PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Juninho Palaver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marc Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Juninho Palaver has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Palaver
vs
Sanchez

192 cm
22
205 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

200 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

[†]FALCON CLOTHING[†]
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Juninho Palaver!
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, Marc Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Luis Engracia and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sanchez avoids the head kick by Palaver.
Palaver misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Palaver, as that shot connected.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Palaver, as that shot connected.
Horrible takedown by Sanchez or perhaps it was just good defense by Palaver which made him look bad.
Sanchez is looking to clinch.
Palaver pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Palaver throws out a loose jab but Sanchez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Juninho Palaver seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sanchez.
Sanchez blocks a head kick by Palaver.
Sanchez doesn't manage to clinch there - Palaver circles away.
Palaver misses with a hook. Sanchez ducked under it nicely.
Sanchez is looking to clinch but Palaver is avoiding it.
Sanchez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Palaver tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez misses with a few strikes there.
Palaver circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sanchez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Palaver showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sanchez.
Sanchez misses the shot to the body.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Palaver is having none of it.
Palaver throws a head kick that Sanchez semi-blocks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Palaver pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Palaver lands an overhand right.
Palaver lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Sanchez takes a kick to the side of the head.
A jab from Sanchez misses.
Palaver pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Palaver avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Juninho Palaver is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Palaver misses with a hook. Sanchez ducked under it nicely.
Palaver moves out of range as Sanchez throws a body kick.
Palaver throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sanchez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Palaver loads up on a big right hand but Sanchez slips the punch.
Sanchez avoids the head kick by Palaver.
Palaver throws a nice head kick!
Palaver takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Sanchez fails to land with a series of punches.
Sanchez blocks a jab.
Palaver throws a looping overhand right but Sanchez ducks down to avoid it.
Sanchez swinging wilding here.
Palaver scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Palaver swats away the attempt to clinch by Sanchez.
Sanchez is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Palaver throws out the jab.
Sanchez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Palaver dodges the punch combination from Sanchez.
Sanchez tries to clinch there but Palaver circles away.
Palaver loads up on a big right hand but Sanchez slips the punch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sanchez is defended easily by Palaver.
Juninho Palaver has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marc Sanchez.
Sanchez looks gassed!
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch but Palaver swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Palaver is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Palaver misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Palaver scores with a jab to the jaw.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sanchez.
Sanchez is looking to clinch but Palaver is avoiding it.
Palaver plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A head kick misses from Palaver.
Palaver misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Palaver misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sanchez throws a lazy right hand but Palaver sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Palaver misses with a straight right.
Sanchez avoids the head kick by Palaver.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Palaver paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Palaver misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Palaver swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Palaver throws a sloppy head kick and Sanchez moves out of range easily.
Palaver throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Palaver throws a head kick that misses.
Palaver throws a sloppy head kick and Sanchez moves out of range easily.
Sanchez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sanchez wants to clinch.
Sanchez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Palaver keeps the fight on the outside.
Palaver connects with the punch.

Palaver tries to keep at a distance but Sanchez has taken the fight into the clinch.
Palaver tries to score a body lock takedown but Sanchez shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sanchez stops a takedown attempt from Palaver.
Sanchez lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Palaver tries to score a body lock takedown but Sanchez shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Palaver is trying to drag Sanchez to the mat but Sanchez just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sanchez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Palaver.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sanchez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Palaver has him pressed against the cage.

Sanchez pulls guard effortlessly.

Palaver is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Sanchez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Sanchez has escaped and now he's on top!

