class). Alejandro Palhares has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Palhares
vs
Semu

170 cm
25
171 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
21
168 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alejandro Palhares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Semu!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Seu Braga and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Semu on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Palhares misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Semu has managed to clinch.
Palhares wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Semu has him pressed against the cage.
Palhares wants to break free but Semu has control.
Palhares gets underhooks to prevent Semu's takedown attempt.

Palhares manages to break the clinch.
Palhares uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Semu.
Semu with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Palhares to score with a decent uppercut.
Palhares jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Semu tries to close the distance and clinch but Palhares swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Semu tries to bum rush Palhares with a series of wild strikes but Palhares uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Palhares is looking to counter punch.
Palhares thuds his right hand into Semu's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Semu shoots and misses
and Palhares counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Semu lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Alejandro Palhares has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Semu misses with a straight left.
Palhares darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Semu scores with a decent looking hook.
Palhares dodges the punch combination from Semu.
Palhares lands an overhand right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Semu on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Palhares scores with a nice head shot.
Semu's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Palhares connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Semu scrambles back to his feet.
Palhares works Semu's body with a nice hook.
Palhares wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Palhares goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Semu throws a series of punches but Palhares avoids them all with ease.
Palhares swinging wildly here.
Semu misses with a combination
and Palhares counters with a stiff right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Semu with a lazy takedown attempt
and Palhares counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Alejandro Palhares has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Semu.
Semu looks winded!
Palhares dips to his left and cracks Semu with an uppercut!
Palhares lands a really nice looking cross but Semu seems unphased.
Semu tries to move into range but Palhares moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Palhares lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Semu at a distance.
A left lands for Palhares.
Semu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Palhares slips a jab and a cross from Semu.
Semu takes one to the chin there.
Palhares misses with a wild combination.
Palhares scores with a body shot.
Semu shoots and misses
and Palhares counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Palhares throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Alejandro Palhares is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Palhares cracks Semu with a good jab.
Palhares swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Semu.
Palhares slips a straight right by Semu.
Semu takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Palhares connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Palhares throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Palhares lands the left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Semu looks to land a combination but Palhares avoids it well.
It looked like Palhares wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Semu is trying hard to land a takedown here. Palhares sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Palhares throws a one two combo.
Palhares lands with an uppercut that bounces Semu off the cage and back into range.
Palhares lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Palhares.
Palhares connects with a body shot that sends Semu's belly button to the back.
Palhares cracks Semu with an open hand slap.
Palhares cracks Semu with a good jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Palhares connects with a crisp jab.
Jab from Palhares.
Palhares cracks Semu with an open hand slap.
Palhares scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Palhares works the jab nicely.
Palhares scores with a crisp jab that stopped Semu in his tracks.
Palhares with a hook.
Semu misses with a combination
and Palhares counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Semu thinking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Semu.
Palhares lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Palhares paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Palhares lands a lovely overhand right.
Semu throws a left and a right that both miss
and Palhares counters with a series of strikes. Semu will be more careful next time no doubt.
Palhares lands a jab.
Nice uppercut there from Palhares.
Palhares is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Palhares looks to land a combination. Semu sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Semu is rocked!

