PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Kirk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tauno Palo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kirk
vs
Palo

180 cm
26
176 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

183 cm
30
182 lbs
31 - 18 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Black Hand Fight Gear & Laundry
Steel Terror-Trition: Video Proven 160Q

Perkele!

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 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James Kirk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 18 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tauno Palo!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Nard Betker and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kirk throws a chopping leg kick but Palo manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Palo throws a series of punches but Kirk avoids them all with ease.
Kirk tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Palo swivels and escapes.
Kirk takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Palo connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Kirk shoots in but Palo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kirk ducks under a wild hook from Palo.
Kirk shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Palo but Palo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Kirk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Palo throws a body kick that misses.
Kirk ducks under a wild hook from Palo.
Palo connects with a jab.
Kirk swats away the attempt to clinch by Palo.
Kirk pivots, looking for a leg kick but Palo is out of range and Kirk settles back down.
Palo tries to clinch there but Kirk circles away.
Kirk looks to throw the jab but Palo is out of range.
Donk. Kirk catches Palo right on the button with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Palo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kirk takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kirk doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Palo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Palo utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kirk misses with a hook to the ribs.
Still in the clinch, Palo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Palo throws a punch but it's blocked by Kirk.
Kirk tries to throw a body punch but Palo avoids it by throwing Kirk back against the cage.
A short right from Palo.
The referee is keeping an eye on Palo - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Kirk avoiding damage as Palo throws knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kirk misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Palo tries a knee to the head but Kirk blocks it.
Kirk blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Palo has a couple of punches blocked by Kirk.

Kirk's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tauno Palo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A chopping leg kick lands by Palo.
Palo swings for the body but Kirk moves out of range.
Palo misses with a double jab
and Kirk makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Palo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kirk.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Palo.
Palo throws a front kick aimed at Kirk's knee but Kirk avoids it well.
Kirk moves out of range as Palo throws a body kick.
Palo turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kirk moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kirk stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Palo.

Kirk forces Palo back against the cage and clinches.
Palo misses with some punches.
Kirk doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Palo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirk throws a low kick but it's checked well by Palo.
Palo tries to clinch up.
Palo throws a good cross that connects.
Tauno Palo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Palo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Palo checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kirk shoots in looking for a takedown. Palo tries to sprawl out of it but Kirk keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Palo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kirk swats away the attempt to clinch by Palo.
Palo attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A shot to the liver by Palo. Beautiful body shot.
Palo moves in looking to clinch but Kirk pushes him off.
Kirk avoids a punch combination nicely.

Palo clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palo lands a right hand.
Kirk misses with a punch to the body.
Palo lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Palo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Good body shot from Palo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kirk.

Kirk has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Palo is trying to keep an underhook but Kirk manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Kirk passes to full mount!
Kirk lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Palo takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Palo regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Palo tries to roll over but Kirk keeps him under control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Palo gets full guard.
Kirk chips away with some ground and pound.
Kirk trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tauno Palo dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Palo misses with a looping left.
Kirk checks a leg kick nicely.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Palo lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Kirk has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Kirk and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A nice inside leg kick there by Palo. That's going to slow Kirk down.
Kirk takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Palo.
Palo takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Palo wants to clinch.
A jab from Palo does it's job there.
Kirk keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A short left from Kirk.
Palo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Palo misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kirk swings wildly with an uppercut but Palo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Palo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kirk throws a head punch that misses.
Palo scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Palo's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Palo makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kirk throws a punch but it's blocked by Palo.
Kirk throws a punch but it's blocked by Palo.
Palo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Palo scores with a nice hook to the head.
Palo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kirk throws a head punch that misses.
Palo swings wildly with an uppercut but Kirk uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirk lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Palo backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Palo misses with a body punch.
Palo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tauno Palo seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Palo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Palo controlling the action here for a moment.
Palo scores with a nice hook to the head.
Palo blocking some punches.
Palo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Nice body punch from Kirk - that landed with a thud.
Palo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kirk wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Palo lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kirk is trying to pull guard but Palo turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kirk misses with a punch on the inside.
Palo misses with a punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kirk blocks an elbow strike from Palo.
Kirk misses with the head strike.
Kirk has a couple of punches blocked by Palo.

Kirk breaks from the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Palo.
Kirk just misses with a punch to the body.
Palo stuffs the takedown.
Palo tries to clinch but Kirk moves out of range.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Kirk crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Palo - the referee stops the clock and Kirk gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Palo. Kirk manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Some wild striking there from Palo.
Palo moves out of range of the strikes.
Kirk tries a low kick but Palo avoids it.
Palo is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kirk fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Palo to the ground. Kirk is now in Palo's guard.
Kirk has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kirk looking to pass the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kirk accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kirk won't allow Palo to sweep him here.
Kirkis looking to pass into half guard but Palo pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Palo is in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kirk manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Palo manages to get himself to full guard.
Palo has his hands on Kirk's head, controlling the position.
Kirk is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kirk passes Palo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Palo is trying to control but Kirk manages to pass to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tauno Palo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kirk moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Kirk closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Palo to the mat! Palo manages to get full guard.
James Kirk overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kirk wants to control from the top but Palo keeps moving.
Kirk throwing strikes from guard but Palo blocks nicely.
Palo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Kirk wants to hold on but Palo pushes him away.
Kirk is trying desperately to improve position.
Palo looking to control but Kirk is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palo wants to stand but Kirk is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Kirk is looking to get to half guard.
Palo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kirk is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Palo controlling the position easily from mount.
Kirk can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palo takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Kirk manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Palo tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Kirk.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tauno Palo was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Kirk throws an overhand right that lands on Palo's shoulder, as Palo tries to avoid the shot.
Left hook, right uppercut from Palo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Palo dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kirk. That did some damage!
Palo slips under a jab.
Palo moves out of range of the body kick from Kirk.
A jab from Kirk finds it's way through Palo's defenses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Palo.
Kirk checks a leg kick nicely.
Palo throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Palo misses with a wild combination.
Palo finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Palo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Palo moves out of range as Kirk throws a body kick.
Kirk throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Palo's waist but Palo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kirk off to one side.
Kirk defending well as Palo loads up on a big left hand.
Tauno Palo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Palo tries to clinch
and Kirk counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Palo looks to land a body kick but Kirk moved away.
Palo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Palo lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kirk at a distance.
Kirk changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Palo tries to avoid it but Kirk manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Palo to the ground. Palo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Palo. Beautiful body shot.

Palo closes the distance and clinches.
Palo lands a right hand.
Palo is trying to stall.
Kirk missing with knees to the body.
James Kirk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kirk misses with a short punch on the inside.

Kirk pulls Palo into guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Palo decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Kirk scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Palo forces Kirk back against the cage and clinches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kirk misses with a hook from the clinch.
Palo lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kirk.
Kirk scores with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Palo lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tauno Palo.
I've got Palo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tauno Palo!
Tauno Palo seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.