PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rousimar Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elmo Lupe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Palhares
vs
Lupe

175 cm
24
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 1

185 cm
25
185 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 - 1 - 1, fighting out of New York, Rousimar Palhares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Elmo Lupe!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Joseph Jones and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palhares shoots in for a takedown but Lupe shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lupe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Palhares manages to avoid it.
Palhares shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Palhares scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lupe can do anything to dispel that myth.

Palhares is looking for a kimura here.
Lupe is trying to stand back up but Palhares is controlling him

Palhares is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lupe is just riding it out for now. Palhares eventually gives up the hold.
Palhares prevents Lupe from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Palhares is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lupe tries to kick Palhares off but Palhares keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Palhares 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.
Palhares seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lupe does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Lupe really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Palhares. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Palhares is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Lupe is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Palhares trying to mount his opponent but Lupe defends it.
Lupe wants to get back to his feet.

Rousimar Palhares has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Lupe stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rousimar Palhares. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lupe lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Palhares gets clipped by a big right hand and goes down spinning to the canvas! Lupe gets the back mount and begins to drop bombs on his rocked foe! Palhares is too out of it to defend against the strikes and the referee jumps in to save him from the beatdown!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Elmo Lupe!