PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yutaro Chiba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rousimar Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Chiba
vs
Palhares

173 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

173 cm
26
185 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yutaro Chiba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rousimar Palhares!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palhares fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Chiba avoids it really well and circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Chiba.
Chiba shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Palhares defends it nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Chiba.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yutaro Chiba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chiba shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Palhares pinned against the cage. Palhares gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Chiba shoots in and drives through. Palhares sprawls well.
Chiba could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Palhares looks for a takedown but Chiba sprawls well.

Palhares shoots in and bounces Chiba off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Palhares trying to control the position from guard on top but Chiba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chiba utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Palhares drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Chiba manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Palhares has Chiba in his guard.
Chiba showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Palhares looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chiba trying to control but Palhares is working from the bottom.
Palhares wants to sweep here but Chiba controlling him for the moment.

Yutaro Chiba has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Chiba shoots in for a takedown but Palhares shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Chiba displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Palhares.
Chiba closes this distance looking for a takedown but Palhares circles away.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Palhares fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Palhares fails with a takedown attempt.

Chiba shoots in and gets a takedown into Palhares's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Chiba trying to control the position from guard on top but Palhares is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Chiba is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Palhares is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Chiba passes Palhares's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Palhares manages to get to full guard.
Palhares keeping moving, preventing Chiba from controlling successfully.
Chiba passes Palhares's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares wants to get back to full guard.
Chiba wants to take a breather but Palhares is having none of it.
Chiba content to control rather than advance.
Chiba is just content to waste time from the top position. Palhares takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Chiba slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Yutaro Chiba wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Chiba shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Palhares sprawls well. Palhares wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Chiba gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Palhares looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Chiba keeping moving, preventing Palhares from controlling successfully.
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 Yutaro Chiba will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Palhares keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Palhares throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Chiba's waist but Chiba gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Palhares off to one side.
Palhares closes the distance and clinches up with Chiba, looking for a takedown. Palhares pushes Chiba against the cage but Chiba circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Chiba shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Palhares sprawls well. Palhares wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Chiba gets slowly back to his feet.
Chiba changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Palhares tries to avoid it but Chiba manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Palhares to the ground. Palhares escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yutaro Chiba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Palhares with that takedown attempt.
Chiba looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Chiba dives in and grabs Palhares's left leg, looking for a takedown. Palhares pushes down on Chiba's head and hops out.
Chiba looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Palhares is fending him off so far but Chiba persists. Nope, Palhares circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck for Chiba with that takedown attempt.
Chiba tries to score a power double leg takedown but Palhares sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Chiba somewhat.
Palhares fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rousimar Palhares is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chiba tries for a takedown but Palhares sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Palhares defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Chiba.

Chiba shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Palhares is trying to defend but Chiba finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Yutaro Chiba overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Palhares gets full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chiba tries to free his leg and advance position but Palhares is retaining full guard.
Palhares has momentary wrist control but Chiba slips an elbow through the middle.
Palhares manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Palhares trying to control but Chiba is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares moves to take his opponent's back.
I really don't envy Chiba right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares throwing sloppy strikes.

Palhares looking for the choke from the back.

Palhares is persistently looking for the submission but Chiba is defending it well.

Chiba defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Palhares looking for the choke from the back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Palhares looking for the choke but no joy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Chiba is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Palhares gets his way!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rousimar Palhares showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Palhares fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Palhares shoots in and bounces Chiba off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Chiba is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Chiba 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Chiba escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Palhares gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Chiba is looking for a triangle but Palhares pushes his legs off easily.
Palhares trying to control but Chiba is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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, due to lack of action by Rousimar Palhares.
Chiba shoots in looking for a takedown. Palhares tries to sprawl out of it but Chiba keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Palhares manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Chiba stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Chiba wants it to stay on the feet.

Palhares shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Palhares was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Palhares sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chiba regains half guard.
Palhares moves nicely into side control.

Palhares is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Chiba has escaped the position, nice work there.
Palhares takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares gets to mount! Chiba was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Chiba is in all sorts of trouble here.
Palhares looking to control but Chiba is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rousimar Palhares comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Palhares has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rousimar Palhares!