PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Julio Zaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulo Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zaw
vs
Palhares

190 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Julio Zaw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Palhares!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Edson Gomes and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zaw shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Palhares manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Palhares not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Palhares has Zaw pulled in close to control his posture.
Palhares is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Zaw will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Paulo Palhares wasn't active enough on the ground.

Palhares looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Zaw!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Palhares swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Zaw is now in Palhares's guard. A big mistake from Palhares there, giving up the dominant position!

Zaw drops back looking for a leg! Palhares is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Palhares manages to kick Zaw off! Zaw jumps back into Palhares's guard.

Zaw stands up from Palhares's guard - Zaw perhaps looking for a knockout.
Palhares stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Palhares wants it to stay on the feet.
Palhares tries a head kick but it misses.
Zaw shoots in but Palhares avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Palhares shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Palhares was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Zaw is breathing heavily.
Palhares controlling his opponent.
Palhares tries to control but Zaw wriggling away.
Palhares throws some wild stikes that Zaw manages to avoid easily.
Palhares misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Palhares scoring with strikes but Zaw is staying in there.
Zaw wants to control but Palhares is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares controlling the position easily from mount.
Palhares throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Zaw because Palhares loaded up on that one.
Palhares has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Palhares scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Zaw?
Palhares working Zaw over with strikes here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Palhares cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Palhares with good strikes from the mount here!
Palhares postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Zaw looks a forlorn figure.
Palhares should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Palhares tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares with shots to the head and body - Zaw looks very uncomfortable down there.
Zaw is bucking up trying to escape but Palhares cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Palhares content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaw is bucking up trying to escape but Palhares cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Palhares is landing with some decent strikes but Zaw is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Palhares scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Zaw?
Palhares dominating with strikes here.
Palhares lands a nice shot to the head.

Palhares is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Zaw can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Zaw taking shots to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zaw taking shots to the head.
Palhares punishing his opponent with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

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

Palhares is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Zaw is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Zaw has escaped and now he's on top!
Palhares has Zaw pulled in close to control his posture.
Zaw wants to pass the guard but Palhares is keeping the position.
Palhares not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Palhares seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Paulo Palhares has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zaw stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Palhares swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Palhares escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zaw gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Palhares is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zaw is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zaw thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Palhares looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Palhares is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Zaw drops back looking for a leg! Palhares is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Palhares manages to kick Zaw off! Zaw jumps back into Palhares's guard.
Palhares is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Zaw pushes down on Palhares's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Palhares wants to control but Zaw is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Zaw is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Palhares sees it coming and defends easily.
Palhares trying to hold on to Zaw's head to control him but Zaw postures up.

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.

Zaw is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Palhares defends it well.

Zaw is working for a kimura but Palhares is defending it quite comfortably.
Palhares wants to control but Zaw is keeping busy.

Palhares looking for submissions off his back.

Zaw seems to be looking for submissions.
Palhares keeping hold of Zaw's head, controlling as best he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zaw seems to be looking for submissions.
Palhares pushes Zaw off looking to stand but Zaw dives back in and keeps control.
Palhares trying to control from the bottom.

Zaw is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Palhares is trying to stand back up but Zaw is controlling him
Palhares is looking to improve his position.
Palhares wants to control but Zaw is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Zaw is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Zaw seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Palhares looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Zaw looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Zaw is working for a submission of some sort.
Palhares is trying to maintain the position but Zaw is very close to passing his half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Zaw is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Julio Zaw will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Palhares clinches with his opponent.
Zaw takes a knee right on the jaw!
Palhares lands an elbow just above Zaw 's eye.

Palhares pulls Zaw into guard.

Palhares pushes Zaw off and scrambles back to his feet.
Palhares shoots in looking for a takedown. Zaw tries to sprawl out of it but Palhares keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zaw manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Zaw shoots for a double leg takedown but Palhares sprawls well. He's pushed Zaw's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Palhares shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Zaw as he jumps to the side.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zaw.
Palhares swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Zaw gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Palhares loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares stopping the sweep attempt from Zaw.

Zaw is working an open guard so Palhares takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Zaw shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julio Zaw. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Zaw gets caught flat footed, as Palhares shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Palhares trying to control but Zaw is working from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Palhares landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares won't allow Zaw to get back to his feet.
Palhares missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Palhares gets to his feet - Zaw follows without any prompting.
Palhares fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Palhares is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zaw sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Zaw has Palhares pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Palhares manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Palhares has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Zaw avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Zaw is working for takedown but Palhares is calmly controlling the position for now.
Palhares landing knees to the head.

Palhares breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Palhares tries for a takedown but Zaw sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Palhares throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Zaw was covering up waiting for the punch and Palhares finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zaw preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaw keeping moving, preventing Palhares from controlling successfully.
Palhares won't allow Zaw to sweep him here.
Palhares controlling from the top position.

Palhares thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Palhares throws a big right hand that misses.
Zaw is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four 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 gets to his feet - Zaw follows without any prompting.
Palhares fails with a takedown attempt.

Palhares shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Zaw manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Palhares postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zaw wants to sweep here but Palhares controlling him for the moment.
Zaw preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Zaw is working an open guard so Palhares takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Palhares misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Palhares instigates a clinch.

Palhares jumps guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paulo Palhares comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29

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