PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Palmer Walker (ranked 24769 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saif Karama (ranked 3931 p4p, 0 weight class). Palmer Walker has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Walker
vs
Karama

218 cm
18
177 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

189 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Palmer Walker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Saif Karama!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karama throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Walker counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Walker.
Walker landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Knees to the body from Walker.
A frustrated look appears on Karama's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Walker lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Karama backwards.

Walker ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Walker no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Walker will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Walker is pulling down on Karama's head. It's preventing any offense from Karama, at least for the moment.
Walker continues to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Walker manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Karama manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Walker would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Walker throws a strike but Karama rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Walker wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Karama trying to stand up but can't free himself from Walker's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Karama wants to stand and escape but instead Walker has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Walker throws a strike but Karama rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Karama wants to stand but Walker has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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.
Walker wants to stand up but Karama is controlling him.
Karama stopping the sweep attempt from Walker.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Karama cracks Walker with a big right hand and Walker goes down!

Walker is rocked!

It looks like Palmer Walker has been cut.
Karama won't allow Walker to get back to his feet.
Oh Walker is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Karama wants to stand but Walker is controlling his posture from full guard.
Walker really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Karama is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Walker is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Karama wants to stand but Walker has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Walker is breathing heavily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Saif Karama will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Palmer Walker's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Karama closes the distance and pushes Walker back into the cage.
Karama struggles to land a body shot inside as Walker controls his hands.

Walker pulls guard effortlessly.
Walker has a closed guard, preventing Karama from standing up.
Karama preventing the sweep.
Karama wants to get up but he can't break Walker's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Walker seems to have got his legs back now.
Walker tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Karama wants to stand but Walker is controlling his posture from full guard.
Karama wants to stand and escape but instead Walker has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karama avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Karama wants to stand but Walker is controlling the position.
Karama has a closed guard, preventing Walker from standing up.
Walker prevents Karama from getting back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Karama falls off balance throwing a combination
and Walker counters with a left and a right that stings Karama.
Karama rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Walker moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Karama closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Karama can't find room to land a body shot as Walker controls the action.
Karama misses with some punches.
Karama tries to break the clinch but Walker is controlling the position.
Karama tries to circle away but Walker has him pinned against the cage.
Walker prevents a body shot from Karama.
Karama misses with a body punch.

Walker has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Karama regains guard immediately.
Walker throws a strike but Karama rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Karama would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Walker controls Karama momentarily but Karama frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karama won't allow Walker to get back to his feet.
Karama has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Walker is proving hard to escape from.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Walker feints and as Karama raises his hands in defense, Walker changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Walker postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Karama is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Walker, into his guard.

Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Karama wants to stand but Walker has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Walker is pulling down on Karama's head to control his posture.
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 Palmer Walker will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Palmer Walker's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Walker tries to keep at a distance but Karama has taken the fight into the clinch.

Walker jumps guard.

Karama stands and steps away. Walker gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Karama fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Karama pushes Walker up against the cage in a clinch.
Karama is trying to push Walker away but Walker has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Walker fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Walker has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Karama uses from the top position.
Walker looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karama trying to stand up but can't free himself from Walker's guard.
Palmer Walker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Walker is trying to keep Karama in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walker has a closed guard, preventing Karama from standing up.
Walker looking for a sweep. Not yet Walker, not yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Karama rushes Walker and starts throwing punches like they are going out of style! Walker is up against the cage and has nowhere to go. Karama piles on the pressure and Walker crumples to the floor! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Saif Karama!