PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Palmer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Palmer comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Sans Pression - Numero 1 kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Gracie
vs
Palmer

188 cm
22
199 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

175 cm
31
170 lbs
15 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

GREEN!160
Bushido Fightwear

Sun-Tzu
Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anderson Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, George Palmer!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Gregory Folan and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palmer swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Palmer tries to keep at a distance but Gracie has taken the fight into the clinch.
Palmer prevents a takedown attempt there.
Palmer gets through Gracie's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gracie.
Palmer trying to control the position but instead, Gracie has worked for underhooks and has pushed Palmer into the cage.
Gracie misses with a punch on the inside.
Gracie misses with the head strike.
Gracie working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Palmer is pushing Gracie up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Palmer escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Palmer looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Gracie on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Palmer keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to clinch.
Palmer takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Palmer throws the kick towards the body but Gracie avoids it.
Palmer tried to score with a low kick but Gracie checks it.
Palmer looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Palmer takes a jab right on the kisser.

Palmer closes the distance and pushes Gracie back into the cage.

Gracie is trying to trip Palmer. He has hold of a leg but Palmer is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Gracie persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Gracie showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Gracie will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Palmer keeps moving.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Palmer keeps moving.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Palmer is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Palmer manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Palmer's guard.
Gracie stays in close to Palmer's body and controls the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Palmer is on top in guard.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
Palmer wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.

Palmer avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmer is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie 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.
Gracie seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Gracie can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Palmer controls the pace.
Palmer pushes down on Gracie's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Palmer performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Palmer trying to control the pace.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gracie manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Palmer got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gracie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Palmer has managed to get both his arms back between Gracie's legs - danger averted.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Palmer defends it easily.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Palmer tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Anderson Gracie will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gracie tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Palmer manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gracie connects with a single shot there.
Palmer chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gracie avoids a kick to the body.

Palmer moves into the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Palmer fails to land.
The referee calls for Palmer to work.
Gracie is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Palmer pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Palmer working aggressively here.
Gracie goes for a takedown attempt but Palmer pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Palmer lands with a nice body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Palmer tries to clinch but Gracie is having none of it.
Good work by Gracie as he checks the leg kick.
Palmer cracks the inside of Gracie's front leg.
Gracie swinging wildly here.
Palmer throws out a counter right but Gracie avoids it with no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer throws a leg kick that is checked
and Gracie counters with a stiff right hand.
Gracie fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Jab by Palmer.
Palmer tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gracie manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Palmer misses with a low kick.
George Palmer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gracie thuds a left hand into Palmer's body.
Gracie moves to clinch but Palmer breaks away
and Palmer counters with a nice leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Palmer looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gracie connects with a good right hand that stumbles Palmer. Palmer circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Gracie tries to clinch there but Palmer circles away.
A head kick misses from Palmer.
Palmer ducks under a wild hook from Gracie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie walks into a jab.
Palmer swats away the attempt to clinch by Gracie.

Gracie rushes Palmer and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
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!
Palmer letting Gracie take a breather here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Palmer.
Gracie wants to stall.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gracie.
Palmer taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Palmer trying to land knees to the body.
Palmer lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Gracie misses with the head strike.
Gracie is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Gracie drags the fight down to the ground.
Palmer controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Palmer manages to get himself to full guard.

Gracie wants to control from the top but Palmer keeps moving.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Palmer swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie pushes down on Palmer's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Anderson Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Palmer has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gracie is working away from the top position though.
Gracie is stalling here. Palmer is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Gracie seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Palmer has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Palmer's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmer perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Palmer is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Palmer performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.
Palmer must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Palmer is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but George Palmer will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Gracie misses with a wild body shot.
Gracie lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Gracie dives in and grabs Palmer's left leg, looking for a takedown. Palmer pushes down on Gracie's head and hops out.
Anderson Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Palmer takes one on the button.
Palmer lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gracie's sensitive parts.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Palmer.

Gracie rushes Palmer and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Palmer.
Palmer lands with a left to the head.
A nice left hand lands by Palmer.
Gracie misses with the head strike.

Palmer escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gracie swings for the body but Palmer moves out of range.

Gracie gets tackled into the cage by Palmer. Palmer maintains the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Palmer lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Gracie keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Palmer's efforts to push away.
Palmer tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie has Palmer pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Palmer manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Gracie has Palmer pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Palmer manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Palmer is struggling to control the position.
Gracie lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Palmer backwards.
George Palmer seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Palmer working aggressively here.
Palmer blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Palmer stalling in the clinch but Gracie improves position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Palmer.
Gracie misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gracie stalling the fight.
Palmer tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gracie avoids it.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Gracie takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Palmer has Gracie pushed against the cage.
Palmer manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Palmer lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie swings wildly with an uppercut but Palmer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Palmer forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Palmer struggles to land a body shot inside as Gracie controls his hands.
Gracie can't find room to land a body shot as Palmer controls the action.
Palmer struggles to land a body shot inside as Gracie controls his hands.
Palmer blocking some punches.
Palmer tries a body shot but Gracie blocks it.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Palmer escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Palmer keeps the fight on the outside.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gracie is defended easily by Palmer.
Palmer looks to land a body kick but Gracie moved away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmer throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
George Palmer seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gracie tries to clinch up.
And Palmer tries to counter it with a takedown but Gracie pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Palmer takes the fight into the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Palmer.
Gracie jumps guard but Palmer turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Palmer has Gracie pressed against the cage.
Gracie wants a takedown.
Palmer lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Gracie looking for a takedown.

Palmer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Palmer throws a low kick but Gracie avoids it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.
Palmer changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Gracie checks a low kick from Palmer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to clinch

and Palmer counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Palmer manages to get himself to full guard.

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!
Palmer has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Palmer looking for a sweep. Not yet Palmer, not yet.
Gracie pushes down on Palmer's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Palmer looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Palmer trying to hold on to Gracie's head to control him but Gracie postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Palmer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Palmer has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... George Palmer!
In his post fight interview, George Palmer gave a big smile as he said 'I convincingly beat Wickam this time. No more judging errors.'.