PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roy Palmer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Han Dardy (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.

Palmer
vs
Dardy

180 cm
23
188 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

188 cm
23
181 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Roy Palmer!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Han Dardy!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Yves DeLean and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Palmer looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Dardy!

Palmer jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Dardy manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Palmer goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Dardy has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Palmer but great work by Dardy.

Dardy decides to stand back up.
Dardy throws a nice looking combination but Palmer bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Dardy swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Palmer ducks under a wild hook from Dardy.
Dardy throws an overhand right that lands on Palmer's shoulder, as Palmer tries to avoid the shot.
A jab lands there for Dardy.

It looks like Roy Palmer has been cut.
No joy there for Dardy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Palmer closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Dardy wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Palmer has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer lands a body shot.
Palmer keeps control of Dardy as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Dardy tries to break the clinch but Palmer is controlling the position.
Palmer scores with a hook to the body.
Palmer has Dardy pressed against the cage, preventing Dardy from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Dardy is looking to break free of the clinch but Palmer has double underhooks.
A head punch on the inside from Dardy fails to land.
Nice body punch from Palmer.
Dardy has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Dardy is looking to break free of the clinch but Palmer has double underhooks.
Palmer is pushing Dardy up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Palmer is leaning against Dardy and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Palmer lands a body punch in the clinch.
Dardy tries to circle away but Palmer has him pinned against the cage.
Palmer has Dardy pressed against the cage.
Dardy is trying to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmer digs a right hand underneath Dardy's ribcage. Dardy let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Dardy tries to break free but Palmer pushes him back against the cage.

Dardy breaks the clinch.

Palmer drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Dardy is not content to let Palmer control the position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Palmer working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Palmer looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Dardy regains half guard there - taking advantage of Palmer's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Palmer trying to control the action but Dardy is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Palmer is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Dardy can do anything to dispel that myth.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dardy throws a right hand that Palmer ducks under and follows up with a left that Palmer also avoids with ease.
Palmer takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Palmer closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Palmer is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Dardy knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Palmer thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roy Palmer dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Roy Palmer's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Palmer closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Dardy is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Palmer is controlling him well.
Dardy is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Palmer's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Palmer passes to side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Palmer wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Dardy, who protects the arm well.
Dardy gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Dardy keeping hold of Palmer's head, controlling as best he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer is looking to stall here but Dardy recovers full guard.
Dardy controls Palmer momentarily but Palmer frees himself.
Dardy is pulling down on Palmer's head to control his posture.
Palmer sitting in guard here, content to control.
Palmer trying to control the position from guard on top but Dardy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two 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 postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Palmer with a flurry of punches that miss.
Palmer tries to free his leg and advance position but Dardy is retaining full guard.
Palmer throwing strikes from guard but Dardy blocks nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dardy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Dardy will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Dardy looks to land a combination but Palmer avoids it well.
Roy Palmer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Palmer shoots in for a takedown but Dardy shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dardy. Palmer does a little dance to reset his feet.
Dardy misses with a wild combination.
Dardy throws a shot from downtown. Palmer moves away and avoids it.
Dardy takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Palmer dodges the punch combination from Dardy.
Dardy throws a series of punches but Palmer moves out of range.
Palmer fails to land the takedown.
Dardy scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
No joy there for Dardy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Palmer gets a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Palmer is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Dardy defends it well.
Palmer is keen to just control but Dardy is a slippery customer.
Dardy tries to get to full guard but Palmer has control of the leg.
Dardy is refusing to be controlled, as Palmer sits in half guard.
Palmer is pressing down on Dardy's thigh, looking to free his foot. Dardy is holding on for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Han Dardy will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Roy Palmer's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Palmer slips a jab and a cross from Dardy.
Dardy throws a predictable looking body shot

and Palmer counters with a shoot takedown. Dardy fights it but they end up in guard.
Palmer postures up.
Palmer trying to control the position from guard on top but Dardy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Palmer is working Dardy over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Palmer throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dardy works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dardy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Palmer is one step ahead there.
Palmer trying to control the position from guard on top but Dardy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dardy wants to stand and escape but Palmer is having none of it.
Dardy utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Dardy gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Palmer to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Dardy utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dardy is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Palmer is controlling him.
Palmer throws and elbow that misses. Dardy uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Palmer's guard. Nice move by Dardy!
Dardy stops Palmer from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dardy wants to stand and escape but instead Palmer has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Palmer drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Dardy dives on top into guard.

Dardy gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Dardy falls off balance throwing a combination

and Palmer counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Palmer is looking for a kimura here.

Dardy is defending against the submission attempts here by Palmer.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Dardy kicks Palmer off and gets back to his feet.
Dardy misses the jab.
Dardy throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Palmer counters with a shoot takedown. Dardy fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmer slips nicely into half guard.

