PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Ovechkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Terry Palmer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ovechkin
vs
Palmer

188 cm
19
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

186 cm
19
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Ovechkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Terry Palmer!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Viktor Lagutenko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Palmer rushes Ovechkin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ovechkin lands a shoulder strike.

It looks like Terry Palmer has been cut.
Ovechkin has had enough of the clinch but Palmer keeps him there for the moment.
Palmer jumps guard but Ovechkin stands there with Palmer around his waist. Palmer gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Ovechkin jumps guard.
Palmer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Ovechkin looking for a guillotine here but Palmer defends easily.
Palmer postures up.
Ovechkin throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Ovechkin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Ovechkin looking for a guillotine here but Palmer defends easily.

Palmer decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Ovechkin, up you get!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer misses with an uppercut. Ovechkin saw that one coming.

Palmer looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Palmer passes Ovechkin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Palmer thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ovechkin's head.
Palmer working over Ovechkin with some ground and pound. Ovechkin looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Ovechkin actively working from the bottom here.
Ovechkin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Palmer is working away from the top position though.
Palmer scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Palmer working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Ovechkin punching from the bottom.
Ovechkin throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Ground and pound from Palmer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Palmer gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Ovechkin fails to land the takedown.
Ovechkin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ovechkin with a hook.
Palmer takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Ovechkin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Palmer.
Alexander Ovechkin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Palmer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ovechkin manages to avoid it.
Ovechkin fails in his attempt to clinch.

Palmer scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Palmer looks gassed!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Palmer working away.
Palmer grinds an elbow into Ovechkin's temple.
Ovechkin manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Ovechkin looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Ovechkin actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmer working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nice strikes from Palmer there.
Ovechkin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Palmer stopping the sweep attempt from Ovechkin.

Palmer gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Ovechkin shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Palmer napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Ovechkin is chipping away with strikes.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Palmer can do anything to dispel that myth.

Palmer throws Ovechkin to one side and escapes!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmer avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ovechkin scores with a shot to the body.
Ovechkin throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Ovechkin stalks Palmer and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Palmer's face. Palmer staggers backwards, shaken.
Ovechkin misses with the combination.
Ovechkin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Palmer as he jumps to the side.
Ovechkin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Palmer.
Ovechkin defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Palmer.
Ovechkin looks to land a combination. Palmer sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Ovechkin scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Ovechkin shoots in for a takedown but Palmer shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Ovechkin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ovechkin closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Ovechkin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Palmer tries to avoid it but Ovechkin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Palmer to the ground. Palmer escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Ovechkin.
Ovechkin misses with a few strikes there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Terry Palmer dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Terry Palmer'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.

Palmer ducks right into an uppercut from Ovechkin.
Ovechkin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Palmer as he avoids it easily.
Palmer throws a shot from downtown. Ovechkin moves away and avoids it.
Palmer shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ovechkin sprawls well. Ovechkin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Palmer gets slowly back to his feet.
Ovechkin doesn't manage to clinch there - Palmer circles away.
Ovechkin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ovechkin throws a right and a left that Palmer avoids nicely.

Ovechkin drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ovechkin throwing strikes but missing.
Ovechkin throws a big right hand that misses.
Palmer throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Palmer is breathing heavily.
Ovechkin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Palmer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ovechkin wants to control from the top but Palmer keeps moving.
Ovechkin wants to get up but he can't break Palmer's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ovechkin throws and elbow that misses. Palmer uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ovechkin's guard. Nice move by Palmer!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ovechkin has momentary wrist control but Palmer slips an elbow through the middle.
Ovechkin 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.

Ovechkin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Palmer connects with a couple of short punches.

Ovechkin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Palmer can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Palmer must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Palmer is in close to Ovechkin's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Palmer landing with the ground and pound.
Ovechkin looking for a sweep. Not yet Ovechkin, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ovechkin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ovechkin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Palmer is one step ahead there.
Palmer stands up over Ovechkin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Ovechkin working for a triangle but Palmer defends it easily.
Palmer has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ovechkin is proving hard to escape from.
Palmer scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Terry Palmer has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Palmer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Ovechkin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Palmer postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Ovechkin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Palmer gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Palmer lands a couple of elbows.

Ovechkin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Palmer gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Palmer's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Palmer throwing strikes from guard but Ovechkin blocks nicely.

Ovechkin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Palmer stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Palmer walks into a stiff left hand from Ovechkin.
Ovechkin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Palmer paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ovechkin misses with a two punch combination.
Palmer on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Palmer shoots in and drives through. Ovechkin sprawls well.
Ovechkin's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Ovechkin duly obliges.
Alexander Ovechkin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Palmer shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Ovechkin paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Ovechkin catches Palmer with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Ovechkin throws a right and a left that Palmer avoids nicely.
Ovechkin looks to land a combination but Palmer avoids it well.
Ovechkin throws a combination. Palmer tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Ovechkin throws a series of punches but Palmer moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Ovechkin dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Terry Palmer's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ovechkin shoots in and bounces Palmer off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Palmer keeping moving, preventing Ovechkin from controlling successfully.
Ovechkin thows a big elbow that misses.
Ovechkin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Palmer has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ovechkin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ovechkin trying to control the position from guard on top but Palmer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ovechkin postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Palmer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Palmer working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ovechkin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ovechkin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ovechkin working some strikes from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ovechkin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ovechkin postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ovechkin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Palmer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Palmer wants to sweep but no luck.
Ovechkin stands up over Palmer, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ovechkin thows a big elbow that misses.
Ovechkin postures up in Palmer's guard and throws a big left but Palmer blocks it.
Ovechkin stops Palmer from standing up.
Ovechkin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Palmer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ovechkin has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Palmer is proving hard to escape from.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ovechkin throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Palmer on the side of the head.
Ovechkin tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Palmer swivels and escapes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ovechkin scores with a one two! Palmer had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Ovechkin feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Ovechkin distracts Palmer with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Palmer is looking to stand up but Ovechkin isn't so interested in that idea.
Ovechkin scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Palmer keeping moving, preventing Ovechkin from controlling successfully.
Palmer trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Ovechkin is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Palmer wants to get back to his feet but Ovechkin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ovechkin passes Palmer's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ovechkin looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Palmer with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ovechkin landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ovechkin trying to control from half guard but Palmer is working away.
Palmer taking some punishment here, with Ovechkin in his half guard.
Palmer misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Palmer actively working from the bottom here.
Ovechkin prevents Palmer from improving his position.
Ovechkin thows a huge punch but Palmer dodges it nicely.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ovechkin lands with a cross.
Nice shot lands for Ovechkin.
Ovechkin slips under a jab from Palmer.
Ovechkin fails with the takedown.
Ovechkin tries to bum rush Palmer with a series of wild strikes but Palmer uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Palmer takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Ovechkin fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Ovechkin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Palmer tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ovechkin was well out of range. Poor timing from Palmer.
Ovechkin with a hook.
No joy there for Ovechkin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ovechkin moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Palmer lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ovechkin circles away quickly and effectively.
Ovechkin fails to land the takedown.
Ovechkin closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Ovechkin scores a takedown into full mount!
Palmer is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Palmer tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Ovechkin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ovechkin has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Ovechkin!