PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Koboko Dada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giorgio Palazzi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dada kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Welcome to Jamrock. Koboko Dada has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Dada
vs
Palazzi

186 cm
25
190 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

169 cm
26
194 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

RAGS of a RONIN
Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Koboko Dada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Giorgio Palazzi!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Bruno Lombardi and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dada takes the fight into the clinch.
Dada lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Palazzi backwards.
Dada scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
With the fighters up against the cage, Dada throws an elbow but misses.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Palazzi has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Palazzi tries to stall but Dada uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dada lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Dada controlling the action here for a moment.
Palazzi tries for a takedown but Dada manages to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dada lands a right hand that snaps the head of Palazzi backwards.
Dada lands an elbow just above Palazzi 's eye.

It looks like Giorgio Palazzi has been cut.
Dada lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Dada gets through Palazzi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Palazzi stalling in the clinch but Dada improves position.
Dada is working Palazzi over against the cage.
Palazzi looks winded!

Dada gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Dada trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palazzi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dada landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Still in half guard, Dada seems content to control.

Dada is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Dada looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Dada is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Palazzi sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dada thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Palazzi's head.
Dada wants to take a breather but Palazzi is having none of it.
Dada working Palazzi over with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Dada missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Palazzi is staying active underneath Dada, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Palazzi regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Dada.
Dada lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Palazzi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dada trying to control the position from guard on top but Palazzi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dada scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Koboko Dada dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Giorgio Palazzi's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A left lands for Dada.
Dada doesn't manage to clinch there - Palazzi circles away.
Dada pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Palazzi back to the cage. Dada follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Dada closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Dada wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Palazzi has him pressed against the cage.
Dada using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Palazzi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dada lands a body shot.
Palazzi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Dada prevents it.
Palazzi is breathing heavily.
Dada lands a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palazzi's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Dada lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Dada manages to break the clinch.
Dada tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Palazzi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Palazzi with the counter takedown but Dada avoids it easily.
Koboko Dada is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dada moves in looking to clinch but Palazzi pushes him off.

Dada drives through and clinches with Palazzi against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palazzi can't get the takedown.
Nice body punch from Dada.
Dada works on Palazzi's body with a couple of short punches.
Dada lands a shot to the body.
Dada throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Palazzis head.
Dada lands with a right to the head.

Dada has hold of one of Palazzi's legs. Palazzi is fighting the takedown attempt but Dada gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dada works over Palazzi with some ground and pound from guard.
Dada postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dada is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dada sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Palazzi's guard.
Palazzi on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Dada takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Dada seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Palazzi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Dada is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Palazzi defends it well.
Koboko Dada overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dada wants to pass the guard but Palazzi is defending well.
Palazzi is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dada is trying to control the action in half guard but Palazzi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Dada will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Dada missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Palazzi wants to improve his position but Dada is controlling well.
Dada is keen to just control but Palazzi is a slippery customer.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dada is stalling here. Palazzi is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Dada seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Palazzi has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Dada tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Koboko Dada dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Giorgio Palazzi's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. 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.

Dada with a nice cross.
Dada tries to clinch

and Palazzi counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Dada!
Dada gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Dada trying to control from the bottom.
Dada won't allow Palazzi to pass to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dada wants to get back to full guard.
Palazzi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dada trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dada wants to get back to full guard.
Dada is working hard here to advance position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dada throws a sloppy head kick

and Palazzi counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Palazzi.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dada is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Dada looking for a guillotine here but Palazzi defends easily.
Dada wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Giorgio Palazzi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Koboko Dada is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dada trying to keep a closed guard but Palazzi is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palazzi preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dada fails in his attempt to clinch.
Palazzi with the counter takedown but Dada avoids it easily.
Dada tries to clinch up but Palazzi circles away and keeps his distance.
And Palazzi tries to counter it with a takedown but Dada pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Dada swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Palazzi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Dada wriggles free and stands up.
A right-left combo lands from Dada.
Dada looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dada lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Palazzi circles away quickly and effectively.
Palazzi feints the counter takedown.
Dada moves in looking to clinch but Palazzi pushes him off.
Palazzi tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dada falls off balance throwing a combination

and Palazzi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Palazzi is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Dada has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Palazzi is looking to defend but Dada has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Palazzi! Dada pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Palazzi taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Koboko Dada!
A less than humble Koboko Dada misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.