PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rulon Mondello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominickoy Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Palhares comes into a darkened arena with his song building. "Rumour Has It/Someone Like You" kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Mondello
vs
Palhares

185 cm
19
212 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

193 cm
26
216 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rulon Mondello!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dominickoy Palhares!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Josh West and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palhares shoots in looking for a takedown but Mondello manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Palhares's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Mondello throws a big shot that misses.
Mondello throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Palhares sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Palhares closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mondello to the mat! Mondello manages to get full guard.
Palhares tries to free his leg and advance position but Mondello is retaining full guard.
Palhares is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Palhares drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Mondello dives on top into guard.
Palhares keeping moving, preventing Mondello from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rulon Mondello just wasn't active enough.
Palhares fails with a takedown attempt.
Palhares shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mondello sprawls well. Mondello wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Palhares gets slowly back to his feet.
Rulon Mondello has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dominickoy Palhares.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mondello feints and as Palhares raises his hands in defense, Mondello changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mondello has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Palhares is proving hard to escape from.
Palhares is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Palhares.

Palhares is trying to get an arm triangle but Mondello is defending well.
Mondello manages to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Palhares is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mondello sees it coming and defends easily.

Palhares is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Palhares is looking for a kimura here.
Mondello moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mondello is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Palhares drops back, looking for a kneebar! Mondello looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Mondello looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Mondello!
What's Palhares going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mondello trying to control the position but Palhares is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mondello wants to stand but Palhares is controlling his arm.
Palhares manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Palhares seems to be looking for submissions.
Palhares is thwarting Mondello's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dominickoy Palhares will probably get the nod.
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.

Mondello throws a sloppy head kick and Palhares moves out of range easily.
Palhares shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Palhares scores a takedown into full mount!

Palhares goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Mondello is on top in guard.
Palhares looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Mondello stopping the sweep attempt from Palhares.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Palhares seems keen to control Mondello's posture.

We're going to have a standup here because Rulon Mondello wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Palhares shoots for a double leg takedown but Mondello sprawls well. He's pushed Palhares's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mondello lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Palhares circles away quickly and effectively.
Mondello misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares shoots in looking for a takedown. Mondello tries to sprawl out of it but Palhares keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mondello manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rulon Mondello has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dominickoy Palhares.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Palhares.

Palhares looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Mondello!
Dominickoy Palhares has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mondello trying desperately to get to his feet.

Palhares has hold of Mondello's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Mondello manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Palhares goes for an armbar but Mondello turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Mondello.
Mondello is looking to stand up but Palhares won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Mondello postures up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Rulon Mondello wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Mondello stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mondello wants it to stay on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Mondello darts in and clinches Palhares up against the cage.

Mondello breaks from the clinch.
Palhares blocks the body kick.
Palhares shoots in for a takedown but Mondello shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Palhares shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Palhares tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mondello sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Palhares somewhat.

Mondello moves into the clinch successfully.

Mondello breaks the clinch.
Palhares throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mondello's waist but Mondello gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Palhares off to one side.
Mondello throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Mondello gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Mondello breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Palhares with a poor takedown

and Mondello counters with a nice right hand that sends Palhares toppling to the canvas! Palhares scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Mondello finish him?!

Palhares is rocked!

It looks like Dominickoy Palhares has been cut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mondello lands a big uppercut and this one is all over! His foe lies motionless on the canvas - a massive one punch knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Rulon Mondello!