PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Khalifman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tauno Palo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Khalifman's entrance music is Ringo Mogire Beam! (ZSZS OVA2 Ver.). A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Khalifman
vs
Palo

185 cm
25
190 lbs
20 - 2 - 1

183 cm
25
193 lbs
22 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 20 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Khalifman!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tauno Palo!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Tiny Johnson and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palo looks to throw the jab but Khalifman is out of range.
Khalifman swats away the attempt to clinch by Palo.
Palo fails to land with a series of punches.
Nice shot lands for Khalifman.
A low kick from Khalifman is predictable there
and Palo counters with a nice uppercut.
A punch combination from Palo misses.
Palo misses with a body kick.
A low kick from Khalifman is predictable there
and Palo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Palo throws a body punch but Khalifman moves out of range.
Khalifman thows a leg kick but Palo checks it

and Palo counters by moving into the clinch.
Palo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Palo throws a punch but it's blocked by Khalifman.
Khalifman prevents a body shot from Palo.
Palo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Palo throws a head punch that misses.
Khalifman is working Palo over against the cage.
Khalifman blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Khalifman goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Palo has a couple of punches blocked by Khalifman.
Palo lands a nice uppercut.
Palo throws a punch but it's blocked by Khalifman.
Palo throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Palo scores with a shoulder strike.
Palo scores with a shot to the side of Khalifman's head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Palo.
Palo throws a punch but it's blocked by Khalifman.
Khalifman tries to work over Palo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Palo can't find room to land a body shot as Khalifman controls the action.
Khalifman tries a body shot but Palo blocks it.
Palo lands a shot to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Palo.
Khalifman looking to slow down the pace here.
Palo throws a head punch that misses.
Palo working aggressively here.
A short body shot lands from Khalifman as the two fighters clinch.
Palo lands with a short shot to the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Palo.
Palo working aggressively here.
Palo lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Palo scores with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Palo.
Palo stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Palo pressing his opponent against the cage.
Palo misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Palo.
Palo throws a head punch that misses.
Palo tries a body shot but Khalifman blocks it.
Palo misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Palo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Palo lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Palo.
Palo is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Palo.
Palo throws a head punch that misses.
Palo is trying to stall.
Palo swings wildly with an uppercut but Khalifman uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalifman blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Palo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Khalifman's elbow.
Khalifman blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Palo misses with a punch on the inside.
Palo has a couple of punches blocked by Khalifman.
Palo swings wildly with an uppercut but Khalifman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Palo cracks Khalifman with a nice body shot.

Khalifman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A slapping leg kick lands for Khalifman.
Good work by Khalifman as he checks the leg kick.
Palo connects with a looping right hand.
Palo is looking to slow Khalifman down with leg kicks.
Khalifman takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Palo lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Palo throws a right hand that misses
and Khalifman counters with a low kick, right behind Palo 's knee.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Khalifman crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Palo - the referee stops the clock and Khalifman gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Palo. Khalifman manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Palo.
Palo throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Khalifman is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Khalifman throws a solid leg kick but Palo takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Khalifman.
Palo with a hook.
Khalifman walks into a stiff left hand from Palo.
Khalifman throws a leg kick that is checked
and Palo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Palo throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Khalifman's head.
Khalifman throws a leg kick
letting Palo counter with a right hand.
Khalifman shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Khalifman throws a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Khalifman lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Palo has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Palo and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Palo throws a head kick that misses
and Khalifman counters with a low kick, right behind Palo 's knee.
Khalifman on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Alexander Khalifman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Khalifman lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Khalifman throws a leg kick that is checked
and Palo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Palo misses with a straight left.

Palo clinches up with Khalifman and pushes him back against the cage.
Khalifman blocks an uppercut.
Palo pushes Khalifman back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Palo with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

The fighters circle momentarily. Palo darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Khalifman tries to work over Palo's front leg with a kick but Palo checks it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Khalifman.
Palo misses with a body shot
and Khalifman counters with a nice leg kick.
Khalifman throws a leg kick that is checked
and Palo counters with a head kick. That will keep Khalifman thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Palo throws a combination. Khalifman tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Khalifman throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Palo counters with a nice uppercut.
Tauno Palo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Palo lands with a cross.
Palo scores with a jab.
Khalifman throws a front kick aimed at Palo's knee but Palo avoids it well.
Palo connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Khalifman's hands.

