PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pluto Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pat McDermot (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Palhares comes to the cage accompanied by TOQUINHO. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Palhares
vs
McDermot

181 cm
31
171 lbs
24 - 2 - 0

180 cm
33
181 lbs
40 - 10 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Convicted Trap House
Conviction

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)
Reaper Combatwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pluto Palhares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 40 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pat McDermot!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDermot connects with a solid leg kick.
Palhares checks a leg kick.
McDermot's coach down at The Cooker was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on McDermot's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Palhares walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
McDermot dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Palhares. That did some damage!
A telegraphed right hand from Palhares misses the target.
Palhares avoids the body shot from McDermot.
McDermot throws a wild body kick that Palhares sees coming a mile off.
Palhares checks a low kick from McDermot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares on the wrong end of a nice hook.
McDermot scoring well with a low kick there.
McDermot connects with an inside leg kick.
McDermot does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Palhares uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McDermot.
A solid leg kick lands there for McDermot.
Palhares looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Palhares moves out of range of the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDermot tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Palhares is able to avoid easily.
McDermot misses with a body shot.
McDermot throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Palhares dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on McDermot. That did some damage!
McDermot swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McDermot is looking to land body kicks.
Palhares misses with a leg kick.
Pat McDermot is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDermot throws a leg kick

and Palhares counters with a takedown into side control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
The ground and pound from Palhares seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Palhares misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Palhares trying to control the position but McDermot is working away.
McDermot tries to buck Palhares off but Palhares is having none of it.
McDermot is not content to let Palhares control the position.
McDermot struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDermot might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Palhares haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
McDermot sneaks back into half guard.
Palhares not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Palhares seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but McDermot does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McDermot is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Palhares wants to pass to mount but McDermot is defending the position.
Palhares trying to control from half guard but McDermot is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pat McDermot dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Palhares tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McDermot was well out of range. Poor timing from Palhares.
McDermot swinging wildly here.
McDermot misses with a lunging right hand

and Palhares counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
McDermot wants to sweep here but Palhares controlling him for the moment.
McDermot not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Palhares showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
McDermot is trying to control the position but Palhares postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Palhares loads up on a big right hand but McDermot slips the punch.
McDermot ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Palhares moves away.
Palhares is looking to land body kicks.
McDermot lands a head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDermot misses with a jab, cross combination.
No joy there for McDermot, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Palhares takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
McDermot chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Palhares can pounce on him.
Some bone on bone action there as Palhares checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Palhares jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDermot takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
McDermot throws a hook but Palhares blocks it.
A slow jab from Palhares misses its intended target.
McDermot throws a nice looking combination but Palhares bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Palhares pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McDermot loads up on a big right hand but Palhares slips the punch.
An inside leg kick lands from McDermot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDermot throws a leg kick but Palhares moved away.
McDermot displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Palhares throws out the jab.
Palhares throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A clash of legs there as McDermot blocks the low kick.
Palhares shoots in but McDermot avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Palhares misses with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Pluto Palhares will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A bone on bone clash there as McDermot blocks the leg kick.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
McDermot wants to slow Palhares down by chopping away at his legs.
Pat McDermot seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Some bone on bone action there as Palhares checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
McDermot throws a lazy uppercut

and Palhares counters with a single leg into guard. McDermot didn't expect that.
Palhares keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of McDermot's head.
Palhares wants to pass the guard but McDermot is keeping the position.
Palhares preventing the sweep.
Palhares throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares passes McDermot's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Palhares controlling the pace.
Palhares sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. McDermot defending well though.
Palhares trying to pass the guard but McDermot defending well.
McDermot wants to get back to full guard.
Palhares wants to lay and pray for a moment but McDermot keeps working.
Palhares tries to pass to full mount but McDermot defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Palhares passes the guard and advances to mount!
McDermot is in all sorts of trouble here.
Palhares lands a heavy elbow.
Palhares looking to control and managing it successfully.
McDermot is bucking up trying to escape but Palhares cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDermot sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Palhares moves into full mount! McDermot won't be happy about that!
McDermot is wriggling around trying to escape.
McDermot tries to lock up and control but Palhares gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
McDermot is bucking up trying to escape but Palhares cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Palhares lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Palhares landing strikes from the mount and McDermot is in trouble!
Palhares 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 four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares lands a nice shot to the head.
Palhares punishing his opponent with strikes.
Palhares throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
McDermot tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Palhares looking to ground and pound but McDermot is blocking nicely.
Palhares trying to control but he's not successful this time.
McDermot manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by McDermot, under a barage of strikes from Palhares.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McDermot blocking the ground and pound attempt from Palhares.
Palhares is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and McDermot reverses the position - he's now on top in Palhares's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pluto Palhares clearly takes that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

McDermot blocks the body kick.
McDermot scores with a nice strike.
McDermot lands with an overhand left.
McDermot throws a hook but Palhares blocks it.
Palhares just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares throws a wild body kick that McDermot sees coming a mile off.
Palhares throws a lazy body kick
and McDermot counters with a straight right hand.
Pat McDermot seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Palhares's corner calls for a 1-2. Palhares obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
McDermot keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McDermot fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Palhares bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of McDermot's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donk. McDermot catches Palhares right on the button with a cross.
Palhares does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A low kick from Palhares is predictable there
and McDermot counters with a thumping low kick.
A slow jab from McDermot misses its intended target.
McDermot lands with a straight right. Palhares didn't see that one coming.
Palhares lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDermot walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
McDermot throws a low kick, looking for Palhares's leg but Palhares calmly moves out of range.
McDermot misses with a hook. Palhares ducked under it nicely.
Palhares on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by McDermot. McDermot obviously looking to wear him down.
McDermot tries to land a leg kick but Palhares saw it coming and moves away.
McDermot thows a leg kick but Palhares checks it

and Palhares counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in McDermot's guard now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Palhares wants to control from the top but McDermot keeps moving.
Palhares advances to half guard.
Palhares missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McDermot wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Palhares missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Palhares is pressing down on McDermot's thigh, looking to free his foot. McDermot is holding on for now.
McDermot tries to get to full guard but Palhares has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pluto Palhares had his way with Pat McDermot in that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

McDermot steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Palhares.
Palhares throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Palhares avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Palhares misses with a leg kick.
Palhares is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Palhares walks into a jab.
McDermot is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Palhares.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDermot looks to throw the jab but Palhares is out of range.
Palhares displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McDermot throws out the jab.
McDermot avoids the body shot from Palhares.
Palhares uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McDermot.
Palhares avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
McDermot connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Pat McDermot has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDermot looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Palhares connects with a high kick.
Palhares walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
McDermot misses with a few strikes there.
Both fighters circling a little - Palhares finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Palhares throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDermot avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
McDermot thumps Palhares with a low kick.
Palhares tests McDermot's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Palhares checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
McDermot throws a right and a left that Palhares avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
McDermot takes a swing at Palhares's ribcage but misses.
McDermot keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McDermot throws a lazy uppercut

and Palhares counters with a single leg into guard. McDermot didn't expect that.
McDermot can't keep his opponent in guard - Palhares advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

McDermot looking for submissions off his back.

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 Pluto Palhares.
I think Palhares has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 49:47
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 49:46
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pluto Palhares!
Pluto Palhares took some time post fight to say the following; '"Happy retirement." Pluto and Karter pull a 21 jump street on McDoormot. One air humping his face & the other air humping him doggy style, an image he & the fans won't forget for the rest of their life.'.
The defeated Pat McDermot had this to say: 'This was my last fight. Injuries and age degradation are making it far too difficult to continue. It was a great career, hopefully Mike implements corner-men soon!'.