PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Santiago Palmer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodney Carney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Palmer kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is DMX - X gon‘ give it to ya. The crowd seem to be enjoying Carney's choice of entrance music: T.I. - Every Chance I get. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Palmer
vs
Carney

175 cm
25
170 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
160 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Santiago Palmer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rodney Carney!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Alan Glass and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Donk. Carney catches Palmer right on the button with a cross.

Palmer gets caught flat footed, as Carney shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Palmer pulls Carney in close to his closed guard and prevents Carney from doing any damage or advancing position.
Palmer can't keep his opponent in guard - Carney advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Carney is looking to take a break and control but Palmer is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Carney thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Palmer's head.
Carney throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Carney is keen to just control but Palmer is a slippery customer.
Carney seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Palmer preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carney sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Palmer defending well though.
Palmer is doing well to control the position and prevent Carney from advancing to side control.
Carney wants to get back to his feet.
Carney is just content to waste time from the top position. Palmer takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Carney pushing down on Palmer's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carney not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Palmer is trying to get back to full guard.
Carney wants to take a breather but Palmer is having none of it.
Carney is pressing down on Palmer's thigh, looking to free his foot. Palmer is holding on for now.
Carney throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Carney is trying to control the action in half guard but Palmer is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Palmer blocking the ground and pound attempt from Carney.
Carney slips a nice elbow through Palmer's hands, connecting with Palmer's forehead.
Carney missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmer keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Palmer blocking the ground and pound attempt from Carney.
Palmer on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Palmer tries to get out of the position.

Palmer is defending against the submission attempts here by Carney.
Carney is just content to waste time from the top position. Palmer takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Palmer wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Carney has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Palmer is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carney stopping the sweep attempt from Palmer.
Carney postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Carney is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Palmer is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Palmer has escaped and now he's on top!
Palmer has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Carney is proving hard to escape from.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodney Carney dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Palmer swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Carney connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Carney.
Carney scores with punches from side control.
Carney cracks Palmer with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Carney is trying to move to mount but Palmer reverses beautifully and ends up in Carney's guard.
Palmer knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Carney on the ground.
Palmer wants to get up but he can't break Carney's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Palmer definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Carney has an active guard here but Palmer has managed to pass into half guard.
Palmer wants to stand but Carney has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Carney looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
It looks like Palmer is going to stand back up.

Carney actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmer tries to stand but can't do so whilst Carney controls his leg.
Carney wants to control but Palmer is keeping busy.

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.

Carney looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Palmer wants to stand up but Carney manages to regain full guard.

Carney working for submissions but it's allowed Palmer to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodney Carney showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Palmer misses with a takedown attempt - Carney sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Palmer displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Carney.
Palmer pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Carney shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Carney fails with a takedown attempt.
Santiago Palmer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodney Carney.

Carney scores with a takedown into Palmer's guard.
Carney wants to control from the top but Palmer keeps moving.
Carney tries to free his leg and advance position but Palmer is retaining full guard.
Carney missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carney landing with the ground and pound.
Carney has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Carney wants to control from the top but Palmer keeps moving.
Carney with a flurry of punches that miss.
Palmer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Carney trying to control but Palmer is working from the bottom.
Rodney Carney has got the better of the ground game so far.
Palmer is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Palmer tries to stand but can't do so whilst Carney controls his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rodney Carney hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Palmer dives in and scores a takedown into Carney's guard.

Carney has his foot on Palmer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Palmer works his way back into a safe position though.

Palmer avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Palmer is looking to stand up but Carney won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Carney working for a triangle but Palmer defends it easily.
Palmer wants to stand and escape but instead Carney has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carney throwing strikes from guard but Palmer blocks nicely.
Carney wants to control from the top but Palmer keeps moving.
Carney working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Carney chips away with some ground and pound.
Carney throws an elbow that misses. Palmer uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Carney's guard. Nice move by Palmer!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Carney is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodney Carney comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Carney 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodney Carney!
During a confident post fight interview, Rodney Carney thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
Santiago Palmer was interviewed post fight and said 'Sorry I know I should win this but props to Carney. He‘s legit.'.