PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ceaser El Toro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pelayo Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). El Toro's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Bulls On Parade. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Pelayo Palhares enters the cage!

El Toro
vs
Palhares

174 cm
33
194 lbs
23 - 7 - 1

174 cm
28
196 lbs
14 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $150

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 23 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ceaser El Toro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pelayo Palhares!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Columbo Gatti and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palhares dives in and grabs El Toro's left leg, looking for a takedown. El Toro pushes down on Palhares's head and hops out.
El Toro misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Palhares.
El Toro swinging wildly here.
Palhares throws a body punch but El Toro moves out of range.
El Toro throws a big shot that misses.
Palhares shoots for a double leg takedown but El Toro sprawls well. He's pushed Palhares's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
El Toro misses with a body shot.
El Toro connects with a looping right hand.
Palhares on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

It looks like Pelayo Palhares has been cut.
El Toro looks to throw the jab but Palhares is out of range.
Palhares connects with a body shot that sends El Toro's belly button to the back.
El Toro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Palhares moves away.

Palhares shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. El Toro manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
El Toro controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Toro 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.
El Toro trying to control the position.
Palhares trying to control the position from guard on top but El Toro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as El Toro holds on and takes a little breather.
Palhares trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Palhares is in close to El Toro's body, working some short punches and elbows.
El Toro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Palhares is one step ahead there.
Palhares loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
El Toro wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
El Toro looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Palhares puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Palhares is thwarting El Toro's attempts to control the position.
Palhares throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
El Toro tries to roll over but Palhares keeps him under control.
Palhares seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but El Toro does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Palhares is looking to advance position but El Toro won't allow it.
El Toro tries to roll over but Palhares keeps him under control.
Palhares has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
El Toro is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as El Toro is looking to escape.
El Toro is looking to get to half guard.
El Toro tries to hold on but Palhares pushes him away.
Palhares thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Palhares looking to control and managing it successfully.
El Toro really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
El Toro slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Still in half guard, Palhares seems content to control.
Palhares wants to lay and pray for a moment but El Toro keeps working.
Palhares is thwarting El Toro's attempts to control the position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
El Toro wants to control but Palhares is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
No luck for Palhares with that takedown attempt.
Ceaser El Toro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pelayo Palhares.
El Toro is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Palhares.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
El Toro throws a leg kick but Palhares sees it coming and moves out of range.
Palhares just misses with a punch to the body.
El Toro throws a looping overhand right but Palhares ducks down to avoid it.
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 Ceaser El Toro will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Pelayo Palhares's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Palhares defending well as El Toro loads up on a big left hand.
El Toro avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
El Toro thows a left - swing and a miss!
El Toro misses with a straight right.
Palhares throws a hook but El Toro avoids it easily.
El Toro swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A left lands for Palhares.
El Toro throws a hook but Palhares avoids it easily.
El Toro throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A slow jab from El Toro misses its intended target.
El Toro misses with a low kick.
Palhares avoids the body shot from El Toro.
A big right from El Toro misses.
Palhares takes a swing at El Toro's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares throws an overhand right that lands on El Toro's shoulder, as El Toro tries to avoid the shot.
Palhares thows a left - swing and a miss!
Palhares needs to keep his hands up - El Toro had a free shot at his head there.
El Toro jabbing away but nothing is landing.
El Toro misses with a wild body shot.
Palhares takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
El Toro lands a glancing blow to the side of Palhares's head.
Palhares fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts El Toro, as that shot connected.
El Toro thuds his right hand into Palhares's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Palhares takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Ceaser El Toro is winning the standup battle so far.
Palhares throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
El Toro fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Palhares there.
El Toro throws a right and a left that both miss.
Palhares swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and El Toro connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Palhares defending well as El Toro loads up on a big left hand.
Palhares shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Palhares looks for a takedown but El Toro sprawls well.
Palhares shoots in looking for a takedown but El Toro manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Palhares's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ceaser El Toro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pelayo Palhares.
Palhares misses with a straight right.
El Toro uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Palhares.
Palhares takes one to the chin there.
El Toro misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares moves out of range of the body kick.
El Toro throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Palhares stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
El Toro tries a head kick but it misses.
El Toro connects with a solid leg kick.
No luck for Palhares with that takedown attempt.
Palhares cracks a nice hook into El Toro's ribs.
Palhares tries to land a leg kick but El Toro saw it coming and moves away.
El Toro misses with a hook. Palhares ducked under it nicely.
El Toro throws the left hand but Palhares avoids the punch easily.
Palhares uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from El Toro.
El Toro tests Palhares's chin there with a solid looking shot.
El Toro ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
El Toro connects with a good right hand that stumbles Palhares. Palhares circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
El Toro's jab looks to have found its range, popping Palhares under the eye.
This has been an exciting period of action!
El Toro moves away from the strike by Palhares.
Nice defenses there by Palhares.
Palhares moves out of range as El Toro strikes.
Palhares uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by El Toro.
El Toro lands a head shot.

That has opened up Pelayo Palhares's cut even more.
El Toro swings widly with a right hand

and Palhares counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Palhares is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Palhares won't allow El Toro to sweep him here.
El Toro trying to keep a closed guard but Palhares is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ceaser El Toro dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Pelayo Palhares's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

El Toro throws a front kick aimed at Palhares's knee but Palhares avoids it well.
Palhares shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with El Toro but El Toro pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Palhares keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Palhares shoots in but no luck this time.
El Toro takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Palhares throws a leg kick but El Toro moved away.
El Toro moves out of range of the leg kick from Palhares.
El Toro takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Palhares shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Palhares showed some decent athleticism there.
Palhares sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. El Toro defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Toro is looking for a sweep. Palhares is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Palhares stalling.
El Toro is trying to maintain the position but Palhares is very close to passing his half guard.
El Toro tries to roll over but Palhares keeps him under control.
El Toro wants to control but Palhares is keeping busy.
El Toro blocking the ground and pound attempt from Palhares.
El Toro is trying to maintain the position but Palhares is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Palhares is looking for submissions but instead, El Toro has regained full guard.
Ceaser El Toro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pelayo Palhares has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
El Toro keeping moving, preventing Palhares from controlling successfully.
Palhares throws a strike but El Toro rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Palhares has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
El Toro wants to stand but Palhares is controlling his posture from full guard.
El Toro is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
El Toro wants to control from the top but Palhares keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
El Toro tries to free his leg and advance position but Palhares is retaining full guard.

El Toro avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
El Toro stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Palhares swivels though and keeps the full guard.
El Toro looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Pelayo Palhares has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Ceaser El Toro wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
El Toro throws a leg kick that is checked
and Palhares counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
El Toro lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Palhares circles away quickly and effectively.
El Toro digs a good body shot into Palhares's ribs.
El Toro will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Palhares shoots for a double leg takedown but El Toro sprawls well. He's pushed Palhares's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ceaser El Toro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pelayo Palhares.
Palhares throws a low kick but it's checked well by El Toro.
Palhares throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
El Toro throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Palhares sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
El Toro looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Palhares thows a body shot but no joy.
Palhares walks into a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ceaser El Toro showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for El Toro, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ceaser El Toro!