PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Russell Palmer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nick Gracie will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Palmer
vs
Gracie

172 cm
21
177 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

190 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Russell Palmer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nick Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Eddie Farnsworth and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Palmer changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gracie looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gracie tries to buck Palmer off but Palmer is having none of it.
Gracie struggling a bit here.
Palmer wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
Gracie is looking to reverse the position.
Gracie wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Gracie is trying to control Palmer's posture but Palmer avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gracie throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Palmer could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer avoids the strikes from the bottom by Gracie.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Gracie drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Palmer trying to control the position.
Gracie trying to control but Palmer is working from the bottom.
Palmer trying to control the position.
Palmer might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gracie accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Gracie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Palmer has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie has managed to get both his arms back between Palmer's legs - danger averted.
Palmer keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Palmer shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Gracie is trying to defend but Palmer finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Gracie blocking the ground and pound attempt from Palmer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmer blocks the strikes from Gracie.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie is trying to stand back up but Palmer is controlling him
Gracie is trying is best to control the position here.
Gracie is trying to control but can't.
Gracie wants to get back to his feet.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gracie punching from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Gracie enables Palmer to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Gracie manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Gracie 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 has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Palmer content to stall in guard here.

Gracie 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 trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gracie throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russell Palmer dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gracie shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Palmer sprawls well. Palmer wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Gracie shoots in and gets a takedown into Palmer's guard.
Gracie passes Palmer's left leg - he's now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Palmer keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gracie is looking to stall here but Palmer recovers full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gracie controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gracie in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Palmer had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gracie defends it easily.
Palmer knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.

Palmer looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Gracie has picked Palmer up and slammed him! Palmer can't keep hold of the triangle and Gracie manages to pass to side control!
Palmer looking for a sweep but Gracie has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gracie lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Palmer is looking to improve his position but Gracie isn't that keen on the idea.
A nice elbow there by Gracie.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie punishing his opponent with strikes.
Gracie with a couple of short strikes.

Palmer is rocked!
A big strike lands for Gracie! That's really hurt Palmer and he's turned his back - Gracie keeps firing away and the ref dives in to stop the fight! Gracie jumps to his feet to celebrate the victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nick Gracie!