PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Russell Palmer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rufus Ruffarino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Palmer
vs
Ruffarino

172 cm
21
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Russell Palmer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rufus Ruffarino!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Eddie Farnsworth and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A left and a right from Ruffarino both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Russell Palmer has been cut.

Ruffarino pushes Palmer up against the cage in a clinch.
Palmer is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Ruffarino manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Ruffarino can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Palmer controls the pace.
Palmer has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Palmer has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Palmer postures up.
Our spies down at at Cozad MMA New York inform us that Ruffarino has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruffarino tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Palmer prevents Ruffarino from getting back to his feet.
Palmer could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Palmer slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ruffarino's head.
Palmer postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ruffarino shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Palmer counters by clinching up.
Ruffarino changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Palmer fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Palmer feints and as Ruffarino raises his hands in defense, Palmer changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ruffarino controls Palmer momentarily but Palmer frees himself.
Ruffarino thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruffarino trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Palmer has gone for a leg lock! Ruffarino slips out almost immediately though and dives into Palmer's guard.

Ruffarino postures up.

Palmer looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Palmer looking for a sweep. Not yet Palmer, not yet.

Palmer has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ruffarino can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Palmer looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Palmer avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruffarino throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Palmer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Ruffarino avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Palmer is breathing heavily.
Ruffarino wants to control from the top but Palmer keeps moving.
Palmer trying to control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Ruffarino throws a big elbow that misses.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ruffarino darts in looking for a takedown but Palmer gets double underhooks and turns Ruffarino into the cage.
Russell Palmer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rufus Ruffarino.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ruffarino darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmer throws a right hand that Ruffarino ducks under and follows up with a left that Ruffarino also avoids with ease.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ruffarino.
It looked like Palmer wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Ruffarino closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Palmer to the mat! Palmer manages to get full guard.

Palmer looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ruffarino passes into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruffarino landing strikes.

Palmer is rocked!
Ruffarino lands a decent elbow from side control.
Oh Palmer is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Check out the look on Ruffarino's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Ruffarino cracks Palmer with a big right hand but Palmer just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ruffarino lands a decent elbow from side control.
Ruffarino in side control here. He's dropped a big elbow there and Palmer looks hurt! Oh, he is hurt! Ruffarino turns on the heat and pounds him out for a TKO victory! Good killer instinct there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rufus Ruffarino!