PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jukka Palmu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raive Malapitan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jukka Palmu looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Palmu
vs
Malapitan

187 cm
22
200 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

173 cm
21
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jukka Palmu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raive Malapitan!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Malapitan shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Palmu napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Check out the look on Malapitan's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Malapitan lands a few punches from side control.
Malapitan happy to just control the position for now.
Malapitan working the head and body with strikes.
Malapitan lands some shots froms side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Palmu is not content to let Malapitan control the position.
Palmu gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Malapitan working the head and body with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malapitan is controlling the pace.
Malapitan is trying to control. Palmu wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Raive Malapitan has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Malapitan dives in and scores a takedown into Palmu's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malapitan lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Malapitan works over Palmu with some ground and pound from guard.
Malapitan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Palmu working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Malapitan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Malapitan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Palmu is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Malapitan working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Malapitan trying to control but Palmu is working from the bottom.
Malapitan with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malapitan makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Malapitan distracts Palmu with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Malapitan with a nice head shot there.
Malapitan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Malapitan drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Palmu manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Malapitan has Palmu in his guard.
Malapitan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malapitan uses his free foot to push down on Palmu's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Palmu.
Malapitan lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Palmu hang on?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Malapitan scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Palmu?
Malapitan scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Palmu?
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Malapitan unloading with bombs!

Palmu is rocked!
Malapitan takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Palmu is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raive Malapitan dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Malapitan gets a double leg takedown into Palmu's guard.
Malapitan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Palmu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Malapitan trying to control the position from guard on top but Palmu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malapitan passes Palmu's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Malapitan drops an elbow to the side of Palmu's head.
Malapitan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Malapitan working Palmu over with strikes.
Malapitan takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Malapitan is keen to just control but Palmu is a slippery customer.
Raive Malapitan has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malapitan passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Palmu!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Malapitan lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Oh Palmu is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Malapitan sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Palmu seems to have got his legs back now.
Malapitan fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Malapitan moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Palmu has worked his arm free - good work by Palmu!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Malapitan wants to control but Palmu is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmu is working to avoid the ground and pound but Malapitan connects with a decent elbow.
Malapitan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Palmu. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Malapitan is trying to get an arm triangle but Palmu is defending well.

Malapitan goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Palmu rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Malapitan's guard! Nice work there by Palmu!
Palmu will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Palmu postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Palmu drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Malapitan dives on top into guard.
Malapitan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Malapitan is working Palmu over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Palmu escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Malapitan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Malapitan wants to control from the top but Palmu keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malapitan scoring with some ground and pound.
Malapitan trying to control but Palmu is working from the bottom.
Malapitan throws a strike but Palmu rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Malapitan has Palmu pulled in close to control his posture.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Palmu drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Malapitan manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Palmu has Malapitan in his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raive Malapitan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Malapitan scores with a takedown into Palmu's guard.
Malapitan wants to pass the guard but Palmu is keeping the position.

Malapitan got a little sloppy there for a moment and Palmu has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Malapitan has managed to get both his arms back between Palmu's legs - danger averted.
Malapitan postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Malapitan trying to control the position from guard on top but Palmu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malapitan landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malapitan lands a couple of digs.

Palmu has his foot on Malapitan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Malapitan works his way back into a safe position though.
Malapitan trying to control the position from guard on top but Palmu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malapitan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Palmu being controlled here, momentarily.
Malapitan connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Palmu is working an open guard so Malapitan takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Malapitan looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Nice strikes from Malapitan there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Malapitan slips a nice elbow through Palmu's hands, connecting with Palmu's forehead.
Malapitan scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Malapitan wants to pass to mount but Palmu is defending the position.
Palmu taking some punishment here, with Malapitan in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Palmu looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Malapitan seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Malapitan lands strikes from half guard.

Malapitan stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Malapitan shoots in and bounces Palmu off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malapitan content to stall in guard here.
Malapitan wants to control from the top but Palmu keeps moving.
Jukka Palmu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Raive Malapitan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raive Malapitan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Malapitan has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raive Malapitan!