PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ratt Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pluto Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hughes comes to the cage accompanied by Country boy can survive. Palhares is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by TOQUINHO. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hughes
vs
Palhares

181 cm
35
175 lbs
37 - 17 - 0

181 cm
30
173 lbs
21 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc
Hellbent

Convicted Trap House
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 37 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ratt Hughes!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pluto Palhares!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Josh West and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hughes throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hughes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Palhares misses with a hook to the body
and Hughes counters with a nice uppercut.
Hughes fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Palhares on the side of the head.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Palhares.
Hughes misses with an uppercut.
Hughes thows a body shot but no joy.
Palhares throws a leg kick
and Hughes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Palhares connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Palhares misses with a body kick.
Palhares throws the kick towards the body but Hughes avoids it.
Palhares blocks a leg kick.
Hughes takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A swing and a miss from Palhares.
Hughes moves forwards but Palhares connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Palhares scoring well with a low kick there.
Hughes throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares jabs at Hughes's body.
Palhares throws a leg kick

and Hughes counters with a shoot takedown. Palhares fights it but they end up in guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Palhares preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hughes controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hughes has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Palhares looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hughes is one step ahead there.
Hughes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hughes tries to free his leg and advance position but Palhares is retaining full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hughes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hughes is fighting to break Palhares's control of his arms but Palhares is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes throws a big right hand that misses.
Palhares trying to keep a closed guard but Hughes is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Palhares. Hughes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hughes looks to score with a jab to the body but Palhares is just out of range.
Palhares misses with an uppercut.
Palhares throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hughes getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Palhares throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Hughes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Palhares manages to avoid it.
Jab by Palhares.
Pluto Palhares seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hughes has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Ratt Hughes has been cut.
Palhares throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Palhares looks to land a right hand but Hughes moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Palhares throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hughes.
Hughes swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hughes moves out of range as Palhares strikes.
Donk. Palhares catches Hughes right on the button with a cross.
Palhares walks into a jab.
Hughes connects with a nice looking jab.
Palhares lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hughes cracks Palhares with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Palhares swings widly with a right hand
and Hughes counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A kick lands to the mid section there for Palhares.
A chopping leg kick lands by Palhares.
Palhares scores with a body shot.
Palhares avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares misses with a low kick.
Palhares thumps Hughes with a low kick.
Hughes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Palhares sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Palhares throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Hughes misses with a series of wild punches.
Palhares lands a head kick. Hughes smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Hughes tries a low kick but Palhares avoids it.
Hughes throws a jab but it's blocked by Palhares.
Some wild striking there from Palhares.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hughes fails with the takedown.
Palhares ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Pluto Palhares will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ratt Hughes's cut.
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.

Hughes misses with a hook. Palhares ducked under it nicely.
Palhares lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Hughes throws a jab but it's blocked by Palhares.
Palhares dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hughes. That did some damage!
Hughes on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Hughes checks a leg kick.
Palhares swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Palhares throws a head kick but Hughes moves out of range.
Hughes lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Palhares staying out of range there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hughes fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Palhares drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hughes gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Palhares counters with a shoot takedown. Hughes fights it but they end up in guard.
Hughes tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes is working hard here to advance position.
Hughes is trying to keep Palhares in close.
Palhares throws a big elbow that misses.
Palhares postures up and lands a big shot to Hughes's brow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Palhares throwing strikes but missing.
Hughes looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Palhares puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Palhares takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Hughes is trying to get back to full guard.
Palhares wants to pass to mount but Hughes is defending the position.
Palhares content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes is looking for a sweep. Palhares is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Palhares trying to pass the guard but Hughes defending well.
Palhares wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hughes keeps working.
Hughes is trying to control but can't.
Hughes is looking to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hughes scores with a hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Palhares throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hughes.
Good work by Hughes as he checks the leg kick.
Palhares smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Nice defenses there by Palhares.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares scores with a kick to the midsection.
Palhares throws a series of punches but Hughes avoids them all with ease.
Hughes throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Palhares plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Palhares misses with a body shot.
Palhares lands a head kick!
Hughes pivots, looking for a leg kick but Palhares is out of range and Hughes settles back down.
Hughes misses with a looping left.
Hughes avoids a kick to the body.
Palhares slips under a jab.
Hughes scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Hughes lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hughes pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes blocks the body kick.
Palhares throws a shot from downtown. Hughes moves away and avoids it.
Palhares works Hughes's body with a nice hook.
Palhares scores with a kick to the midsection.
Hughes moves out of range of the body kick from Palhares.
Pluto Palhares seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Palhares jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Palhares takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Hughes takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Jab by Palhares.
Palhares lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hughes's sensitive parts.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Palhares fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hughes.
Palhares blocks a jab.
A nice leg kick lands there from Palhares.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pluto Palhares showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ratt Hughes's cut.
That's time! Hughes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hughes misses with a hook. Palhares ducked under it nicely.
Palhares moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hughes, right into the meat.
A solid leg kick lands there for Palhares.
Hughes fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hughes has his takedown stuffed

and Palhares decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hughes's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Palhares trying to control the position from guard on top but Hughes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hughes can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Palhares controls the pace.
Palhares tries to free his leg and advance position but Hughes is retaining full guard.
Hughes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Palhares uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hughes has time to react.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hughes's calf.
Hughes checks a low kick from Palhares.
Palhares jabs Hughes to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Palhares cracks the inside of Hughes's front leg.
Palhares goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Palhares shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Palhares was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hughes prevents Palhares from improving position.
Palhares laying and praying for a moment but Hughes takes advantage and regains half guard.
Hughes moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares is working Hughes over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Pluto Palhares has got the better of the ground game so far.
Palhares cracks Hughes with a solid left hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Palhares preventing the sweep.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hughes is on top in guard.
Palhares seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Palhares trying to control the position.
Palhares utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Palhares being controlled here, momentarily.
Hughes wants to pass the guard but Palhares is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares has control of Hughes's left arm, preventing Hughes from doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Pluto Palhares.
A low kick from Palhares misses

and Hughes counters with a single leg into guard. Palhares didn't expect that.
Palhares looking to control.
Hughes trying to control the position from guard on top but Palhares is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Palhares is adopting a defensive guard.
Palhares 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Palhares takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hughes misses the shot to the body.
Palhares throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hughes stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Palhares lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hughes's sensitive parts.
Palhares blocks a jab.

