PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Diogo Palhinha (ranked 3414 p4p, 2623 weight class) and Lance Phelps (ranked 385 p4p, 312 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Palhinha
vs
Phelps

180 cm
25
265
1 - 0 - 0

186 cm
25
245
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Dangerous GnP
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Diogo Palhinha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lance Phelps!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phelps fails with a takedown attempt.
Palhinha tries to counter with a takedown but Phelps is quick to defend against it.
Phelps shoots in and drives through. Palhinha sprawls well.

Phelps shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Palhinha is trying to defend but Phelps finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Phelps wants to lay and pray for a moment but Palhinha keeps working.
Palhinha missing with punches from the bottom.
Palhinha on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Palhinha tries to get out of the position.
Palhinha gets back to full guard.
Palhinha keeping moving, preventing Phelps from controlling successfully.
Palhinha really is a fat lump.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phelps postures up.
Phelps stands up over Palhinha, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Palhinha keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Palhinha wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhinha throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Palhinha striking off his back.
Palhinha lands a decent punch to the body there.
Palhinha wants to sweep here but Phelps controlling him for the moment.
Phelps stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Palhinha swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Palhinha looking to hit a scissor sweep but Phelps is one step ahead there.
Phelps trying to control the position from guard on top but Palhinha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Palhinha is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Phelps trying to control but Palhinha is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Phelps misses with an attempted mid kick.
Phelps shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Palhinha pinned against the cage. Palhinha gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Diogo Palhinha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lance Phelps.
Phelps wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Phelps shoots for a double leg takedown but Palhinha sprawls well. He's pushed Phelps's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Palhinha half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Palhinha takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Palhinha shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Palhinha showed some decent athleticism there.
Ground and pound from Palhinha.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ground and pound from Palhinha.
Palhinha working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Palhinha blocks the strikes from Phelps.
Palhinha has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phelps is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Palhinha scores with a couple of nice shots.
Phelps is looking to improve his position.
Palhinha slips a nice elbow through Phelps's hands, connecting with Phelps's forehead.
Nice strikes from Palhinha there.
Palhinha landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Palhinha lands with a punch from half guard.
Palhinha lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Phelps has hold of Palhinha's hands but Palhinha slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Phelps wants to get back to full guard.
Palhinha looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Phelps on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Palhinha scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Palhinha wants to control but Phelps is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phelps moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Phelps lands a decent punch to the body there.
Palhinha postures up and lands a big shot to Phelps's brow.
Phelps is trying to keep Palhinha in close.
Palhinha is working Phelps over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Palhinha keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Phelps's head.
Phelps can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Palhinha controls the pace.
Phelps tries to strike from the bottom.
Palhinha cracks Phelps with a solid left hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Palhinha stands up over Phelps, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Phelps throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Phelps looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Diogo Palhinha dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Palhinha shoots in and bounces Phelps off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Palhinha stopping the sweep attempt from Phelps.
Diogo Palhinha overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Phelps will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Phelps wants to control the position but Palhinha says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Palhinha seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Palhinha working Phelps over with strikes.
Phelps trying to control but Palhinha postures up.
Phelps has hold of Palhinha's hands but Palhinha slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phelps taking some punishment here, with Palhinha in his half guard.
Palhinha is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Palhinha looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Palhinha winds up and cracks Phelps with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phelps is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Palhinha is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Phelps tries to roll over but Palhinha keeps him under control.
Phelps is trying to maintain the position but Palhinha is very close to passing his half guard.
Palhinha working Phelps over with strikes.
Palhinha is nestled in close to Phelps, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Phelps wants to get back to full guard.
Palhinha lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Palhinha wants to pass to mount but Phelps is defending the position.
Phelps wants to control but Palhinha is keeping busy.
Palhinha looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phelps missing with punches from the bottom.
Phelps tries to get to full guard but Palhinha has control of the leg.
Palhinha working the head and body with strikes.
Palhinha is nestled in close to Phelps, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Phelps is looking for a sweep. Palhinha is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Phelps is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Palhinha scores with a couple of nice shots.
Palhinha is nestled in close to Phelps, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Phelps punching from the bottom.
Phelps is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Palhinha lands a nice short elbow.
Palhinha is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Phelps can do to turn this around?
Palhinha is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Palhinha drops an elbow to the side of Phelps's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhinha is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Palhinha lands with a punch from half guard.
Phelps wants to control but Palhinha is keeping busy.
Palhinha takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Palhinha seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Phelps does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Palhinha blocks the strikes from Phelps.
Palhinha lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Palhinha passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Phelps!
Palhinha scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhinha has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Phelps's face.
Phelps is trying to escape the mount.
Phelps is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Palhinha with a couple of short strikes.
Phelps working to try and regain half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Phelps is breathing heavily.
Phelps keeps trying to improve his position.
Palhinha connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Diogo Palhinha dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Palhinha swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Phelps shoots for a takedown but Palhinha saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Palhinha drives through with a takedown into guard.
Phelps wants to hit a sweep here but Palhinha passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Phelps there!
Palhinha with shots to the head and body - Phelps looks very uncomfortable down there.
Phelps is trying desperately to improve position.
The referee warns Phelps that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Palhinha looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Palhinha working the ground and pound effectively.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Phelps tries to reverse the position but Palhinha maintains control.
Palhinha landing shots from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhinha pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Palhinha has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Phelps's face.
Phelps really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Palhinha looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Phelps is desperately trying to improve his position but Palhinha has a good base and remains in mount.
Palhinha putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Palhinha putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Palhinha pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Palhinha scoring with strikes but Phelps is staying in there.
Palhinha unloading with bombs!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Phelps keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Phelps takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phelps is in a horrible position here. Palhinha smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Palhinha has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Phelps's face.
Phelps really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Palhinha. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Phelps is wriggling around trying to escape.
Palhinha landing shots from mount.
Palhinha is landing with some decent strikes but Phelps is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Palhinha in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The referee warns Phelps that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Palhinha lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Palhinha scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Phelps?
Palhinha trying to control but Phelps is having none of it.
Palhinha breaks from Phelps's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhinha lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
A nice elbow there by Palhinha.
Palhinha punishing his opponent with strikes.
Phelps tries to lock up and control but Palhinha gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Phelps keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Palhinha lands a big shot there that rocks Phelps but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Palhinha lands a couple of good shots and Phelps has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Phelps grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Phelps tries to roll but Palhinha sticks to his back.
Palhinha is working the ground and pound. Can Phelps escape?
Phelps tries to roll but Palhinha sticks to his back.
Phelps covers up after that shot from Palhinha.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Palhinha lands shots from the back.
Palhinha throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Phelps!
Phelps takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Can Phelps hold on?! Palhinha is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Palhinha is hanging on to Phelps's back as he tries to escape.
Phelps is trying to remain composed but Palhinha is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
You can see the frustration on Phelps's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Palhinha scores with punches to the body.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Palhinha. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Oooh a big shot gets through from Palhinha. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
You can see the frustration on Phelps's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Lance Phelps has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Diogo Palhinha is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The referee is taking a good look at Phelps as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Palhinha!
Palhinha trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Phelps doesn't escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Diogo Palhinha showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Palhinha 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:25
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:25
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diogo Palhinha!