Palo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Khalifman misses with a punch to the body.
Palo lands with a light punch inside.
Palo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Khalifman has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Palo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Khalifman's elbow.
Palo lands an uppercut.
Khalifman blocks an uppercut.
Palo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A hook to the body from Khalifman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalifman prevents a body shot from Palo.
Palo throws a punch but it's blocked by Khalifman.
Khalifman misses with a hook to the ribs.
Khalifman blocking some punches.
Palo throws a head punch that misses.
Palo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Palo swings wildly with an uppercut but Khalifman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Khalifman blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A frustrated look appears on Khalifman's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Palo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Palo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Khalifman.
A head punch on the inside from Palo fails to land.
Palo throws a head punch that misses.
Khalifman goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Palo swings wildly with an uppercut but Khalifman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Palo throws a punch but it's blocked by Khalifman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Palo.
Palo tries a knee to the head but Khalifman blocks it.
Palo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A right hook to the body lands for Khalifman.
Khalifman blocking some punches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Palo.
Palo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Khalifman blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Palo misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Palo fails to land.
Palo throws a head punch that misses.
Palo throws a head punch that misses.
Palo lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Khalifman backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Khalifman.
Khalifman is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Palo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Khalifman lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Palo.
Palo misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palo throws a punch but it's blocked by Khalifman.
Khalifman blocks a body shot from Palo.
Palo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Palo has a couple of punches blocked by Khalifman.
Khalifman works on Palo's body with a couple of short punches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Palo.
Palo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Palo lands a nice shot to the body.
Palo has a couple of punches blocked by Khalifman.
Palo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Palo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Khalifman lands a shot to the body.
Khalifman tries to circle away but Palo has him pinned against the cage.
Palo tries to throw a body punch but Khalifman avoids it by throwing Palo back against the cage.
Palo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Palo is trying to maintain a safe position but Khalifman gets an underhook and turns Palo into the cage.
Palo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Palo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nice body punch from Khalifman - that landed with a thud.
Palo working aggressively here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Palo.
A head punch on the inside from Palo fails to land.
Palo misses with some punches.
Khalifman is trying to push Palo away but Palo has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Palo throws a punch but it's blocked by Khalifman.
A right hand to the body from Palo.
Khalifman is struggling to control the position.
Palo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Khalifman on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Palo lands a hook to the side of the head.
Palo slowing the pace effectively.
A right handed body shot lands from Khalifman.
Palo stalling in the clinch but Khalifman improves position.
Palo working aggressively here.
Palo works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tauno Palo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action!

Palo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A low kick from Khalifman is predictable there
and Palo makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Khalifman is looking to slow Palo down with leg kicks.

Palo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Palo.
A short right from Palo on the inside.
Khalifman blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Palo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Palo misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Palo.
Palo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Palo lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Khalifman backwards.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Palo takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Palo.
Palo tries to work over Khalifman's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Khalifman letting Palo take a breather here.
Palo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palo struggles to land a body shot inside as Khalifman controls his hands.
Palo lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Palo swings wildly with an uppercut but Khalifman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Palo swings wildly with an uppercut but Khalifman uses good head movement to avoid it.
A right hand to the body from Palo.
Palo lands an uppercut.
Khalifman tries a body shot but Palo blocks it.
Palo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Khalifman backwards.
Khalifman blocks an uppercut.
Palo lands a body punch in the clinch.
Tauno Palo seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Palo misses with some punches.
Palo softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Khalifman.
A short uppercut from Palo.
Palo lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Khalifman backwards.
Palo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palo lands a left hand that snaps the head of Khalifman backwards.
Palo lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Palo lands a right hand that snaps the head of Khalifman backwards.
Palo lands a body punch in the clinch.
Palo misses with a punch on the inside.
Palo lands with a light punch inside.
Palo lands a hook that snaps the head of Khalifman backwards.
Palo holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Palo tries to work over Khalifman's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A shot in the inside from Palo.
Palo lands a right hand.