It looks like Antonio Semu has been cut.
Palhares scores with a body shot.
Semu is still on wobbly legs! Can Palhares finish him?
A jab from Palhares does it's job there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Palhares comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Semu tries to clinch up but Palhares circles away and keeps his distance.
Semu seems to have recovered his senses.
Palhares connects with a jab.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Palhares tests Semu's chin there with a solid looking shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alejandro Palhares dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Palhares's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Palhares lands with a nice combination. Semu backs away looking to recover.
Semu throws a combination that misses
and Palhares counters with a left to the body.
Semu misses with a two punch combination.
Semu with a lazy takedown attempt
and Palhares counters with a straight right hand.
Semu has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Palhares scores with a punch to the head.
No joy there for Semu, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Palhares uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Semu has time to react.
Palhares avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Palhares scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Palhares lands with an uppercut that bounces Semu off the cage and back into range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Semu is trying hard to land a takedown here. Palhares sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A nice combination there by Palhares.
Antonio Semu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Palhares lands with a straight right. Semu didn't see that one coming.
Palhares with a jab.
Semu is breathing heavily.
Good shot there by Palhares.
Semu tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Palhares defends well and Semu ends up having to push Palhares into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Alejandro Palhares has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Semu.
Palhares stalks Semu and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Semu's face. Semu staggers backwards, shaken.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Semu takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Palhares dips to his left and cracks Semu with an uppercut!
Palhares wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Palhares connects with a body shot.
Palhares getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Palhares lands a really nice looking cross but Semu seems unphased.
Alejandro Palhares is winning the standup battle so far.
Semu gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Palhares shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Semu eats them both and turns towards Palhares to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Palhares lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Palhares.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Palhares scores with a crisp jab that stopped Semu in his tracks.
Palhares throws a good cross that connects.
Semu takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Semu falls off balance throwing a combination
and Palhares counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The fighters circle momentarily. Palhares darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Palhares cracks Semu with an open hand slap.
Palhares sizes up Semu with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Palhares is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Semu can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Palhares moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Palhares bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Semu's head backwards.
Palhares displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Semu.
Palhares lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Palhares lands a lovely overhand right.
Jab by Palhares.
Palhares lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Semu misses with the combination.
Palhares uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Palhares bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Semu's head.
Palhares jabs Semu right on the nose. Semu blinks but takes it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Antonio Semu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Palhares works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Semu misses with a right hand
and Palhares counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Palhares swinging wildly here.
A left and a right from Palhares both land. Nice combination.
Semu on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Semu is trying desperately to land a takedown but Palhares is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Semu.
Palhares fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Palhares lands with a cross.
Palhares throws out a powerful jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Palhares swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nice sprawl there from Palhares as Semu shoots in.
Donk. Palhares catches Semu right on the button with a cross.
Semu tries to move into range but Palhares moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Palhares is working the combinations to good effect here.
Semu on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares cracks a nice hook into Semu's ribs.
Palhares connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Semu ducks right into an uppercut from Palhares.
Semu fails with an attempt to clinch.
Semu tries for a takedown but Palhares sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Palhares connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Semu's hands.
Semu tries to move into range but Palhares moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Palhares lands a glancing blow to the side of Semu's head.
Palhares connects with a single shot there.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Palhares, as that shot connected.
Semu drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Palhares scores with a sloppy right hand. Semu should have avoided that one.
Palhares will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Semu on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Semu takes one on the chin but seems OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alejandro Palhares dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A combination from Semu does no damage.
Palhares scores with a decent looking hook.
Palhares lands with a hook. Semu tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Palhares swinging wildly here.

Semu closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Palhares is trying to break the clinch but Semu is controlling him.
Palhares can't break the clinch.
Palhares is trying to break the clinch but Semu has him pressed against the cage.

Palhares breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Semu misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Semu has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Semu there as he acknowledges the shot.
Palhares scores with a hook to the body. Semu takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Semu shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Semu showed some decent athleticism there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Palhares is trying to stand back up but Semu is controlling him
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Semu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Semu is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Palhares is just riding it out for now. Semu eventually gives up the hold.
Palhares wants to get back to his feet.

Palhares pushes Semu off and gets back to his feet.
Palhares slips a jab and a cross from Semu.
Semu is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Semu shoots in and drives through. Palhares sprawls well.
Semu takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A left and a right from Palhares both land. Nice combination.
Palhares lands a body shot.
Semu takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Palhares jabs at Semu's body.
Nice body punch from Palhares.
Palhares feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Semus jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
The fighters circling - Semu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Semu shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Palhares jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
A jab lands there for Palhares.
A punch combination from Palhares misses.
Semu shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Palhares as he avoids it easily.
A jab from Palhares does it's job there.
Palhares keeps the fight on the outside.
Palhares lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Semu takes one to the side of the head.
A cross from Palhares lands.
Palhares lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Palhares throws a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares slips a jab and a cross from Semu.
Semu drops his hands momentarily and Palhares takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Semu misses with a series of wild punches.
An attempted straight right counter from Palhares misses the target.
Nice jab there from Palhares.
Semu moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Palhares stuns Semu with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Palhares lands with a nice combination. Semu backs away looking to recover.
Palhares lands a jab-cross combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Semu gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Palhares with a nice cross.
Palhares's corner calls for a 1-2. Palhares obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Semu misses with a body shot
and Palhares counters with a left and a right that stings Semu.
Palhares thuds a left hand into Semu's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Semu shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Alejandro Palhares has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Semu.
Palhares lands with a nice body punch.
Semu closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Jab by Palhares.
Palhares lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Palhares.
Semu shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Palhares defends it nicely.
Semu misses with a hook.
Semu walks into a left hand.
Palhares scores with a nice right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A left lands for Palhares.
Alejandro Palhares is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Palhares jabs Semu to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Semu takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Antonio Semu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Palhares pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Semu back to the cage. Palhares follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alejandro Palhares showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Palhares, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:26
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:26
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alejandro Palhares!