PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Palmer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Petr Jakovlev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jakovlev has chosen Devour as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Palmer
vs
Jakovlev

191 cm
32
265 lbs
14 - 7 - 1

195 cm
33
290 lbs
19 - 18 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Kemists ↑ 5x160Q - $149-199

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Chris Palmer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Petr Jakovlev!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Ryoma Takatsuka and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Jakovlev misses.

Palmer shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Palmer is trying to control the action in half guard but Jakovlev is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Jakovlev is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Palmer is controlling the pace.
Palmer scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Palmer connects with a nice short shot to Jakovlev's temple.
Jakovlev blocking the ground and pound attempt from Palmer.
Jakovlev trying to hold on to Palmer's head to control him but Palmer postures up.

Jakovlev actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer blocks the strikes from Jakovlev.
Jakovlev has his hands clasped together around Palmer's back. He's all about the action.
Jakovlev works his way to full guard. Good work.
Palmer is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Jakovlev working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Palmer has passed into half guard!
Jakovlev makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Jakovlev.
Palmer is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Palmer lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Palmer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jakovlev is looking for a triangle but Palmer pushes his legs off easily.
Jakovlev is adopting a defensive guard.
Jakovlev controls Palmer momentarily but Palmer frees himself.
Palmer postures up in Jakovlev's guard and throws a big left but Jakovlev blocks it.
Jakovlev working a defensive guard here.
Palmer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jakovlev is keeping the position for now.
Palmer trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jakovlev working a defensive guard here.

Jakovlev throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmer postures up in Jakovlev's guard and throws a big left but Jakovlev blocks it.
Jakovlev is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Jakovlev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Palmer landing with the ground and pound.
Palmer landing with the ground and pound.
Jakovlev is trying to keep Palmer in close.
Palmer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Palmer working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jakovlev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Palmer stands up over Jakovlev, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Jakovlev looking for a sweep. Not yet Jakovlev, not yet.
Palmer lands a couple of digs.
Palmer slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
You can see the frustration on Jakovlev's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ground and pound from Palmer seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Palmer throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Palmer landing a few strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jakovlev is trying to improve his position.
Palmer advances to full mount.
Jakovlev wants to hold on but Palmer pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Palmer dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Jakovlev throws a jab but it's blocked by Palmer.
Palmer works the jab nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jakovlev.
Jakovlev doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Palmer connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Jakovlev shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Jakovlev showed some decent athleticism there.
My spies in Death Valley Training Facility inform me that Jakovlev has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Palmer is looking for a sweep. Jakovlev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jakovlev slips a nice elbow through Palmer's hands, connecting with Palmer's forehead.
Jakovlev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Palmer keeps working.
Palmer gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jakovlev postures up in Palmer's guard and throws a big left but Palmer blocks it.
Jakovlev postures up.
Chris Palmer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Palmer looking for a guillotine here but Jakovlev defends easily.
Palmer is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Palmer seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

That's two 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.

Palmer working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Jakovlev doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Jakovlev manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Jakovlev trying to control but Palmer is working from the bottom.
Jakovlev won't allow Palmer to sweep him here.
Jakovlev wants to control from the top but Palmer keeps moving.
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.

Jakovlev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Palmer is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jakovlev can do to turn this around?
Palmer is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmer slips a nice elbow through Jakovlev's hands, connecting with Jakovlev's forehead.
Jakovlev is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Palmer's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Palmer's back!
Palmer tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Palmer manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Jakovlev trying to control from half guard but Palmer is working away.
Palmer is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Jakovlev is looking to advance position but Palmer won't allow it.
Nice strikes from Jakovlev there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmer tries to get to full guard but Jakovlev has control of the leg.
Jakovlev perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Palmer moves into full guard.
Jakovlev is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Jakovlev keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Palmer's head.

Palmer looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Palmer pulls Jakovlev in to control the position.
Jakovlev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Palmer's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Chris Palmer will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Jakovlev shoots for a takedown but Palmer saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Palmer feinted with a counter takedown.
Petr Jakovlev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Palmer throws a lazy right hand but Jakovlev sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Jakovlev!

It looks like Chris Palmer has been cut.
Jakovlev shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Palmer as he avoids it easily.
Palmer slips under a jab from Jakovlev.
Jakovlev jabs at Palmer's body.
Some wild striking there from Jakovlev.
Palmer connects with a nice looking jab.
Jakovlev throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Palmer sees it coming and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jakovlev looks to throw the jab but Palmer is out of range.
Jakovlev lands a really nice looking cross but Palmer seems unphased.
Jakovlev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Chris Palmer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Petr Jakovlev.
Jakovlev fails to land with a series of punches.
A little feinted left hand from Palmer on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jakovlev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Palmer counters with a nice double leg into side control. Jakovlev won't be happy with that.
Jakovlev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer in side control lands a decent elbow.
Jakovlev is looking for a sweep.
Palmer is putting a hurting on Jakovlev here, landing some big shots from side control.
Palmer grinds an elbow into Jakovlev's temple.
Palmer throws an elbow but Jakovlev slips to the side and avoids it well.
Jakovlev is not content to let Palmer control the position.
Palmer landing strikes.
Jakovlev tries to improve position but can't.
Jakovlev taking punishment in the form of punches.
Jakovlev on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Jakovlev is rocked!
Jakovlev is looking for a sweep.
Jakovlev is still in real trouble! Can Palmer finish him?
Palmer advances nicely into full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jakovlev is in all sorts of trouble here.
Palmer softens up his opponent with a couple of shots there and then CRACK! One massive shot lands there and Jakovlev is out cold! Palmer jumps to his feet and celebrates on the cage with the fans, who are, quite frankly, going absolutely mental!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Chris Palmer!
Chris Palmer managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Kemists ↑ 5x160Q - $149-199, into his post fight interview.