PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Adams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Palmeri (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.

Adams
vs
Palmeri

177 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

176 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marcus Adams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Frank Palmeri!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palmeri is looking to clinch but Adams is avoiding it.

Palmeri closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Adams's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Adams looking for a sweep. Not yet Adams, not yet.
Adams wants to stand and escape but Palmeri is having none of it.
Palmeri preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Palmeri trying to control the position from guard on top but Adams is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Palmeri preventing the sweep.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Frank Palmeri hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Adams keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Adams, right into the meat.

Adams fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Palmeri to the ground. Adams is now in Palmeri's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adams throwing strikes from guard but Palmeri blocks nicely.
Adams controls from within his opponent's guard.
Palmeri not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Palmeri wants to stand and escape but Adams is having none of it.
Adams is looking to advance position but Palmeri has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Adams sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmeri is keen to just control but Adams is a slippery customer.
Adams is looking to improve his position.
Adams trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Palmeri manages to pass to mount!
Adams tries to hold on but Palmeri postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adams is trying to reverse the position but instead Palmeri has taken his back - oops!
Palmeri is not going to allow Adams to sit and survive in this position.

Palmeri is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Adams is defending well though. Palmeri let's go of the attempt for now.
Adams tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmeri struggling to keep hold of the position.
Adams trying to control but not successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Palmeri doesn't have the hooks in and Adams manages to turn into his guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Adams won't allow Palmeri to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Adams dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Palmeri defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Adams.
Palmeri tries to clinch up.
No luck for Adams with that takedown attempt.
Adams thumps Palmeri with a low kick.
Adams shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Palmeri sprawls well. Palmeri wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Adams gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Adams. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Palmeri throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Palmeri misses with a takedown attempt - Adams sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Palmeri will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Adams gets the takedown into side control.
Adams wants to control for a moment but Palmeri uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Palmeri trying to hold on to Adams's head to control him but Adams postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adams is trying to control. Palmeri wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Adams controlling the action here.
Palmeri is looking for a sweep. Adams is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Adams is taking a breather. Palmeri says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Marcus Adams overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Marcus Adams just wasn't active enough.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Palmeri.

Adams has managed to clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Adams breaks from the clinch.
Palmeri doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Adams moves into the clinch.
Palmeri is breathing heavily.

Palmeri manages to pull guard.
Adams throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Palmeri works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Adams trying to stand up but can't free himself from Palmeri's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adams trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Adams has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Adams wants to stand and escape but instead Palmeri has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Adams working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Palmeri doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Palmeri manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Adams pushes Palmeri off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmeri misses with a two punch combination.

Adams looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Adams sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Adams is trying to work for a kimura but Palmeri is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Adams dominated that second round.
That's time! Adams's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Palmeri looks for the body kick but Adams saw that one coming.
Adams dodges the punch combination from Palmeri.

Adams moves into the clinch.

Adams has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Palmeri uses from the top position.
Adams wants to stand but Palmeri is controlling the position.
Adams has a closed guard, preventing Palmeri from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmeri trying to control but Adams is working from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Frank Palmeri has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Palmeri enables Adams to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Palmeri manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Adams tries to stand but Palmeri is controlling from the bottom.

Adams gets to his feet - Palmeri follows without any prompting.
Adams misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Palmeri fails with the takedown.
Palmeri takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Adams closes the distance and pushes Palmeri back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Adams breaks the clinch.
Adams misses with a double jab
and Palmeri counters with a two punch combo.
No luck for Palmeri with that takedown attempt.
Adams circles away from the clinch attempt.
Frank Palmeri seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Adams shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Palmeri defends it nicely.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Adams.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adams struggling a bit here.
Adams wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Palmeri has control of an arm but Adams manages to advance to Palmeri's back!
Palmeri breaks Adams's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Adams has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Palmeri has passed into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmeri trying to control the action but Adams is working from the bottom.
Adams tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Adams is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Palmeri has just dragged him back down to the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Adams showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Adams has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Marcus Adams!
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Marcus Adams!
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for Marcus Adams!

Marcus Adams wins by unanimous decision!