Palmer seems to be working for a kimura but Dardy defends the submission attempt.
Palmer missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Palmer seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dardy does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Palmer is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Palmer is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Dardy doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Palmer.
Dardy tries to roll over but Palmer keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roy Palmer clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Roy Palmer's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Palmer gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Dardy.

Dardy gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Palmer to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Palmer drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Dardy manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Palmer has Dardy in his guard.
Palmer has a closed guard, preventing Dardy from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dardy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Palmer is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dardy accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Dardy stands up from Palmer's guard - Dardy perhaps looking for a knockout.
Dardy falls off balance throwing a combination

and Palmer counters by clinching up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Palmer cracks Dardy with a nice body shot.
Dardy tries to throw a body punch but Palmer avoids it by throwing Dardy back against the cage.
Palmer has Dardy pressed against the cage, preventing Dardy from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Dardy wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Dardy lands a right hand.
Dardy lands with a short shot to the head.
Dardy tries to circle away but Palmer has him pinned against the cage.
Palmer pushes Dardy back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Palmer stalling the fight.
Dardy working hard to break the clinch.
Palmer lands a body punch.
Dardy wants to get back to striking at distance but Palmer won't allow it.
Dardy misses with a punch to the body.
Dardy looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Dardy has had enough of the clinch but Palmer keeps him there for the moment.
Palmer digs a right hand into Dardy's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Dardy's gas tank.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dardy looking to stall.
Dardy wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Palmer leaning against his opponent.

Dardy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dardy throws a left and a right that both miss

and Palmer counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Palmer drops back looking for a leg! Dardy is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Dardy manages to kick Palmer off! Palmer jumps back into Dardy's guard.
Palmer stops Dardy from standing up.
Dardy is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Palmer looking to pass the guard.
Dardy is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dardy is just content to waste time from the top position. Palmer takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Palmer has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Dardy off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Dardy misses with a combination

and Palmer holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roy Palmer had his way with Han Dardy in that round.
The cut man is working on Roy Palmer's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Dardy misses with a combination

and Palmer counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Dardy can't break the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Dardy wants to break the clinch but can't.
Palmer prevents Dardy from breaking the clinch.
Palmer is leaning against Dardy and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Palmer just leaning against Dardy, taking a breather.
Dardy is trying to break free.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dardy wants to break free but Palmer has control.
Dardy misses with the head strike.
Palmer pushes Dardy back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Dardy lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Palmer has Dardy pressed against the cage, preventing Dardy from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Palmer.
Palmer pushes Dardy back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Dardy wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Palmer has him pressed against the cage.
Palmer slows down the pace here.
Dardy has had enough of the clinch but Palmer keeps him there for the moment.
Dardy is trying to force a seperation but Palmer has the dominant position.
Stalling in the clinch from Palmer.
Palmer seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
A short right from Palmer on the inside.
A body shot lands from Palmer.
A frustrated look appears on Dardy's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Palmer has Dardy pressed against the cage, preventing Dardy from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Dardy wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Palmer has him pressed against the cage.
Han Dardy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Palmer controlling the action here for a moment.
Dardy has had enough of the clinch but Palmer keeps him there for the moment.
Palmer is working Dardy over against the cage.
Palmer stalling.
Dardy is looking to break free of the clinch but Palmer has double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Dardy's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Dardy tries to break the clinch but Palmer is controlling the position.
Palmer lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Palmer pushes Dardy back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Palmer is working Dardy over against the cage.
Dardy throws a punch but it's blocked by Palmer.
Palmer lands a body punch in the clinch.
Dardy wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Dardy can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmer is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Palmer lands with a left to the head.
Dardy can't break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Dardy's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Dardy can't break the clinch.
Palmer effectively controlling the action here.
A right handed body shot lands from Palmer.
Palmer lands a shot to the body.
Roy Palmer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Palmer keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Dardy's efforts to push away.
A short body shot lands from Palmer as the two fighters clinch.
Palmer is leaning against Dardy and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dardy is looking to break free of the clinch but Palmer has double underhooks.
Dardy is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Dardy tries to break free but Palmer pushes him back against the cage.
Palmer digs a right hand into Dardy's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Dardy's gas tank.
Palmer prevents Dardy from breaking the clinch.
Dardy is trying to break the clinch but Palmer has him pressed against the cage.
Palmer scores with a hook to the body.
A short right from Palmer on the inside.
Dardy is trying to break the clinch but Palmer has him pressed against the cage.
Dardy wants to get back to striking at distance but Palmer won't allow it.
Palmer working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Dardy lands a left hand.
Dardy has a couple of punches blocked by Palmer.
Dardy tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dardy tries to break the clinch but Palmer is controlling the position.
Dardy wants to break the clinch but can't.
Palmer'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.
Palmer gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roy Palmer showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Palmer has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 50:45
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 49:46
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roy Palmer!
Roy Palmer is the new middleweight champion!