PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Palmares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenshiro Kasumi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kasumi has chosen Ai Wo Torimodose aka Song of Manliness as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Palmares
vs
Kasumi

181 cm
27
218 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

185 cm
37
220 lbs
16 - 15 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rodrigo Palmares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenshiro Kasumi!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Steve Montenegro and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palmares moves out of range as Kasumi strikes.
Kasumi cracks Palmares with an open hand slap.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kasumi.
Kasumi lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Palmares feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kasumi's calf.
Kasumi misses with a head kick.
Palmares avoids the head kick by Kasumi.
Kasumi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Palmares.
Palmares looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kasumi is fending him off so far but Palmares persists. Nope, Kasumi circles away and we're back to standing.
Kasumi checks a low kick from Palmares.
Palmares is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kasumi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Palmares closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kasumi quickly recovers to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kasumi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Palmares.

Palmares 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.
Kasumi wants to control but Palmares is keeping busy.
Palmares 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmares throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Palmares is looking to stall here but Kasumi recovers full guard.
Palmares tries to free his leg and advance position but Kasumi is retaining full guard.
Kasumi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kasumi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Palmares!
Palmares is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kasumi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Palmares is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kasumi cracks Palmares with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

It looks like Rodrigo Palmares has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Palmares is working to get back to half guard.
Kasumi looking to control but Palmares is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Palmares wants to control but Kasumi is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Palmares is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmares tries to hold on but Kasumi postures up.
Kasumi controlling his opponent.
Kasumi landing shots from mount.
Palmares regains half guard.
Kasumi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Palmares is looking to control Kasumi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Palmares avoid being mounted?
Palmares is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Palmares looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Palmares looking for submissions off his back.
Kasumi is trying to control. Palmares wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Kasumi 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.
Kasumi lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenshiro Kasumi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rodrigo Palmares's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Palmares misses with a takedown
and Kasumi counters with a head kick.
Palmares will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Kasumi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Palmares ducks under a wild hook from Kasumi.
Palmares just misses with a punch to the body.
Palmares misses with a low kick.
Palmares shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kasumi sprawls well. Kasumi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Palmares gets slowly back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Palmares is defended easily by Kasumi.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Palmares. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kasumi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Kasumi 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 Palmares has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Palmares and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kasumi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Palmares's jab looks to have found its range, popping Kasumi under the eye.
Kasumi leaves Palmares with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kasumi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Palmares throws a sloppy body shot
and Kasumi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Palmares cracks Kasumi with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Palmares takes a swing at Kasumi's ribcage but misses.
Palmares takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kenshiro Kasumi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A swing and a miss from Palmares.
Kasumi swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Kasumi displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Palmares swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kasumi lands a jab.
Palmares with a hook.
A clash of legs there as Kasumi blocks the low kick.
Kasumi slips a jab from Palmares.
Kasumi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Palmares.
Palmares throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kasumi.
Kasumi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Palmares throws the left hand but Kasumi avoids the punch easily.
Kasumi lands with a kick to the temple. Palmares shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Palmares tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kasumi was well out of range. Poor timing from Palmares.
Palmares connects with the punch.
Kasumi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Palmares shoots in looking for a takedown. Kasumi tries to sprawl out of it but Palmares keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kasumi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmares shoots in for a takedown but Kasumi shows good takedown defense.
Palmares tries for a takedown but Kasumi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kasumi lands a high kick!
Kasumi digs a good hook to Palmares's body.
Palmares moves out of range of the body kick from Kasumi.
A telegraphed right hand from Palmares misses the target.
Kasumi lands a jab to the head.
Palmares throws a jab but it's blocked by Kasumi.
Kasumi throws a leg kick which misses Palmares's front leg but catches the back leg as Palmares tries to avoid it.
Palmares misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Palmares defending well as Kasumi loads up on a big left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Palmares throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kasumi sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Palmares fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kasumi sprawls well initially but Palmares persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Palmares working Kasumi over with strikes.
Palmares throwing shots but Kasumi is blocking nicely.
Palmares is looking to take a break and control but Kasumi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kasumi wants to control but Palmares is keeping busy.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Palmares lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Palmares is working for a kimura but Kasumi is defending it quite comfortably.
Kasumi gets full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenshiro Kasumi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rodrigo Palmares's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kasumi throws a leg kick but Palmares sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Kasumi tries a low kick but Palmares avoids it.
Rodrigo Palmares seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Palmares is looking to slow Kasumi down with leg kicks.
Kasumi checks a leg kick.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kasumi enables Palmares to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kasumi manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Palmares trying to control but Kasumi is working from the bottom.
Kasumi is trying to keep Palmares in close.
Palmares throwing strikes but missing.
Palmares trying to control the position from guard on top but Kasumi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kasumi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kasumi has momentary wrist control but Palmares slips an elbow through the middle.
Palmares throwing strikes but missing.
Palmares distracts Kasumi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Palmares stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kasumi swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Kasumi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kasumi is controlling Palmares's posture.
Kasumi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Kasumi looking for a guillotine here but Palmares defends easily.
Palmares trying to control but Kasumi is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmares with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Palmares throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Palmares landing some decent shots from guard.
Palmares is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rodrigo Palmares overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Kasumi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Palmares gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Palmares trying to control but Kasumi is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kasumi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Palmares!
Kasumi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rodrigo Palmares has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kasumi avoids the attempt from Palmares to control.
Palmares is working to get back to half guard.
Kasumi wants to control the pace but Palmares is squirming around nicely.
Palmares keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kasumi looking to control but Palmares is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Palmares is looking to get to half guard.
Kasumi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Palmares can't escape the position.
Kasumi trying to control but Palmares is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Palmares is working to get back to half guard.
Palmares flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodrigo Palmares showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kasumi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenshiro Kasumi!
Kenshiro Kasumi looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'You are already dead....'.