PBP Commentary

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

Macedon III
vs
Palhares

189 cm
20
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
21
196 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alexander Macedon III!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pelayo Palhares!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Macedon III slips a jab from Palhares.
Macedon III misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jab by Macedon III.
Macedon III will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Palhares shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Macedon III is trying to defend but Palhares finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Palhares trying to mount his opponent but Macedon III defends it.
Macedon III wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macedon III has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Palhares is working away from the top position though.
Macedon III tries to get to full guard but Palhares has control of the leg.
Palhares wants to control but Macedon III is keeping him busy.
Macedon III wants to get back to full guard.

Palhares is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Macedon III to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Macedon III keeping moving, preventing Palhares from controlling successfully.
Palhares stops Macedon III from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Macedon III keeping moving, preventing Palhares from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Pelayo Palhares has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Macedon III has his takedown stuffed

and Palhares counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Palhares trying to control but Macedon III is working from the bottom.
Palhares controlling from the top position.
Palhares slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Macedon III tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Macedon III is working hard here to advance position.
Palhares moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Macedon III prevents Palhares from improving position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Palhares just content to control the position.
Palhares tries to move to full mount but Macedon III actually manages to regain half guard.
Palhares is trying to control the action in half guard but Macedon III is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Macedon III moves into full guard.

Palhares drops back looking for a leg! Macedon III is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Macedon III manages to kick Palhares off! Palhares jumps back into Macedon III's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pelayo Palhares dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Macedon III misses with a takedown

and Palhares counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Macedon III will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Palhares stands and throws Macedon III's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Palhares wants to control but Macedon III is keeping him busy.

Palhares thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Palhares trying to control the position but Macedon III is working away.
Palhares controlling from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macedon III is looking for a sweep.
The referee asks Palhares politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Palhares prefers to stall for the moment though.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Pelayo Palhares hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Macedon III tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Palhares counters with a single leg into guard. Macedon III didn't expect that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Macedon III working a defensive guard here.

Palhares got a little sloppy there for a moment and Macedon III has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Palhares has managed to get both his arms back between Macedon III's legs - danger averted.
Palhares is pushing down on Macedon III's leg trying to pass to half guard. Macedon III is fighting to maintain full guard but Palhares has managed to sneak the leg through.
Macedon III trying to control here.
Macedon III is looking to improve his position.
Palhares sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Macedon III makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Macedon III.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Palhares thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Macedon III keeping full guard, as Palhares tries to pass.
Palhares wants to control from the top but Macedon III keeps moving.
Palhares stands up out of Macedon III's guard for a moment - Macedon III manages to land a nice upkick.

That's four 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.
Palhares looking to pass the guard.
Palhares trying to control the position from guard on top but Macedon III is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Palhares stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Macedon III swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Macedon III is trying to keep Palhares in close.
Palhares trying to control the position from guard on top but Macedon III is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Macedon III working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pelayo Palhares showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Palhares closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Palhares lands in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Palhares looking to pass the guard.

Palhares avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Macedon III can't keep his opponent in guard - Palhares advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Palhares trying to control the action but Macedon III is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Macedon III trying to control here.
Palhares passes to full mount!

Palhares moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Macedon III has worked his arm free - good work by Macedon III!

Macedon III throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Macedon III to counter with a crisp jab.

Macedon III shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Palhares's guard.
Macedon III wants to control from the top but Palhares keeps moving.
Macedon III makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Macedon III trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Palhares working for a triangle but Macedon III defends it easily.
Macedon III wants to control from the top but Palhares keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Macedon III preventing the sweep.
Macedon III trying to control the position from guard on top but Palhares is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pelayo Palhares has got the better of the ground game so far.
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.

Macedon III is defending against the submission attempts here by Palhares.
Macedon III moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

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.
Macedon III is trying to keep Palhares in close.
Palhares slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Palhares working away.
Pelayo Palhares is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Macedon III trying to remain calm as Palhares controls from the top position.
Alexander Macedon III has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Let's hope that Palhares has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Pelayo Palhares.
I've got Palhares winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

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