PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rousimar Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fernando Rueda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Palhares kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Cutty Ranks - Limb by Limb. Rueda has chosen darude-sandstorm as his entrance music. Rousimar Palhares has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Palhares
vs
Rueda

181 cm
18
168 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
175 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rousimar Palhares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fernando Rueda!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palhares wants to clinch

and Rueda counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Palhares looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rueda wanted to stand there but Palhares had control of the position.
Rueda looking to pass the guard.

Palhares is working an open guard so Rueda takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rueda shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Palhares pinned against the cage. Palhares gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nice takedown defense from Palhares. No joy for Rueda on that attempt.
Rueda checks a low kick from Palhares.
Palhares throws a half hearted mid kick.
Palhares misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rueda sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Palhares shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rueda napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Palhares is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rueda has escaped the position, nice work there.
Palhares sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Rueda is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Palhares is looking to take a break and control but Rueda is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Palhares wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rueda, who protects the arm well.

Palhares looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rueda sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Palhares is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rueda sees it coming and defends easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Palhares seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rueda does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rueda is trying is best to control the position here.

Palhares is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rueda is just riding it out for now. Palhares eventually gives up the hold.
Rueda trying to control here.

Palhares is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Palhares wants to work for an arm triangle but Rueda is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Palhares is breathing heavily.
Rueda trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rueda manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rueda pulls Palhares in close to his closed guard and prevents Palhares from doing any damage or advancing position.

Rueda is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Palhares is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Palhares drops back looking for a leg! Rueda is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rueda manages to kick Palhares off! Palhares jumps back into Rueda's guard.
Rueda is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Palhares drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Palhares jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Palhares got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rueda has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Palhares has managed to get both his arms back between Rueda's legs - danger averted.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Palhares wants to control from the top but Rueda keeps moving.
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 Rousimar Palhares will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Palhares tries to clinch up

and Rueda counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Palhares's guard now.
Rueda wants to control from the top but Palhares keeps moving.
Rueda won't allow Palhares to sweep him here.

Rueda got a little sloppy there for a moment and Palhares has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rueda has managed to get both his arms back between Palhares's legs - danger averted.
Rueda content to stall in guard here.
Rueda must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Palhares throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Palhares is looking for a triangle but Rueda pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rueda passes Palhares's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Rueda stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Palhares tries to clinch but Rueda moves away

and Rueda counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rueda tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Palhares.
Rueda is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Rueda wants to lay and pray for a moment but Palhares keeps working.
Palhares regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Palhares is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rueda is aware though and is defending well.
Rueda wants to stand but Palhares has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Palhares is working an open guard so Rueda takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Rueda crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Palhares - the referee stops the clock and Rueda gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Palhares. Rueda manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Rueda fails to land the takedown.
Rueda avoids the head kick by Palhares.
Rueda avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Palhares tries a head kick but it misses.
Palhares wants to clinch
and Rueda counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares wants to clinch up but Rueda keeps it at a distance.
Palhares wants to clinch

and Rueda counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Palhares gets back to full guard.
Rueda 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 pushes a forearm under Rueda's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Rueda is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Rousimar Palhares!
Rousimar Palhares was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.