Palaver has his foot on Sanchez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sanchez works his way back into a safe position though.
Sanchez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Palaver's guard.
Sanchez trying to control but Palaver is working from the bottom.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sanchez stands up from Palaver's guard - Sanchez perhaps looking for a knockout.
Palaver circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Juninho Palaver will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sanchez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Palaver keeps the fight on the outside.
Sanchez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Palaver lands a high kick!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A head kick misses from Palaver.
Sanchez is looking to clinch.
Sanchez moves in looking to clinch but Palaver pushes him off.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but Palaver shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sanchez fails to land with a series of punches.
Palaver tries a head kick but it misses.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch but Palaver swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Palaver connects with a high kick.
Palaver throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Palaver misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez blocks a head kick by Palaver.
Palaver misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sanchez throws a series of punches but Palaver avoids them all with ease.
Sanchez tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sanchez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.
Sanchez is looking to clinch but Palaver is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez blocks a head kick by Palaver.
Palaver circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sanchez is looking to clinch but Palaver is avoiding it.
Palaver throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sanchez slips a jab from Palaver.
Sanchez lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Palaver tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Palaver is having none of it.
Palaver throws a head kick that half lands.
Sanchez doesn't manage to clinch there - Palaver circles away.
Marc Sanchez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sanchez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Palaver tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sanchez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Palaver pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sanchez misses with a jab, cross combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sanchez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sanchez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Palaver has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is looking to clinch but Palaver is avoiding it.
Palaver misses with a straight right.
Palaver throws a sloppy head kick and Sanchez moves out of range easily.
Sanchez scores with a three punch combo!
Palaver circles away from the clinch attempt.
Palaver jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Palaver avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sanchez blocks a head kick by Palaver.
Sanchez is looking to clinch but Palaver is avoiding it.
Sanchez is looking to clinch.
Sanchez wants to clinch.
A left and a right from Sanchez both land. Nice combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Palaver throws a hook but Sanchez avoids it easily.
Palaver throws a head kick that misses.
Sanchez blocks a head kick by Palaver.
Sanchez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Palaver.
A head kick misses from Sanchez.
Palaver keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Palaver moves out of range.
Palaver loads up on a big right hand but Sanchez slips the punch.
Sanchez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sanchez takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Sanchez slips under a jab.
Palaver defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sanchez.
Palaver pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Palaver goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Sanchez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sanchez moves in looking to clinch but Palaver pushes him off.
Sanchez takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sanchez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Palaver paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Marc Sanchez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sanchez avoids the head kick by Palaver.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Palaver swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Palaver slips a jab and a cross from Sanchez.
Palaver misses with a looping right.
Sanchez misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Palaver throws a hook but Sanchez avoids it easily.
Palaver pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Palaver throws a jab when Sanchez was well out of range.
Sanchez is looking to clinch but Palaver is avoiding it.
Palaver throws a head kick that half lands.
Palaver tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Palaver throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sanchez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sanchez wants to clinch up but Palaver keeps it at a distance.
Sanchez is looking to clinch.
Sanchez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Palaver avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sanchez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sanchez moves away from the strike by Palaver.
Sanchez blocks a head kick by Palaver.
Palaver misses with a head kick.
Palaver lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Palaver circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sanchez fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marc Sanchez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Sanchez tries to clinch there but Palaver circles away.
Sanchez misses with a two punch combination.
Palaver misses with a straight right.
Sanchez moves away from the strike by Palaver.
Left hook, right uppercut from Sanchez.
Palaver throws a sloppy head kick and Sanchez moves out of range easily.
Palaver throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Sanchez's head.
Sanchez tries to clinch up but Palaver circles away and keeps his distance.
Sanchez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Palaver misses with a head kick.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Palaver is having none of it.
Sanchez moves in looking to clinch but Palaver pushes him off.

Sanchez closes the distance and clinches.

Palaver works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Palaver thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Palaver drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Palaver jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sanchez wants to get back to his feet but Palaver is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palaver pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sanchez is keeping the position for now.
Sanchez wants to stand and escape but Palaver is having none of it.

Palaver thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Palaver throws an overhand right that lands on Sanchez's shoulder, as Sanchez tries to avoid the shot.
Sanchez wants to clinch.
Sanchez tries to clinch there but Palaver circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sanchez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sanchez takes one on the button.
Sanchez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Palaver throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Palaver lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A decent looking cross lands there for Palaver.
Palaver pulls out of a head kick attempt.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sanchez.
Sanchez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Palaver throws a big shot that misses.
Palaver throws a head kick but Sanchez moves out of range.
Palaver misses the jab.
Palaver looks to throw the jab but Sanchez is out of range.
Sanchez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Palaver circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sanchez tries to clinch there but Palaver circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palaver tests Sanchez's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sanchez tries to bum rush Palaver with a series of wild strikes but Palaver uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nice cross by Palaver.
Palaver throws a sloppy head kick and Sanchez moves out of range easily.
Sanchez moves away from the strike by Palaver.
Palaver avoids a punch combination nicely.
Palaver swats away the attempt to clinch by Sanchez.
Palaver throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sanchez avoids the head kick by Palaver.
Palaver throws a hook but Sanchez blocks it.
Sanchez digs a good body shot into Palaver's ribs.
Sanchez tries to clinch up.
Palaver swats away the attempt to clinch by Sanchez.
Sanchez fails in his attempt to clinch.

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.
Sanchez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sanchez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Sanchez instigates a clinch.

Sanchez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Sanchez has closed the distance and engaged Palaver in a clinch.
Sanchez lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Palaver has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sanchez avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Sanchez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sanchez wants to clinch.
Sanchez tries to clinch up but Palaver circles away and keeps his distance.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch but Palaver swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sanchez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Palaver throws out the jab.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Palaver is having none of it.
Palaver avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sanchez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sanchez fails with the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marc Sanchez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sanchez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marc Sanchez!