PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lou Hole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Santiago Palmer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hole's entrance music is Louie Louie/ Motorhead. A fine choice. Palmer has chosen GSP - Not Impressed as his entrance music. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hole
vs
Palmer

178 cm
27
183 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

175 cm
29
170 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Namunamu Clothing
Pearson Specter Litt

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lou Hole!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Santiago Palmer!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Joseph Jones and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hole takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Palmer blocks a head kick by Hole.
Palmer tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Palmer works the jab nicely.
Hole swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Palmer.
Hole getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Palmer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hole throws a body shot but no joy.
A swing and a miss from Hole.
Nice defenses there by Hole.
Hole fails to land with a series of punches.
Jab from Hole.
Palmer swats away the attempt to clinch by Hole.
Hole looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Hole looks for the body kick but Palmer saw that one coming.
Palmer digs a good body shot into Hole's ribs.
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!
Hole throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Palmer counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Palmer keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Palmer is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hole is just riding it out for now. Palmer eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer tries to pass to full mount but Hole defends it.

Palmer is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Palmer uses his free foot to push down on Hole's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Hole.
Palmer wants to control the pace but Hole is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hole sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmer stalling.
Palmer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hole keeps working.
Hole is looking for a sweep. Palmer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Palmer is pressing down on Hole's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hole is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Palmer trying to control the action but Hole is working from the bottom.
Hole is looking to improve his position.

Palmer is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hole defends it well.
Hole trying to control here.
Hole is looking to improve his position.

Hole is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Palmer pulls his head out easily.
Hole is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Palmer is looking for a kimura here.
Palmer is trying to control the action in half guard but Hole is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Palmer sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Hole tries to roll over but Palmer keeps him under control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hole trying to control from the bottom.

Palmer is looking for a kimura but Hole is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Palmer to get the leverage.
Palmer keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santiago Palmer dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hole ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hole swings for the body but Palmer moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hole. Palmer does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hole lands a head shot.
Hole thows a leg kick but Palmer checks it

and Palmer counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Palmer postures up.
Palmer trying to control the position from guard on top but Hole is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hole wants to sweep here but Palmer controlling him for the moment.
Hole controls Palmer momentarily but Palmer frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hole is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Palmer not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hole throws his legs up looking for a submission but Palmer uses it to pass to side control.

Palmer is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hole is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Palmer tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Palmer looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Hole struggling a bit here.
Palmer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hole keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hole is trying to improve his position.
Palmer staying calm.
Palmer works to advance to full mount. Hole defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Palmer prevents Hole from getting the reversal.
Palmer controlling his opponent.
Hole tries to hold on but Palmer pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
My spies in Midnight MMA inform me that Palmer has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hole working to try and regain half guard.
Hole tries to hold on but Palmer postures up.
Palmer sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Palmer looking to secure an arm triangle but Hole defends it well.
Hole really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Palmer wants to take Hole's back here but Hole is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Hole is desperately trying to improve his position but Palmer has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago Palmer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hole is working hard here to advance position.
Palmer tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Hole is looking to improve his position but Palmer isn't that keen on the idea.

Palmer goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Hole turns into him and now he's in Palmer's guard.

Palmer had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hole defends it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Palmer trying to keep a closed guard but Hole is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santiago Palmer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

The fight stays on the outside here - Hole looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Palmer closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Palmer has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Hole is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hole's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Hole tries to hold on but Palmer pushes him away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Palmer prevents Hole from getting the reversal.

Palmer looking for a guillotine from mount but Hole is having none of it.
Palmer takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Palmer seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Hole is holding on tight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer moves to back control.
Hole can't escape the position.

Palmer is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Hole has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Palmer patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Hole is in bad spot here.

Palmer has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Palmer gets his hands free as Hole looks to control.

Hole showing good submission defense here.
I would not like to be Hole right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Palmer is looking for the choke from the back position but Hole is controlling his hands well.
Well, with Palmer on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Hole is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

Palmer is looking for the choke from the back position but Hole is controlling his hands well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hole trying to get back to his feet but Palmer is in full control for now.
Hole is really stuck here.
Palmer has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hole rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Hole wants to improve his position but Palmer is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmer is pressing down on Hole's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hole is holding on for now.

Palmer is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hole is looking to improve his position.
Palmer is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Palmer is working for a guillotine from mount but Hole frees his head quite easily.
Palmer forces the positional change into back control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmer just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Hole rolls, trying to escape but Palmer keeps control of the position.
Hole trying to control the position but Palmer manages to sink in the hooks.
Palmer tries to keep control of the position but Hole is staying busy.

Palmer is working for the choke. He's slipped one arm under the chin. Hole has to defend the other arm for all he's worth... but Palmer has managed to get that arm free too and he's tightening the choke! Hole taps out and looks absolutely disgusted with himself. Palmer doesn't care though - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Santiago Palmer!
Santiago Palmer is the new welterweight champion!
An intense looking Santiago Palmer took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'Best moment of my career. I can't say much because I wanna cry. Thanks Lou for such a great battle. You're the best fighter I've ever faced.'.
Lou Hole was interviewed post fight and said 'What can I say you got me man'.