PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between George Palmer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Wheeler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Palmer's entrance music is Sans Pression - Numero 1. A fine choice. Eric Wheeler will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Palmer
vs
Wheeler

175 cm
26
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

176 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, George Palmer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Eric Wheeler!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Palmer shoots in and gets a takedown into Wheeler's guard.
Palmer is stalling in the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Palmer postures up.
Palmer passes into half guard.
Palmer definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Palmer wants to free his trapped foot but Wheeler is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Palmer thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Wheeler really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Palmer. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Palmer's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Palmer is looking for a kimura here.
Palmer looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Palmer looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Palmer trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmer wants to pass the guard but Wheeler is defending well.
Palmer not doing much here.
Palmer thows a huge punch but Wheeler dodges it nicely.
Palmer works his way into full mount!
Palmer scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Wheeler?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Palmer looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Palmer controlling the position easily from mount.

Palmer jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Wheeler manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Wheeler trying to remain calm as Palmer controls from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmer has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Palmer is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Wheeler has escaped the position, nice work there.
Wheeler avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Palmer.
Wheeler seems a little lost for a moment, as Palmer dominates the positioning.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Palmer working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wheeler is being controlled here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Palmer dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Wheeler shoots in and drives through. Palmer sprawls well.
Wheeler checks a low kick from Palmer.
George Palmer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wheeler tries for a takedown but Palmer circles away easily

and Palmer counters with a single leg into guard. Wheeler didn't expect that.
Palmer content to stall in guard here.
Wheeler is trying to control the position but Palmer postures up.
Palmer looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. George Palmer wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Palmer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Palmer throws an off balance right hand
and Wheeler counters with a right hand to the body.
Wheeler tries to close the distance and clinch but Palmer swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Palmer closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Wheeler is breathing heavily.

Palmer is trying to get an arm triangle but Wheeler is defending well.
Palmer taking a breather here.
Palmer misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Palmer staying calm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Palmer crashes against the mat.

Palmer is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Wheeler knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Palmer throws a strike aimed at the side of Wheeler's head but Wheeler avoids it well.
Palmer moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Palmer is chipping away with strikes.
Wheeler seems a little lost for a moment, as Palmer dominates the positioning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmer scoring with punches from side control.
Wheeler is trying to control Palmer's posture but Palmer avoids it.
Palmer slows the pace down.

The ref stands the fighters back up because George Palmer just wasn't active enough.

Palmer drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmer is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Palmer passes Wheeler's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Palmer performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Palmer dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Wheeler moves to clinch but Palmer breaks away

and Palmer counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Wheeler's guard now.

Palmer drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Palmer jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Palmer throws a strike but Wheeler rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
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 thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Wheeler's head.
Palmer is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Wheeler can do to turn this around?
Palmer is nestled in close to Wheeler, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Palmer is taking a breather. Wheeler says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Palmer is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Palmer sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Palmer throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Palmer wants to work for an arm triangle but Wheeler is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Palmer stalling.
Wheeler takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Palmer works his way into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Palmer is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Wheeler is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Wheeler being controlled for a moment.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Palmer thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Palmer has hold of Wheeler's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Wheeler seems comfortable defending it but Palmer has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Wheeler is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Wheeler is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Palmer couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). George Palmer!
George Palmer took some time post fight to say the following; 'Kezz, boss said I am gonna fight you. You are going to have the toughest fight in your life. I am going to take the top guy of EFP‘s belt!'.