PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Samppa Palmu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don Mad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Samppa Palmu has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Palmu
vs
Mad

190 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Samppa Palmu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Don Mad!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Illya Tyunina and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mad shoots in but Palmu avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mad throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Palmu's waist but Palmu gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mad off to one side.
Palmu bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Mad's head backwards.

It looks like Don Mad has been cut.
Palmu dives in and grabs Mad's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mad pushes down on Palmu's head and hops out.
Mad doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Mad looks gassed!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Palmu gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mad is trying to maintain a safe position but Palmu gets an underhook and turns Mad into the cage.
Palmu tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mad avoids it.
Mad tries to pull guard but Palmu won't allow it.
Samppa Palmu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Don Mad.

Palmu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mad takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Palmu scores with a takedown into Mad's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Palmu lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mad is trying to keep Palmu in close.
Palmu keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mad's head.
Palmu trying to control but Mad is working from the bottom.
Palmu throws a big right hand that misses.
Palmu landing some decent shots from guard.
Palmu trying to control but Mad is working from the bottom.
Palmu postures up and lands a big shot to Mad's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Palmu accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Palmu wants to control from the top but Mad keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Palmu accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Palmu engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Palmu gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Palmu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mad avoids it really well and circles away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Palmu closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mad to the mat! Mad manages to get full guard.
Palmu is looking to work some ground and pound but Mad has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mad swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Palmu controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Palmu landing some decent shots from guard.
Palmu chips away with some ground and pound.
Palmu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Palmu thows a big elbow that misses.
Palmu is pushing down on Mad's leg trying to pass to half guard. Mad is fighting to maintain full guard but Palmu has managed to sneak the leg through.
Mad is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Palmu is trying to work for a kimura but Mad is defending well.
Mad is trying to control but can't.

Palmu is looking for a kimura here.

Palmu seems to be looking for submissions.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ground and pound from Palmu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samppa Palmu dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Don Mad's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Palmu misses with the combination.

Palmu drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Mad can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Palmu controls the pace.

Mad had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Palmu defends it easily.
Palmu pushes down on Mad's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Mad is looking for a sweep. Palmu is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mad is breathing heavily.
Palmu scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Palmu drops an elbow to the side of Mad's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mad is defending against the submission attempts here by Palmu.
Palmu drops an elbow to the side of Mad's head.
Palmu looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mad with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Palmu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Palmu is nestled in close to Mad, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Palmu working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Palmu is looking to take a break and control but Mad is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Palmu stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Mad to get to his feet.
Palmu pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Palmu dives in and scores a takedown into Mad's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Palmu trying to control but Mad is working from the bottom.
Palmu lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Palmu showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Palmu working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mad keeping moving, preventing Palmu from controlling successfully.
Palmu pushes down on Mad's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Mad has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Palmu is working away from the top position though.
Palmu trying to control the action but Mad is working from the bottom.
Palmu landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Mad wants to control but Palmu is keeping busy.
Palmu perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mad is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Palmu is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Palmu is looking for a kimura but Mad is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Palmu to get the leverage.
Mad has hold of Palmu's hands but Palmu slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Palmu not doing much here.

Palmu is working for a submission of some sort.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ground and pound from Palmu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samppa Palmu dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Don Mad's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

No luck for Palmu with that takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Mad or perhaps it was just good defense by Palmu which made him look bad.
Mad will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mad throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Palmu's waist but Palmu gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mad off to one side.
Samppa Palmu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Don Mad.

Palmu drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Palmu stands up over Mad, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Mad is working an open guard so Palmu takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Palmu looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Mad escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Palmu gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mad looking for a sweep. Not yet Mad, not yet.
Palmu trying to control the position from guard on top but Mad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Palmu stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Nice sprawl there from Mad as Palmu shoots in.
Palmu lands a jab-cross combination.
Palmu looks to clinch
and Mad counters with a leg kick.

Palmu drives through and clinches with Mad against the cage.
Mad lands a nice knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmu blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Palmu goes for a takedown in the clinch but Mad prevents it.
Palmu prevents the takedown attempt.

Mad breaks from the clinch.
Palmu closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mad circles away.
Palmu shoots in for a double leg but Mad sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Palmu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Palmu.
Mad fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Palmu.
Mad defending against the ground and pound.
Mad tries to buck Palmu off but Palmu is having none of it.
Palmu is looking to take a break and control but Mad is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Palmu is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mad has escaped the position, nice work there.
Palmu working the ground and pound but Mad is defending the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mad wants to control but Palmu postures up.
Mad tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Palmu wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Samppa Palmu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Palmu landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Mad is working to avoid the ground and pound but Palmu connects with a decent elbow.
Palmu in side control lands a decent elbow.
Palmu trying to control the position but Mad is working away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mad wants to control but Palmu postures up.
Palmu trying to control the position but Mad is working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mad wants to control but Palmu postures up.
Don Mad has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Samppa Palmu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Palmu works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samppa Palmu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Palmu has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Samppa Palmu!