PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pluto Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Valentine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Palhares might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to TOQUINHO. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Palhares
vs
Valentine

181 cm
32
171 lbs
29 - 3 - 0

185 cm
33
193 lbs
38 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Convicted Trap House
Conviction

Reaper Combatwear
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pluto Palhares!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 38 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alexander Valentine!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Chris Edwards and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valentine ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Palhares moves away.
Valentine throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Valentine moves out of range of the leg kick from Palhares.
Palhares takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Palhares takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Palhares ducks under a wild hook from Valentine.
Palhares rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Valentine moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The fighters circling - Palhares throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Palhares throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A punch lands to the side of Palhares 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Valentine just misses with a punch to the body.
Palhares throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Valentine misses the jab.
Valentine throws out a loose jab but Palhares uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valentine looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Valentine keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Palhares fails with the takedown.
Palhares throws a leg kick which misses Valentine's front leg but catches the back leg as Valentine tries to avoid it.
Pluto Palhares seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valentine moves away from the strike by Palhares.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Valentine throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Valentine swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Valentine darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Valentine uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Palhares has time to react.
Palhares connects with a single shot there.
Valentine lands with a nice body punch.
Valentine throws a low kick but Palhares moves out of range easily.
Palhares throws out a leg kick but Valentine moves out of range and Palhares only half commits.
A looping hook to the body misses from Palhares. Valentine does a little dance to reset his feet.
Palhares avoids a kick to the body.
Palhares misses with an uppercut.
Valentine thows a body shot but no joy.
Palhares throws a leg kick but Valentine sees it coming and moves out of range.
Palhares throws a leg kick but Valentine moved away.
An inside leg kick from Palhares misses.
Palhares throws a solid leg kick but Valentine takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Palhares.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Palhares works the jab nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Valentine has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Valentine cracks Palhares with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Palhares scores with a punch to the head.
Donk. Valentine catches Palhares right on the button with a cross.
Palhares rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Valentine counters with a nice double leg into side control. Palhares won't be happy with that.
Valentine throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Valentine landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Palhares managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Valentine.
Palhares tries to bench press Valentine off him but Valentine keeps the position.
Palhares regains half guard there - taking advantage of Valentine's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Palhares blocking the ground and pound attempt from Valentine.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Valentine is working away from the top position though.
Palhares is looking for a sweep. Valentine is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Valentine looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Palhares trying to control but Valentine postures up.
Palhares is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Valentine is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Valentine working his ground and pound in the gym.
Valentine landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Palhares tries to get to full guard but Valentine has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Valentine wants to take a breather but Palhares is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares is looking to improve his position.
Valentine tries to pass the half guard into mount. Palhares knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Valentine not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Palhares manages to get to full guard.
Palhares is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Valentine preventing the sweep.
Palhares pulls Valentine in close to prevent any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Valentine trying to control but Palhares is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Valentine dominated that round.
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.

Palhares swings for the body but Valentine moves out of range.
Good leg kick by Palhares there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Palhares tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Palhares lands a nice shot that snaps Valentine's head back.
Palhares lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Palhares takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Valentine dips to his left and cracks Palhares with an uppercut!
Palhares avoids a kick to the body.
Valentine fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Palhares manages to avoid it.
Palhares throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Valentine moves out of range as Palhares throws a body kick.
Palhares lands with a nice body kick.
Palhares scoring well with a low kick there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Valentine keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Palhares.
Valentine throws a head kick that misses.
Valentine fails to land with a series of punches.
Palhares looks for the body kick but Valentine saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine slips under a jab from Palhares.
Palhares swings for the body but Valentine moves out of range.

Palhares closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Palhares lands in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Valentine is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Valentine is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Palhares controlling from the top position.
Valentine is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Alexander Valentine has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Palhares is keen to just control but Valentine is a slippery customer.
Valentine is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Palhares jumps into side control!
Palhares sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Valentine is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Valentine trying his best to control but Palhares has mounted him.
Valentine manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine wants to get back to full guard but Palhares has passed into side control.
Valentine is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Palhares is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Valentine tries to reverse the position but Palhares maintains control.
Palhares trying to control but Valentine is having none of it.
Valentine wants to control but Palhares is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Valentine looks a forlorn figure.
Valentine really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Valentine regains half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valentine is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pluto Palhares dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A big right from Palhares misses.
Pluto Palhares is winning the standup battle so far.
Palhares misses with a straight right.
Palhares on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Palhares scores with a leg kick.
Valentine throws a shot to the body.
Palhares tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Valentine was well out of range. Poor timing from Palhares.
Valentine fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Palhares.
Valentine connects with a crisp jab.
Valentine throws a body punch but Palhares moves out of range.
A leg kick checked by Valentine.
Palhares misses the shot to the body.
Valentine checks a low kick from Palhares.
Palhares throws a wild body kick that Valentine sees coming a mile off.
Palhares scores with a head kick.
Palhares lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by Palhares as he connects with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Palhares throws a combination. Valentine tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine throws a series of punches but Palhares avoids them all with ease.
Palhares defending well as Valentine loads up on a big left hand.
Valentine takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Palhares digs a good hook to Valentine's body.
Donk. Valentine catches Palhares right on the button with a cross.
Palhares misses with an uppercut.
Palhares takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Valentine checks a leg kick nicely.
Valentine scores with a hook to the body. Palhares takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Valentine avoids a punch combination nicely.
Palhares lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Palhares pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Valentine throws a low kick but it's checked well by Palhares.
A jab lands there for Palhares.