Khalifman is rocked!
Palo working aggressively here.
Palo prevents Khalifman from breaking the clinch.
Palo taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Palo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Oh Khalifman is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
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!
Palo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Palo throws a punch but it's blocked by Khalifman.
Khalifman seems to have got his legs back now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palo stalling the fight.
A head punch on the inside from Palo fails to land.
Palo lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Palo stalling against the cage.
Palo lands a hook that snaps the head of Khalifman backwards.
Palo scores with a nice hook to the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Palo.
Palo lands a body shot in the clinch.
Palo lands a nice uppercut.
A body shot lands from Palo.
Palo is working Khalifman over against the cage.
Palo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Khalifman.
Palo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Khalifman blocking some punches.
Palo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Khalifmans head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palo lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Palo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Palo gets through Khalifman's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Khalifman breaks the clinch.
Palo connects with a good right hand that stumbles Khalifman. Khalifman circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Khalifman moves out of range of the body kick.
Palo moves in looking to clinch but Khalifman pushes him off.
Palo feints a jab promting Khalifman to slip. Palo then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Khalifman slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A low kick from Khalifman misses
and Palo finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Palo tries a head kick but it misses.
Khalifman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Palo.
Palo lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Palo lands with an uppercut that bounces Khalifman off the cage and back into rage.
Khalifman circles away from the clinch attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Palo scores with a punch to the head.
Palo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Khalifman manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Khalifman throws a leg kick that is checked
letting Palo counter with a right hand.
Palo tries to clinch up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tauno Palo really dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Khalifman throws a leg kick
and Palo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Khalifman tries to work over Palo's front leg with a kick but Palo checks it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Palo.
Khalifman circles away from the clinch attempt.
A low kick from Khalifman misses
and Palo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Good exchange - Palo coming out on top.
A low kick from Khalifman misses
and Palo counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Palo cracks Khalifman with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Khalifman looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Khalifman misses with a leg kick
and Palo counters with a straight right hand.
Khalifman throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Palo tries to clinch there but Khalifman circles away.
Palo checks a leg kick.
Palo lands with a nice body punch.
The crowd cheers as Palo lands an impressive looking overhand right. Khalifman doesn't seem phased though.
Khalifman moves away from the strike by Palo.
Palo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Khalifman swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Palo lands with a hook. Khalifman tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Palo connects with a crisp jab.
Palo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Khalifman is predictable there
and Palo counters with a nice uppercut.
Palo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Khalifman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Some wild striking there from Palo.
Khalifman throws a leg kick
and Palo counters with a straight right hand.
Khalifman fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Khalifman misses with a leg kick
and Palo finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
A solid leg kick lands there for Palo.
Khalifman thows a leg kick but Palo checks it
and Palo counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Palo checks the leg kick nicely there.
Palo bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Khalifman's head.
Khalifman throws a leg kick
and Palo counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Khalifman throws a leg kick that is checked
and Palo counters with a right hand to the body.
Palo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Khalifman thows a leg kick but Palo checks it

and Palo counters by clinching up.
Palo scores with a shoulder strike.
Palo lands a hook to the side of the head.
Palo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Khalifman is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palo lands with a light punch inside.
Palo tries a body shot but Khalifman blocks it.
Palo lands with a light punch inside.
Khalifman avoiding damage as Palo throws knees to the body.
Palo lands with a light punch inside.
Palo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Palo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Palo makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Palo swings wildly with an uppercut but Khalifman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Khalifman misses with a hook to the ribs.
Khalifman misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Khalifman struggles to land a body shot inside as Palo controls his hands.
Palo blocks a body shot from Khalifman.
Khalifman blocking some punches.
Palo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Palo misses with the head strike.
Palo lands a left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalifman blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Khalifman.
Palo lands a left hand that snaps the head of Khalifman backwards.
Palo misses with a body punch.
Khalifman blocking some punches.
Palo tries to stall but Khalifman uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A nice left hand lands by Palo.
Khalifman avoids the elbow strike from Palo, against the cage.
Palo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Khalifman goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Palo throws a head punch that misses.
Palo misses with a punch on the inside.
Palo blocks a body shot from Khalifman.
Palo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Khalifman is defending well for now.
Khalifman blocking some punches.
Palo lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Palo misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Palo.
Palo tries to throw a body punch but Khalifman avoids it by throwing Palo back against the cage.
Khalifman scores with a hook to the body.
Palo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Palo misses with a punch on the inside.
Khalifman tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Palo's elbow.
Palo misses with some punches.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Palo working aggressively here.
Khalifman being controlled against the cage.
Palo misses with the head strike.
Palo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Palo throws a punch but it's blocked by Khalifman.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tauno Palo dominated that fourth round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

