PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Soloman Palmer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Smith Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Smith Jr is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Palmer
vs
Smith Jr

175 cm
25
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
182 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Urban Fighter

Alpha-Male Nutritional Supplements Q160/$225
Phantom Fightwear

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Soloman Palmer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Smith Jr!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Donald Grub and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Palmer forces Smith Jr back against the cage and clinches.

Smith Jr has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Palmer regains guard immediately.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Smith Jr is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Palmer is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Palmer has escaped and now he's on top!

Palmer trying to control but Smith Jr is working from the bottom.
Palmer scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Palmer postures up in Smith Jr's guard and throws a big left but Smith Jr blocks it.
We've been hearing that Palmer has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Palmer missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Smith Jr is looking for a triangle but Palmer pushes his legs off easily.

Smith Jr looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Smith Jr isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Palmer stacks Smith Jr on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Palmer!
Smith Jr tries to improve position but can't.
Smith Jr is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith Jr gets back to half guard.
Palmer is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Smith Jr looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Smith Jr keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Smith Jr blocking the ground and pound attempt from Palmer.
Still in half guard, Palmer seems content to control.

Smith Jr actively working from the bottom here.
Palmer not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Still in half guard, Palmer seems content to control.

Smith Jr looking for submissions off his back.
Palmer not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Smith Jr actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmer sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Smith Jr looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Palmer lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Smith Jr looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Smith Jr looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Palmer scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Smith Jr keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Palmer there.
Palmer content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmer thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Smith Jr's head.
Palmer is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Palmer throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Smith Jr is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Palmer pulls his head out easily.

Smith Jr looking for submissions off his back.
Palmer trying to mount his opponent but Smith Jr defends it.
Palmer performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Palmer throwing shots but Smith Jr is blocking nicely.
Smith Jr is looking for a sweep. Palmer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Palmer is looking to take a break and control but Smith Jr is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmer throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Smith Jr actively working from the bottom here.
Palmer stalling.
Palmer not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Palmer missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Palmer lands with a punch from half guard.
Palmer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith Jr keeps working.

Smith Jr looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Palmer content to control rather than advance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith Jr wants to improve his position but Palmer is controlling well.

Smith Jr actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Soloman 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.

Smith Jr shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Palmer as he avoids it easily.
Smith Jr blocks a jab.
Palmer misses with an attempted mid kick.
Smith Jr shoots in for a double leg but Palmer sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Smith Jr shoots in looking for a takedown but Palmer manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Smith Jr's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Soloman Palmer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Smith Jr.
Smith Jr tries to score a power double leg takedown but Palmer sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith Jr somewhat.
Palmer is looking to clinch.
Smith Jr tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Palmer defends well and Smith Jr ends up having to push Palmer into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
No luck for Smith Jr with that takedown attempt.
Smith Jr shoots in and drives through. Palmer sprawls well.

Palmer clinches.
Palmer is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smith Jr can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Palmer is trying to break free.
Smith Jr has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Palmer is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Palmer is looking to break free of the clinch but Smith Jr has double underhooks.
Palmer is trying to stall.
Palmer wants to get back to striking at distance but Smith Jr won't allow it.
Smith Jr tries to pull guard but Palmer forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith Jr works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Smith Jr is breathing heavily.

Smith Jr avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Palmer is adopting a defensive guard.
Palmer is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Palmer pulls Smith Jr in close to prevent any damage.
Palmer keeping full guard, as Smith Jr tries to pass.
Soloman Palmer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Smith Jr drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Palmer manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Smith Jr has Palmer in his guard.

Smith Jr working for a triangle but Palmer defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith Jr utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Palmer working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Palmer is working Smith Jr over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Palmer missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Smith Jr is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Palmer defends well.
Palmer not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Palmer lands a couple of elbows.
Palmer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Palmer has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Palmer is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith Jr looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Smith Jr working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Palmer.

Palmer got a little sloppy there for a moment and Smith Jr has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Palmer has managed to get both his arms back between Smith Jr's legs - danger averted.
Palmer engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Palmer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Palmer trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Smith Jr is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Palmer is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith Jr has wrist control.
Smith Jr working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Palmer.
Palmer is working Smith Jr over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Palmer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Palmer sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmer's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Palmer throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smith Jr works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Palmer trying to control but Smith Jr is working from the bottom.

Smith Jr looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Smith Jr throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Palmer scoring with some ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Palmer has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Smith Jr to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Palmer is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Smith Jr pulls down on the head and he's put Palmer to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Joe Smith Jr!
Joe Smith Jr gave a mention to Alpha-Male Nutritional Supplements Q160/$225 in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).