PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cross Odenkirk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Palmares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cross Odenkirk could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Rodrigo Palmares's chin.

Odenkirk
vs
Palmares

185 cm
39
215 lbs
21 - 22 - 1

181 cm
29
218 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 21 - 22 - 1, fighting out of New York, Cross Odenkirk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rodrigo Palmares!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Franklyn Lucas and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Odenkirk uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Palmares.
Odenkirk throws a good cross that connects.

It looks like Rodrigo Palmares has been cut.
Cross Odenkirk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Odenkirk clinches.
Palmares drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Odenkirk tries to work over Palmares's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Odenkirk throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Palmares blocks it with crossed arms.
Palmares blocks a body shot from Odenkirk.
Palmares goes for a takedown in the clinch but Odenkirk prevents it.
A head punch on the inside from Odenkirk fails to land.
A short right from Odenkirk on the inside.
Palmares blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Odenkirk lands with a left to the head.
Our sources have told us that Odenkirk has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Odenkirk throws a head punch that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A short uppercut from Odenkirk.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Odenkirk throws an elbow that misses.
Palmares tries to break free but Odenkirk pushes him back against the cage.
Odenkirk prevents the takedown attempt.
Cross Odenkirk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Palmares.
Palmares tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Odenkirk pushes Palmares back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Odenkirk swings wildly with an uppercut but Palmares uses good head movement to avoid it.
Odenkirk misses with an elbow strike.
Good body shot from Odenkirk.
Odenkirk goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Odenkirk lands a hook to the side of the head.
Odenkirk has a couple of punches blocked by Palmares.
Palmares tries to pull guard but Odenkirk holds him up against the cage and eventually Palmares drops back down to his feet.
Palmares looking for a takedown.

Palmares has hold of one of Odenkirk's legs. Odenkirk is fighting the takedown attempt but Palmares gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Palmares has gone for a leg lock! Odenkirk slips out almost immediately though and dives into Palmares's guard.
Odenkirk pushing down on Palmares's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Odenkirk is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Palmares is just riding it out for now. Odenkirk eventually gives up the hold.
Palmares avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Odenkirk.

Odenkirk is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Palmares regains full guard. Nicely done.
Palmares wants to hit a switch here but Odenkirk passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Palmares there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmares regains half guard.
Palmares moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Palmares throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Palmares had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Odenkirk defends it easily.
Odenkirk makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Odenkirk looking to pass the guard.
Odenkirk trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Odenkirk has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmares utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Odenkirk seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Odenkirk postures up in Palmares's guard and throws a big left but Palmares blocks it.
Odenkirk stopping the sweep attempt from Palmares.
Odenkirk working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Odenkirk postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Odenkirk looking to pass the guard.

Palmares is looking for a triangle but Odenkirk pushes his legs off easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Palmares is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Palmares tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cross Odenkirk dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rodrigo Palmares's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Odenkirk tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Palmares paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Odenkirk throws a leg kick that is checked

and Palmares counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Palmares is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Odenkirk defends it well.

Palmares is working for a kimura but Odenkirk is defending it quite comfortably.
Palmares missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Palmares works his foot free and advances to mount.

Palmares wants to finish this one by submission but Odenkirk is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Palmares.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmares working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Odenkirk slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
Palmares wants to pass to mount but Odenkirk is defending the position.
Palmares not doing much here.

Palmares is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Odenkirk makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Odenkirk.
Palmares loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Palmares trying to control the position from guard on top but Odenkirk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Odenkirk looking for a sweep. Not yet Odenkirk, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmares throws a strike but Odenkirk rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Palmares lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Odenkirk seems keen to control Palmares's posture.
Odenkirk looking to hit a scissor sweep but Palmares is one step ahead there.
Palmares passes Odenkirk's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Palmares prevents Odenkirk from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmares throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Palmares thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Odenkirk's head.
Odenkirk blocking the ground and pound attempt from Palmares.
Odenkirk is trying to get back to full guard.
Palmares is thwarting Odenkirk's attempts to control the position.

Palmares is working for a submission of some sort.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Odenkirk tries to roll over but Palmares keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Palmares showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rodrigo Palmares's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Odenkirk has closed the distance and engaged Palmares in a clinch.
Odenkirk throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Odenkirk fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Odenkirk lands a shoulder strike.
Odenkirk trying to land knees to the body.
Palmares tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Odenkirk smiles and moves away.
An inside leg kick lands from Odenkirk.
Palmares misses with a body shot.
Odenkirk getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Cross Odenkirk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Odenkirk scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donk. Odenkirk catches Palmares right on the button with a cross.
Odenkirk fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Palmares throws a body shot but no joy.

Odenkirk moves into the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Odenkirk tries a body shot but Palmares blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Odenkirk fails to land.
Odenkirk misses with a hook to the ribs.
Odenkirk stops a takedown attempt from Palmares.
Odenkirk misses with a body punch.

Palmares lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Odenkirk is doing well to control the position and prevent Palmares from advancing to side control.
Palmares is just content to waste time from the top position. Odenkirk takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Odenkirk can't keep his opponent in guard - Palmares advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Odenkirk regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Palmares.
Odenkirk utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Odenkirk is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Odenkirk has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Palmares has passed into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Palmares goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Odenkirk has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Palmares but great work by Odenkirk.
Palmares manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Odenkirk won't allow Palmares to pass to mount.
Palmares not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Odenkirk looks like he's trying to stand up.
Odenkirk is trying to control but can't.
Palmares not doing much here.
Palmares throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Odenkirk to regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmares is working Odenkirk over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Palmares trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Palmares keeps trying to improve his position.
Odenkirk wants to sweep but no luck.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Palmares stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Odenkirk swivels though and keeps the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Cross Odenkirk.
I think Odenkirk 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cross Odenkirk!
Cross Odenkirk seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.