PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marcelo Aurelio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kalle Palikka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Aurelio
vs
Palikka

180 cm
25
173 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

181 cm
24
176 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marcelo Aurelio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kalle Palikka!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Daniel Bishop and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A kick lands to the mid section there for Aurelio.
Palikka misses with an uppercut.
Palikka dives in and grabs Aurelio's left leg, looking for a takedown. Aurelio pushes down on Palikka's head and hops out.
Aurelio appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Aurelio wants to clinch but Palikka slips to the side
and Palikka counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Aurelio moves away from the strike by Palikka.
Aurelio attempts a counter takedown but Palikka avoids it well and moves away.
Aurelio thows a leg kick but Palikka checks it
and Palikka counters with a left to the body.
Palikka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Marcelo Aurelio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aurelio scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Palikka doesn't seem bothered though.
Aurelio fails with an attempt to clinch.
Good exchange - Palikka coming out on top.
Palikka avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A little jabbing left from Palikka on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Palikka throws a jab but it's blocked by Aurelio.
Palikka fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Aurelio avoids it really well and circles away.
We've been hearing reports that Aurelio has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Aurelio throws a half hearted mid kick.
Aurelio misses with a hook.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Palikka crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Aurelio - the referee stops the clock and Palikka gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Aurelio. Palikka manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Palikka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Aurelio.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aurelio displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Palikka.
Marcelo Aurelio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kalle Palikka.
Aurelio swinging wildly here.
Aurelio scores with a jab. Palikka acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Palikka pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Aurelio.
Aurelio misses with a takedown attempt - Palikka sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Palikka takes a swing at Aurelio's ribcage but misses.
Palikka has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Aurelio.
Aurelio cracks Palikka with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Palikka looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Aurelio ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Aurelio closes the distance and lands a one-two.
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!

Aurelio scores with a takedown into Palikka's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palikka pulls Aurelio in to control the position.
Palikka bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Aurelio's guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Aurelio looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Palikka has picked Aurelio up and slammed him! Aurelio can't keep hold of the triangle and Palikka manages to pass to side control!
Aurelio can't do much from the bottom here.
Palikka trying to control the position but Aurelio is working away.
Aurelio sneaks back into half guard.
Palikka controlling the pace.
Aurelio tries to get to full guard but Palikka has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palikka not doing much here.
Palikka prevents Aurelio from improving his position.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Palikka working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Palikka is keen to just control but Aurelio is a slippery customer.
Palikka is controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Aurelio is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Palikka lands a nice short elbow.
Well, if Palikka is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Aurelio trying to control here.

Aurelio actively working from the bottom here.

Palikka wants to work for an arm triangle but Aurelio is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcelo Aurelio dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Palikka takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Aurelio is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Aurelio jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Aurelio misses with a hook.
Aurelio takes a swing at Palikka's ribcage but misses.
Aurelio is looking to clinch.
Palikka takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Palikka swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Palikka throws a right and a left that both miss.
Aurelio lands with a shot to the body.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Aurelio.
Aurelio lands a jab to the nose.
Aurelio misses with an uppercut.
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!
Palikka misses with a body shot.
Aurelio cracks a nice hook into Palikka's ribs.
Palikka shoots in and drives through. Aurelio sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aurelio throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Palikka moves out of range as Aurelio strikes.
Aurelio scores with a jab to the body.

Palikka closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Aurelio's guard.
Palikka wants to control from the top but Aurelio keeps moving.
Palikka trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Aurelio is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Palikka is aware though and is defending well.

Aurelio looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Palikka preventing the sweep.
Palikka works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Aurelio slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palikka controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Palikka must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Aurelio looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Aurelio is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Palikka throwing strikes but missing.
Aurelio is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Palikka wants to improve his position but Aurelio is controlling well.
Aurelio throws a strike but Palikka avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palikka is trying to control the position but Aurelio postures up.
Aurelio not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Aurelio wants to control from the top but Palikka keeps moving.
Aurelio throws an elbow that misses. Palikka uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Aurelio's guard. Nice move by Palikka!

Palikka wants to control from the top but Aurelio keeps moving.
Aurelio is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Palikka can do to turn this around?

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.
Palikka with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Aurelio keeping moving, preventing Palikka from controlling successfully.
Palikka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Aurelio swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Aurelio tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Palikka wants to control from the top but Aurelio keeps moving.

Aurelio is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Palikka is aware though and is defending well.
Aurelio pulls Palikka in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Palikka lands a slapping body shot.

Aurelio gets a takedown into half guard.

Aurelio seems to be working for a kimura but Palikka defends the submission attempt.

Palikka looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aurelio seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Palikka does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Palikka trying to hold on to Aurelio's head to control him but Aurelio postures up.
Palikka is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aurelio seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Aurelio throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Aurelio thows a huge punch but Palikka dodges it nicely.
Aurelio trying to control the action but Palikka is working from the bottom.
Marcelo Aurelio overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Aurelio is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Palikka wants to control but Aurelio is keeping busy.
Aurelio keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Kalle Palikka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Aurelio slips a nice elbow through Palikka's hands, connecting with Palikka's forehead.

Aurelio is looking for a kimura but Palikka is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Aurelio to get the leverage.
Aurelio seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Palikka does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Palikka actively working from the bottom here.
Aurelio is trying to control. Palikka wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Aurelio lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Aurelio missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Palikka actively working from the bottom here.
Palikka wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aurelio wants to control but Palikka is keeping him busy.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Palikka takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Palikka connects with a nice looking jab.
Palikka lands with an overhand left.

Palikka looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Palikka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Aurelio moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Aurelio trying to control the position.
Aurelio wants to sweep here but Palikka controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palikka wants to pass the guard but Aurelio is keeping the position.

Aurelio is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Palikka is aware though and is defending well.
Palikka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aurelio is keeping the position for now.
Palikka passes Aurelio's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aurelio tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Palikka has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Palikka with shots to the head and body - Aurelio looks very uncomfortable down there.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kalle Palikka.
I think Aurelio 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcelo Aurelio!
Marcelo Aurelio thanked the fans post fight for their support.