PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pelayo Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Macapinlac Co (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Palhares
vs
Co

174 cm
20
196 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
28
190 lbs
13 - 6 - 2

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite 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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pelayo Palhares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Macapinlac Co!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Co misses with a head kick.

Palhares bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Palhares swings around for an armbar but Co sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Palhares's guard.
Palhares pulls Co in to control the position.

Palhares is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Palhares trying to keep a closed guard but Co is proving a slippery customer.
Co tries to stand but Palhares is controlling from the bottom.
Palhares keeping full guard, as Co tries to pass.

Palhares is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Co defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Co got a little sloppy there for a moment and Palhares has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Co has managed to get both his arms back between Palhares's legs - danger averted.
Co won't allow Palhares to sweep him here.
Co trying to control the position from guard on top but Palhares is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Palhares is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Palhares not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Co is looking to stand up but Palhares won't let him.

Co stands and steps away. Palhares gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Co throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Palhares shoots in for a double leg but Co sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Palhares swings for the body but Co moves out of range.
Palhares shoots in but Co avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Co throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Palhares shoots in for a takedown but Co shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pelayo Palhares. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Co wants to slow Palhares down by chopping away at his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Palhares.
Palhares trying to control the position but Co is working away.
Co seems a little lost for a moment, as Palhares dominates the positioning.
Co is not content to let Palhares control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Palhares tries to move to mount but Co blocks the move with his legs.
A lull in the action here.
Co sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pelayo Palhares dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A slapping leg kick lands for Co.
Palhares takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Co throws a head kick but Palhares moves out of range.
Palhares dodges the punch combination from Co.
Co misses with a head kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Palhares is defended easily by Co.
Co pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Palhares gets a takedown into half guard.
Palhares is thwarting Co's attempts to control the position.
Co is trying to stand back up but Palhares is controlling him
Well, if Palhares is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Palhares seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Co does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares content to control rather than advance.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Pelayo Palhares.
Co misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Palhares blocks a head kick by Co.
Palhares ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Co moves away.
Co leaves Palhares with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Palhares shoots in and drives through. Co sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pelayo Palhares. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Co.
Co keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Palhares fails with the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Co as Palhares shoots in.
Palhares fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Co manages to avoid it.

Palhares shoots in and bounces Co off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Palhares postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Co wants to sweep here but Palhares controlling him for the moment.
Palhares tries to free his leg and advance position but Co is retaining full guard.
Co is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Palhares stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Co swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Co wants to get back to his feet but Palhares is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Macapinlac Co will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Co throws a head kick that misses.
Macapinlac Co is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A looping hook to the body misses from Palhares. Co does a little dance to reset his feet.
Co misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Co throws a head kick that misses.

Palhares shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Co manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Palhares controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Co controls Palhares momentarily but Palhares frees himself.
Palhares slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Palhares fails to land the takedown.
Co takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Palhares fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Palhares looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Co is fending him off so far but Palhares persists. Nope, Co circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pelayo Palhares. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Palhares closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Co to the mat! Co manages to get full guard.
Palhares wants to control from the top but Co keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Palhares passes into half guard.

Palhares is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Co has managed to free his arm - good work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Palhares stops Co from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Co has given up his back. Will we see Palhares going for some submissions?
Palhares keeps control of the position easily here as Co tries to buck him off.

Palhares has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Palhares looking for the choke but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares gets his hands free as Co looks to control.

Co is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Palhares gets his way!
Co tries to roll but Palhares sticks to his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pelayo Palhares showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Palhares has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

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