PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Luis Palhares (ranked 795 p4p, 1216 weight class) and Akira Kaburagi (ranked 93 p4p, 134 weight class). Palhares comes to the cage accompanied by Right On/ Showcore. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Palhares
vs
Kaburagi

181 cm
25
160
12 - 5 - 0

172 cm
26
165
10 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

30th Century Beer Store

Bloodbath MMA Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Luis Palhares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Akira Kaburagi!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, James Atkins and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kaburagi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kaburagi lands in his opponent's guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Kaburagi working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Palhares pulls Kaburagi in close to prevent any damage.
Palhares working a defensive guard but Kaburagi manages to pass into side control anyway.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
What's Palhares going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Palhares is trying to control Kaburagi's posture but Kaburagi avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kaburagi goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Palhares rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Kaburagi's guard! Nice work there by Palhares!
Palhares advances position into side control!
Palhares working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Palhares throws an elbow but Kaburagi slips to the side and avoids it well.
Palhares trying to control the action but Kaburagi is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kaburagi can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Palhares thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kaburagi tries to improve position but can't.
Palhares trying to control the action but Kaburagi is working from the bottom.
Kaburagi sneaks back into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaburagi tries to roll over but Palhares keeps him under control.
Kaburagi controlling the position for now.
Palhares tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kaburagi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Palhares perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Palhares throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Kaburagi is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Kaburagi checks the leg kick.
Palhares lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Luis Palhares seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kaburagi misses with a double jab
and Kaburagi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Palhares with the inside leg kick.
Kaburagi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kaburagi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Palhares but Palhares pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kaburagi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Palhares.
Palhares stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Palhares wants it to stay on the feet.

Kaburagi closes the distance and clinches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kaburagi drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Palhares gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Luis Palhares has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Kaburagi.
Palhares lands with a short shot to the head.
A hook to the body from Palhares.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kaburagi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Palhares defends well and Kaburagi ends up having to push Palhares into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Palhares swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kaburagi.

It looks like Akira Kaburagi has been cut.
Palhares looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Kaburagi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kaburagi being controlled here momentarily.
Palhares working a defensive guard here.
Akira Kaburagi has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
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 keen to just control but Kaburagi is a slippery customer.
Palhares is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Palhares wants to take a breather but Kaburagi is having none of it.
Palhares slows the pace down in half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Palhares thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kaburagi's head.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Palhares tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kaburagi was well out of range. Poor timing from Palhares.
Palhares lands a nice shot to the body.
Palhares missing with a left hand there. Kaburagi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Palhares misses with a leg kick

and Kaburagi counters with a takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaburagi tries to advance to mount but can't.
Palhares tries to control but Kaburagi manages to take his back.

Palhares is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Palhares trying to control but not successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kaburagi working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Kaburagi missing with strikes.
Palhares manages to reverse the position and now he's in Kaburagi's guard. Nice work there by Palhares.
Kaburagi has his hands on Palhares's head, controlling the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Palhares stands and throws Kaburagi's legs to the side, diving into side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Luis Palhares dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Akira Kaburagi's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kaburagi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Palhares lands with a nice body punch.
Palhares scores with the left hand. Kaburagi knows he should have avoided that one.
A head kick misses from Palhares.
A jab lands there for Palhares.
Palhares with the inside leg kick.
Palhares tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kaburagi was well out of range. Poor timing from Palhares.
Palhares throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Palhares throws a leg kick

and Kaburagi counters with a single leg into guard. Palhares didn't expect that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Palhares tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kaburagi trying to control the position from guard on top but Palhares is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Palhares manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kaburagi manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares postures up in Kaburagi's guard and throws a big left but Kaburagi blocks it.
Palhares looking to sit in guard and control but Kaburagi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Palhares is pulling down on Kaburagi's head. It's preventing any offense from Kaburagi, at least for the moment.
Kaburagi wants to control from the top but Palhares keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Palhares is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Kaburagi looking to control.
Palhares controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kaburagi keeping moving, preventing Palhares from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Palhares drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kaburagi looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kaburagi looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kaburagi!

Palhares is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kaburagi's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Palhares manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Palhares pulls Kaburagi in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kaburagi.
Kaburagi won't allow Palhares to sweep him here.
Palhares is trying to keep Kaburagi in close.
Palhares looking for a sweep. Not yet Palhares, not yet.
Akira Kaburagi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Palhares pulls Kaburagi in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Palhares.
Kaburagi takes a shot to the body in his stride.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luis 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luis Palhares!
Luis Palhares managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Silverguard Outfitters 🛡, into his post fight interview.