A low kick from Khalifman misses
and Palo counters with a three punch combo that has Khalifman backing up. Khalifman nods at Palo to acknowledge the strikes.
Khalifman is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Khalifman throws a leg kick
and Palo counters with a low kick, right behind Khalifman 's knee.
Khalifman throws a leg kick but Palo sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Khalifman slips under a jab.
Khalifman blocks a leg kick.
Palo lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
A low kick from Palo is predictable there
and Khalifman counters with a nice low kick that buckles Palo's knee momentarily.
Khalifman takes a swing at Palo's ribcage but misses.
Khalifman blocks a low kick nicely.
Khalifman connects with a solid leg kick.
A low kick from Khalifman misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Palo takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Khalifman.
Palo throws a solid leg kick but Khalifman takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Palo.
An inside leg kick from Khalifman misses.
Palo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Khalifman walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Palo checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Palo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palo closes the distance but Khalifman moves to the side
and Khalifman counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A head kick misses from Palo.
Khalifman with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Khalifman takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Khalifman throws a leg kick that is checked
and Palo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Palo throws a solid leg kick but Khalifman takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Palo.
Khalifman walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Palo checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Palo misses with a few strikes there.
Palo throws a lazy uppercut
and Khalifman counters with a nice leg kick.
Palo thows a body shot but no joy.
Khalifman slips a straight right by Palo.
Khalifman misses with a low kick.
Khalifman fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Palo checks it well.

Palo pushes Khalifman up against the cage in a clinch.

Khalifman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Palo lands with a hook. Khalifman tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Palo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Khalifman, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Palo fails to land.
A short body shot lands from Palo as the two fighters clinch.
Palo working aggressively here.
Palo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Khalifman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Good work by Palo as he checks the leg kick.
Palo wants to clinch.
Khalifman slips a jab and a cross from Palo.
Khalifman throws a nice inside leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Palo.
An inside leg kick lands from Khalifman.
Khalifman moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Palo lands a jab to Khalifman's midsection.
Palo gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Khalifman counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Palo cracks Khalifman with a good jab.
Palo throws a body kick the misses
and Khalifman counters with a good low kick that Palo was not able to check.
Alexander Khalifman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palo cracks Khalifman with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Palo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Khalifman thows a leg kick but Palo checks it
and Palo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Khalifman throws a nice inside leg kick.
Palo clobbers Khalifman with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A low kick from Khalifman is predictable there
and Palo counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Khalifman wants to slow Palo down by chopping away at his legs.
Khalifman tried to score with a low kick but Palo checks it.
A jab lands there for Palo.
Khalifman misses with a leg kick
and Palo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Khalifman is looking to score with low kicks.
Khalifman throws a leg kick
and Palo counters with a good low kick that Khalifman was not able to check.
Khalifman stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Palo.
Palo is looking to clinch.
Khalifman moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Khalifman misses with a leg kick
and Palo makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Palo misses with a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palo connects with a crisp jab.
Palo stuns Khalifman with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Khalifman throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A clash of legs there as Palo blocks the low kick.
Palo fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Khalifman has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Palo checks the leg kick.
Khalifman throws a leg kick that is checked
and Palo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Palo lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
A low kick from Khalifman is predictable there
and Palo counters with a nice uppercut.
Khalifman throws a leg kick that is checked
and Palo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Khalifman throws a low kick, looking for Palo's leg but Palo calmly moves out of range.
Khalifman walks forward, straight into a front kick from Palo.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Palo is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Palo cracks Khalifman with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Khalifman throws a leg kick
and Palo counters with a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Palo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Khalifman throws a leg kick that is checked
and Palo counters with a left to the body.
Khalifman misses with a leg kick
and Palo counters with a straight right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tauno Palo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Palo has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 44:50
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 43:50
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 44:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tauno Palo!
Tauno Palo is the new middleweight champion!