PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sulakas Palei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Sulakas Palei has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Palei
vs
Howard

186 cm
25
218 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sulakas Palei!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcus Howard!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Thiago Cunha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palei is looking to clinch.
Palei fails in his attempt to clinch.
Howard fails with the takedown.
Howard misses with a takedown attempt - Palei sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Howard moves into the clinch.
Howard takes an elbow to the forehead.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Palei.
Howard is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Palei lands a good knee to the midsection. Howard won't want to take too many of those.
Palei using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Howard looks winded!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Knees to the body from Palei.
Palei creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Howard's defenses.
Palei lands an elbow that stopped Howard in his tracks for a moment.
Howard takes an elbow to the temple.
Palei lands an elbow just above Howard 's eye.
Knees in the clinch landing for Palei.
Palei working Howard over with knees to the body.
Palei using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palei lands an elbow that stopped Howard in his tracks for a moment.
Palei lands an elbow just above Howard 's eye.
Palei lands an elbow inside.
Palei working Howard over with knees to the body.
Palei scores a nice knee to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Palei lands an elbow inside that Howard shrugs off.
Palei comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Palei lands a good knee to the midsection. Howard won't want to take too many of those.
Palei gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Palei comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Palei lands a knee to the body.
Howard takes an elbow to the forehead.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Palei.
Palei lands an elbow that stopped Howard in his tracks for a moment.
Palei gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Palei lands a nice elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palei lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Palei creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Howard's defenses.
Palei lands a knee to the body.
Palei lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Palei lands a nice knee to the body.
Howard wants to break free but Palei has control.
Palei unloads a knee to the mid-section. Howard lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Palei lands a damaging elbow.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Palei obliges.
Palei lands an elbow just above Howard 's eye.
Palei scores a nice knee to the body.
Palei landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Palei lands an elbow just above Howard 's eye.
Palei utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Palei crunches a lovely knee into Howard's ribcage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palei lands a damaging elbow.
Nice elbow from Palei.
Palei creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Howard's defenses.
Howard is trying to push Palei away but Palei has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Howard wants a takedown.
Sulakas Palei has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Howard.
Nice elbow from Palei.
Knees to the body from Palei.
Palei creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Howard's defenses.
Palei is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Palei lands an elbow inside that Howard shrugs off.
Knees to the body from Palei.
Palei landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Palei landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Palei lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Palei lands an elbow inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palei lands an elbow inside that Howard shrugs off.
Palei lands an elbow inside.
Palei pushes off an throws an elbow but Howard leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Palei misses with an elbow over the top.
Nice elbow from Palei.
Palei gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Palei tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Howard avoids it.
Palei missing with knees to the body.
Howard tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Palei just stands there and leans against the cage.
Palei is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Howard is defending well for now.
Howard trying to land knees to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Palei prevents Howard from breaking the clinch.
Howard avoids a wild elbow strike from Palei.
Palei avoids the elbow strike from Howard, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sulakas Palei dominated that round.
That's time! Palei's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Howard circles away from the clinch attempt

and Howard counters by moving into the clinch.
Palei lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Howard looking to slow down the pace here.
Nice elbow from Palei.
Howard takes a knee to the side of the body.
Palei lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Palei landing knees to the body.
Palei lands a knee to the body.
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!
Palei lands an elbow inside.
Knees in the clinch landing for Palei.
Howard is breathing heavily.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Palei using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Palei lands an elbow inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palei comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Knees to the body from Palei.
Palei putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Howard in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Palei lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Knees to the body from Palei.
Palei lands a nice elbow.
Palei blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Palei lands an elbow inside.
Palei lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Palei lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Howard takes a knee to the side of the body.
Palei is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Howard can do to turn this around?
Palei lands an elbow just above Howard 's eye.
Nice elbow from Palei.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Palei.
Palei lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palei comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Palei comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Palei lands an elbow inside that Howard shrugs off.
Palei lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Howard is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Palei landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Palei comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nice elbow from Palei.
Palei putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Howard in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Palei lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Palei using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Palei lands an elbow inside that Howard shrugs off.
Howard drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Palei gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Palei lands a nice elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palei landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Howard takes an elbow to the forehead.
Palei lands a good knee to the midsection. Howard won't want to take too many of those.
Howard wants a takedown but no success here.
Sulakas Palei has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Howard.
Palei lands a damaging elbow.
Howard tries to score a body lock takedown but Palei shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Palei landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Palei lands an elbow that stopped Howard in his tracks for a moment.
Howard goes for a takedown in the clinch but Palei prevents it.
Palei unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Palei lands a nice elbow.
Palei tries to land knees in the clinch but Howard avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard wants to break free but Palei has control.
Palei lands a damaging elbow.
Howard takes an elbow to the forehead.
Sulakas Palei has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Howard is trying to pull guard but Palei has him pressed against the cage.
Howard managing to block the knees to the body from Palei.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Palei just misses with a elbow thrown towards Howard's brow.
Howard wants to take the fight to the mat but Palei manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Palei crunches a lovely knee into Howard's ribcage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Palei throws an elbow but misses.
Palei creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Howard wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Howard jumps guard and drags Palei to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Howard has a closed guard, preventing Palei from standing up.
Palei wants to stand and escape but instead Howard has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sulakas Palei dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Howard darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Howard throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Howard not doing much here.
Palei wants to get back to his feet.
Palei knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Howard on the ground.
Howard works his foot free and advances to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Palei's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard controlling his opponent.
Howard's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Howard is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Palei to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Palei shrugs it off.
Howard won't let Palei get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howard landing strikes, looking to finish!
Howard with a couple of short strikes.
Howard connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Howard controlling the pace for now.
Palei takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard lands a big elbow.
Howard raining down hammerfists from mount.
Palei is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Howard is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Palei can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Howard sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Marcus Howard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Howard with a couple of short strikes.
Howard controlling his opponent.
Palei is squirming around, avoiding Howard's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard controlling his opponent.

Howard stands up from mount. Strange move.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Palei wants to clinch.
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!
Palei tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Howard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Howard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Palei 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sulakas Palei!