Hughes scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Palhares tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hughes wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Palhares gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Palhares is trying to control but can't.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Palhares is defending against the submission attempts here by Hughes.
Palhares is staying active underneath Hughes, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pluto Palhares really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ratt Hughes's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

That kick from Palhares tenderised Hughes's leg. Hughes is trying to keep his angry face on.
Hughes blocks a jab.
Palhares jabs Hughes to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Hughes jabs Palhares right on the nose. Palhares blinks but takes it well.
A combination from Hughes does no damage.
Palhares misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Palhares lands a lovely overhand right.
Hughes looks to land a right hand but Palhares moved out of range.
Palhares works the jab nicely.
Hughes misses the jab.
Palhares feints and then cracks Hughes's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hughes down.
Palhares throws a low kick but Hughes moves out of range easily.
Hughes cracks the inside of Palhares's front leg.
Hughes is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Palhares throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick from Palhares lands but Hughes takes it in his stride.
Hughes closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Hughes lands a slapping body shot.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Palhares as he jumps to the side.
Palhares cracks the inside of Hughes's front leg.
Palhares fakes the leg kick and cracks Hughes in the body.
A big right from Palhares misses.
Hughes walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Hughes throws a low kick, looking for Palhares's leg but Palhares calmly moves out of range.

Palhares scores with a takedown into Hughes's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hughes controlling Palhares's posture.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Palhares cracks Hughes with a solid left hand.
Palhares is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Palhares preventing the sweep.
Hughes trying to control the position here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Palhares won't allow Hughes to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes is looking to sweep but instead, Palhares has passed into half guard.
Palhares lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hughes wants to improve his position but Palhares is controlling well.
Hughes slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Palhares throws a big elbow that misses.
Hughes is trying to keep Palhares in close.
Hughes is pulling down on Palhares's head. It's preventing any offense from Palhares, at least for the moment.
Palhares trying to control the position from guard on top but Hughes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hughes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Palhares is one step ahead there.

We're going to have a standup here because Ratt Hughes wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Palhares misses with the body kick
and Hughes counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Palhares thows a body kick. Hughes tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Hughes will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Palhares throws a head kick that misses.
Hughes shoots in but Palhares avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Palhares uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hughes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hughes gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Palhares with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pluto Palhares dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Ratt Hughes's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Palhares shoots in for a double leg but Hughes sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hughes connects with a good right hand that stumbles Palhares. Palhares circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Hughes on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Palhares. Palhares obviously looking to wear him down.
Palhares looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Hughes closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Palhares keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Hughes is controlling the pace.
Hughes prevents Palhares from improving his position.
Hughes not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hughes is working away from the top position though.
Hughes slows the pace down in half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Palhares throws a hook but Hughes avoids it easily.
Hughes goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Palhares lands the left hand.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hughes. That's going to slow Palhares down.
Palhares throws a body punch but Hughes moves out of range.
Palhares throws a combination. Hughes tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Palhares tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares throws a solid leg kick but Hughes takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Palhares.
Palhares misses with a double jab
and Hughes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Palhares ducks under a wild hook from Hughes.
Palhares throws a nice inside leg kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hughes missing with a left hand there. Palhares was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A slapping body kick lands there for Palhares.
Palhares thows a body shot but no joy.
Palhares just misses with a punch to the body.
Palhares misses with a leg kick.
A shot to the liver by Hughes. Beautiful body shot.
Palhares misses with a left hand
and Palhares takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hughes throws a jab when Palhares was well out of range.
Ratt Hughes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares ducks under a wild hook from Hughes.
Hughes wants to land a leg kick but Palhares is out of range.
Palhares digs a good hook to Hughes's body.
Hughes shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Palhares misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hughes.
Good leg kick by Palhares there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Hughes looks to score with a jab to the body but Palhares is just out of range.
Palhares throws a hook but Hughes avoids it easily.
Palhares lets loose with a powerful body kick. Hughes will feel that in the morning.
Hughes closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Hughes avoids the body shot from Palhares.
A slow jab from Hughes misses its intended target.
Palhares is looking to score with low kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Palhares swings for the body but Hughes moves out of range.
Palhares pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Palhares lands a leg kick that knocks Hughes off balance momentarily.
Hughes clobbers Palhares with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Palhares scores with a sloppy right hand. Hughes should have avoided that one.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Palhares, right into the meat.
Hughes lands a slapping body shot.
Palhares is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
A nice leg kick lands there from Palhares.
Hughes checks a low kick from Palhares.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hughes lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Hughes throws a series of punches but Palhares avoids them all with ease.
Palhares lands the left hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ratt Hughes.
I think Palhares has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 46:49
Judge Josh West scores the fight 46:49
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pluto Palhares!
Pluto Palhares is the new welterweight champion!
Our winner, Pluto Palhares, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.