Palhares looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Valentine tries to get to full guard but Palhares has control of the leg.
Valentine is still trying to improve position.

Valentine looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Valentine is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Palhares pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Valentine looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Palhares is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Valentine wants to get back to full guard.

Valentine actively working from the bottom here.
Palhares trying to mount his opponent but Valentine defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine regains full guard. Nicely done.
Valentine controlling the position.
Palhares throws an elbow that misses. Valentine uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Palhares's guard. Nice move by Valentine!
Valentine trying to control the position from guard on top but Palhares is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Palhares holds on and takes a little breather.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valentine landing with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pluto Palhares clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Palhares throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Palhares, right into the meat.
Valentine misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Palhares.
Valentine tries to score with a low kick but Palhares moves his leg out of the way.
Valentine has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Palhares.
Palhares staying out of range there.
Palhares cracks a nice hook into Valentine's ribs.
Sloppy strikes from Palhares. Those never looked like landing.
Valentine moves out of range of the leg kick from Palhares.
Valentine fails to land with a series of punches.
Palhares looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Palhares connects with a good right hand that stumbles Valentine. Valentine circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Palhares misses with a low kick.
Palhares walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Valentine checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Palhares steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Valentine.
A looping hook to the body misses from Valentine. Palhares does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine dodges the punch combination from Palhares.
Valentine tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Valentine scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Palhares is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Convicted Fight Club, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Palhares here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Valentine fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Valentine landing a few strikes.
Valentine throws an elbow but Palhares slips to the side and avoids it well.
Palhares sneaks back into half guard.
Valentine throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Palhares to regain full guard.

Palhares working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Valentine doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Valentine manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Palhares trying to keep a closed guard but Valentine is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine trying to control but Palhares is working from the bottom.
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!
Palhares controls Valentine momentarily but Valentine frees himself.
Palhares working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Valentine.
Valentine wants to control from the top but Palhares keeps moving.
Palhares is trying to control the position but Valentine postures up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Valentine looking to sit in guard and control but Palhares gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Valentine pulls Palhares in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Valentine looking for a guillotine here but Palhares defends easily.
Palhares postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Valentine utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Valentine is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Palhares is aware though and is defending well.
Palhares is looking to work some ground and pound but Valentine has wrist control.
Palhares trying to control but Valentine is working from the bottom.

Valentine working for submissions but it's allowed Palhares to get to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Palhares slows the pace down in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Pluto Palhares will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Valentine lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Palhares scores with a spinning back kick!
Valentine misses with a body shot.
Valentine throws a low kick, looking for Palhares's leg but Palhares calmly moves out of range.
Valentine swings for the body but Palhares moves out of range.
Palhares misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Valentine.
Palhares ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Valentine moves away.
Palhares fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Valentine manages to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Palhares. Valentine does a little dance to reset his feet.
Palhares throws a body kick that misses.

Palhares closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Valentine struggling a bit here.
Valentine 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Valentine takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Valentine tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Palhares is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Valentine has escaped the position, nice work there.
Valentine on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Alexander Valentine has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine is looking to reverse the position.
Valentine tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Valentine avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Palhares.
You can see the frustration on Valentine's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Valentine is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Palhares tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
You can see the frustration on Valentine's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Valentine is trying to escape the position but Palhares is controlling the position.
Palhares wants to control for a moment but Valentine uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Palhares wants to pass to mount but Valentine is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Palhares seems content to control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
The fighters are battling for position here. Valentine manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Palhares content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valentine trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Palhares landing with the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pluto Palhares showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 48:47
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 48:47
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pluto Palhares!
Pluto Palhares retains his middleweight title!
Pluto Palhares seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.