PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Esko Moerkoe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Housimar Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Moerkoe might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Kari & Karvattomat - Vaelimallin jaetkae. Esko Moerkoe has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Moerkoe
vs
Palhares

185 cm
18
195 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

173 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Esko Moerkoe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Housimar Palhares!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Leandro Rodrigues and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Moerkoe gets a clinch.
Moerkoe lands a damaging elbow.
Palhares tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Palhares tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Moerkoe is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Palhares prevents the takedown attempt.
Palhares tries to pull guard but Moerkoe won't allow it.
Esko Moerkoe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Housimar Palhares.

Moerkoe pulls guard successfully.
Palhares landing with the ground and pound.
Moerkoe knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Palhares on the ground.
Palhares advances to half guard.

Palhares wants to work for an arm triangle but Moerkoe is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Palhares is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Moerkoe trying to control from the bottom.
Moerkoe is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Moerkoe is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Moerkoe makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Moerkoe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares looking to pass the guard.

Moerkoe scrambles and gets back to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Palhares successfully pulls guard.
Moerkoe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Palhares works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Moerkoe wants to control from the top but Palhares keeps moving.

Palhares is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Moerkoe with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Palhares looking for a guillotine here but Moerkoe defends easily.
Moerkoe trying to control the position from guard on top but Palhares is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Palhares looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Palhares looks gassed!

Palhares has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Moerkoe can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
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!
Palhares has a closed guard, preventing Moerkoe from standing up.
Moerkoe won't allow Palhares to sweep him here.
Moerkoe looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moerkoe trying to control the position from guard on top but Palhares is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Moerkoe with a flurry of punches that miss.
Palhares keeping moving, preventing Moerkoe from controlling successfully.

Palhares is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a tringle but Moerkoe frees his head nicely. Oh but Palhares has switched to an armbar! Moerkoe is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:39 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Housimar Palhares!