PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Samppa Palmu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Samppa Palmu has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Palmu
vs
Miller

190 cm
23
185 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

185 cm
25
186 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Samppa Palmu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jason Miller!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Illya Tyunina and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Palmu drives through with a takedown into guard.
Miller avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Miller is on top in guard.
Miller in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Palmu had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Miller defends it easily.

Palmu is looking for a triangle but Miller pushes his legs off easily.
Miller working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Palmu's head.
Palmu keeping full guard, as Miller tries to pass.
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.
Miller trying to control the position from guard on top but Palmu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Miller looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmu is trying to hold Miller in close to prevent damage but Miller has managed to pass into half guard.
Palmu trying to control from the bottom.
Miller is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Palmu is trying to maintain the position but Miller is very close to passing his half guard.
Miller looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Palmu is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Miller pulls his head out easily.
Palmu slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Miller is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Miller loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Miller postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Miller working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Palmu utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Palmu looking to control.
Palmu wants to sweep but no luck.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Miller slips nicely into half guard.
Miller has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Palmu is refusing to be controlled, as Miller sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmu trying to control from the bottom.

Miller is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Palmu has managed to free his arm - good work.
Palmu slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Miller trying to control the position from guard on top but Palmu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Palmu 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.
Palmu 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.

Palmu is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Palmu prevents Miller from standing back up.
Palmu working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Palmu working the head and body with strikes.
Palmu prevents Miller from improving his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Miller trying to control here.

Palmu wants to work for an arm triangle but Miller is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jason Miller will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Palmu throws a head kick that Miller semi-blocks.
Palmu shoots in for a double leg but Miller sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Miller stuffs the takedown.
Miller shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Palmu as he jumps to the side.
Palmu stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Palmu wants it to stay on the feet.
Miller shoots in looking for a takedown. Palmu tries to sprawl out of it but Miller keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Palmu manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Samppa Palmu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Miller.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Palmu fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Miller has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmu has Miller pressed against the ropes, preventing Miller from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Palmu tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Miller's elbow.

Palmu has hold of one of Miller's legs. Miller is fighting the takedown attempt but Palmu gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Palmu wants to control from the top but Miller keeps moving.
Palmu scoring with punches to the head and body.
Palmu makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Palmu being controlled here momentarily.
Palmu has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Palmu won't allow Miller to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller has momentary wrist control but Palmu slips an elbow through the middle.
Palmu wants to control from the top but Miller keeps moving.
Miller is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Miller wants to sweep but no luck.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Palmu accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Palmu trying to control the position from guard on top but Miller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Miller is trying to keep Palmu in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Palmu scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller is looking to control Palmu's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Miller avoid being mounted?

Palmu is working for a submission of some sort.
Palmu is trying to control. Miller wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Miller manages to get to full guard.
Miller is looking to stand up but Palmu isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmu with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Palmu pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Miller is keeping the position for now.
Palmu trying to stand up but can't free himself from Miller's guard.
Palmu looking to pass the guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Miller 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.
Miller not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samppa Palmu dominated that second round.
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. 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.

Palmu closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Palmu lands in his opponent's guard.
Palmu looking to pass the guard.
Miller wants to sweep but no luck.
Palmu postures up.
Miller working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Palmu.
Palmu is working Miller over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Palmu lands a couple of elbows.
Palmu sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Miller's guard.
Miller pushes Palmu off looking to stand but Palmu dives back in and keeps control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller tries to get to full guard but Palmu has control of the leg.
Palmu missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Palmu wants to free his trapped foot but Miller is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Miller trying to control but Palmu postures up.
Palmu throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Miller taking some punishment here, with Palmu in his half guard.
Palmu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Miller is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller is trying to stand.

Palmu is looking for a kimura here.
Miller has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Palmu is working away from the top position though.
Miller is looking to improve his position.
Miller is trying to stand back up but Palmu is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmu tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Miller.
Samppa Palmu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Palmu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Miller trying to control from the bottom.

Palmu is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Palmu is nestled in close to Miller, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Palmu missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Miller avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Palmu.
Palmu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Miller's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Miller holds on and takes a little breather.
Palmu won't allow Miller to get back to his feet.
Palmu scoring with punches to the head and body.
Palmu looking to pass the guard.
Miller wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Palmu distracts Miller with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Palmu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Miller works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samppa Palmu showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Palmu 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight for Samppa Palmu!
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight for Samppa Palmu!
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight for Samppa Palmu!

Samppa Palmu wins by unanimous decision!