PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Molot (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rousimar Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Molot
vs
Palhares

188 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
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 St Petersburg, Vladimir Molot!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rousimar Palhares!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Palhares is defended easily by Molot.

Palhares darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Molot trying to hold on to Palhares's head to control him but Palhares postures up.
Molot is trying to stand.
Palhares seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Molot does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Palhares shoots in looking for a takedown but Molot manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Palhares's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Molot tries to clinch up but Palhares circles away and keeps his distance.
Molot defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Palhares.
Vladimir Molot has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rousimar Palhares.

Molot moves into the clinch.

Molot tightens his grip and picks Palhares up, before dumping him to the ground. Palhares manages to land in guard.
Molot will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Molot is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Palhares is trying to control the position but Molot postures up.
Molot wants to stand but Palhares has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Molot defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Palhares.
Molot tries to clinch but Palhares moves out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A head kick from Molot lands but Palhares takes it in his stride.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Palhares with a poor takedown
and Molot counters with a leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Molot. No joy for Palhares on that attempt.
Palhares looks gassed!
Palhares throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Molot's waist but Molot gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Palhares off to one side.

Molot looking to score a takedown here. Palhares is defending well but Molot drives through and ends up in Palhares's guard.
Palhares wants to sweep here but Molot controlling him for the moment.
Molot wanted to stand there but Palhares had control of the position.
Molot stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Palhares swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares wants to sweep here but Molot controlling him for the moment.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Vladimir Molot just wasn't active enough.
Molot tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Palhares paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Palhares shoots in and drives through. Molot sprawls well.
Palhares with a lazy takedown attempt

and Molot counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Molot.
Molot works on Palhares's body with a couple of short punches.
Palhares being controlled against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Molot gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Molot tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Palhares.
Palhares wants to control but Molot is keeping busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Molot tries to stand and escape but Palhares actually recovers to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Molot 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.

Palhares shoots in but Molot avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Palhares throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Molot's waist but Molot gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Palhares off to one side.
Palhares closes this distance looking for a takedown but Molot circles away.
Vladimir Molot has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rousimar Palhares.

Molot moves into the clinch successfully.

Molot breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Palhares shoots for a takedown but Molot saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Vladimir Molot is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Molot goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Molot gets a clinch.
Palhares has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Molot after a bit of a struggle.
Molot lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Palhares is breathing heavily.
Molot creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Palhares's defenses.
Molot is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Molot lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Molot is defending well.
Palhares is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A bit of stalling here from Molot.
Palhares tries for a takedown but Molot manages to get underhooks.
Molot's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Molot lands a knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Palhares wants a takedown but no success here.
Palhares is trying to pull guard but Molot has him pressed against the cage.
Molot stalling in the clinch.
Palhares jumps guard but Molot stands there with Palhares around his waist. Palhares gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Palhares is trying to pull guard but Molot has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Molot with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Palhares jumps guard but Molot turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Molot manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Molot is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Molot kicks Palhares off and gets to his feet.
Molot lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Molot gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Molot taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Palhares prevents the takedown attempt.
Palhares is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Molot to keep the fight standing.

Palhares has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Molot is trying to keep an underhook but Palhares manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Molot tries to roll over but Palhares keeps him under control.
Molot is trying to stand back up but Palhares is controlling him
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Molot dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Molot wants to clinch.
Molot tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Palhares manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Molot looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Palhares closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Molot to the mat! Molot manages to get full guard.
Molot working a defensive guard here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Molot is looking to stand back up but Palhares counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Molot.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Molot blocking the ground and pound attempt from Palhares.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares is trying to control. Molot wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Palhares is trying to work for a kimura but Molot is defending well.
Molot is staying active underneath Palhares, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Molot forces Palhares back against the cage and clinches.
Molot taking a breather.
Molot wants to break the clinch but can't.
Palhares is trying to drag Molot to the mat but Molot just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Palhares has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Molot is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Palhares is trying to pull guard but Molot has him pressed against the cage.
Vladimir Molot has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rousimar Palhares.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Molot is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Palhares takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Palhares wants to take the fight to the mat but Molot manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Molot utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Molot displaying some good clinch control by pressing Palhares up against the cage.

Molot breaks the clinch.
Molot tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Palhares manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Molot gets a clinch.
Molot using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Molot escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Palhares tries to score a power double leg takedown but Molot sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Palhares somewhat.
Molot fails in his attempt to clinch.

Molot closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Palhares's guard.
Molot sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Palhares is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladimir Molot showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Molot has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Molot!