PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roy Palmer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Palmer is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Not Now James,we're busy. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Jones
vs
Palmer

186 cm
32
195 lbs
20 - 12 - 2

180 cm
29
188 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

5th Round Clothing
5th Round Clothing

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 20 - 12 - 2, fighting out of New York, James Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Roy Palmer!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Steve Montenegro and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones loads up on a big right hand but Palmer slips the punch.
Palmer shoots for a double leg takedown but Jones sprawls well. He's pushed Palmer's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jones lands a glancing blow to the side of Palmer's head.
Jones thows a body shot but no joy.
Palmer has a takedown stuffed.
Palmer uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Jones.
Roy Palmer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jones tries to bum rush Palmer with a series of wild strikes but Palmer uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Palmer shoots in but Jones avoids the takedown attempt easily.
James Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roy Palmer.
Jones punishes Palmer's body with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer shoots in for a takedown but Jones shows good takedown defense.
Palmer dives in and grabs Jones's left leg, looking for a takedown. Jones pushes down on Palmer's head and hops out.
Jones fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Palmer shoots in but no luck this time.
Jones throws a right hand that misses

so Palmer counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Jones working a defensive guard here.
Palmer trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Palmer is fighting to break Jones's control of his arms but Jones is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmer is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Palmer trying to move into half guard but instead Jones has managed to sweep!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Palmer looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Jones gets to his feet - Palmer follows without any prompting.
Jones leaves Palmer with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jones connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Jones throws the left hand but Palmer avoids the punch easily.
Palmer shoots in looking for a takedown but Jones manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Palmer's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmer shoots in but no luck this time.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Palmer.
Palmer misses with a takedown attempt
and Jones counters with a nice uppercut.
Jones jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Jones is looking to chop away at Palmer's legs.
Palmer shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Jones sprawls well. Jones wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Palmer gets slowly back to his feet.
Palmer shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
James Jones is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmer closes the distance and clinches up with Jones, looking for a takedown. Palmer pushes Jones against the cage but Jones circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jones throws a right hand that misses

and Palmer counters with a takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Palmer is looking to take a break and control but Jones is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Palmer tries to move to mount but Jones blocks the move with his legs.
Palmer working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Palmer wants to take a breather but Jones manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Palmer.
Jones is controlling Palmer's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Roy Palmer will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Palmer misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Jones to counter with a crisp jab.
Palmer misses with a takedown attempt
letting Jones counter with a right hand.
Palmer tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Jones swivels and escapes.
James Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roy Palmer.
Jones throws a lazy right hand but Palmer sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jones lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Palmer shoots in for a double leg but Jones sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice takedown defense from Jones. No joy for Palmer on that attempt.
Palmer tries to score a power double leg takedown but Jones sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Palmer somewhat.
Jones leaves Palmer with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer tries for a takedown but Jones circles away easily
and Jones counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jones just misses with a punch to the body.
Jones throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Jones stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jones wants it to stay on the feet.
Jones loads up on a big right hand but Palmer slips the punch.
Jones misses with a two punch combination.
Palmer shoots in looking for a takedown. Jones tries to sprawl out of it but Palmer keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Jones manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones slaps away a takedown attempt from Palmer, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Palmer dives in and grabs Jones's left leg, looking for a takedown. Jones pushes down on Palmer's head and hops out.
Palmer fails to land the takedown.
Palmer shoots for a takedown but Jones saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Jones throws a body punch but Palmer moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmer moves out of range of the strikes.
Palmer fails with the takedown
and Jones counters with a right hand to the body.
Jones swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Horrible takedown by Palmer or perhaps it was just good defense by Jones which made him look bad.

Palmer scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Jones trying to control but Palmer postures up.
Jones is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmer wants to pass the guard but Jones is defending well.
Jones gets back to full guard.
Palmer trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Palmer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jones is keeping the position for now.
Palmer controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that James Jones will probably get the nod.
That's time! Jones's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Jones throws an overhand right that lands on Palmer's shoulder, as Palmer tries to avoid the shot.
A head kick misses from Jones.
Jones throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Palmer closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Jones to the mat! Jones manages to get full guard.
Palmer trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jones keeping full guard, as Palmer tries to pass.
Roy Palmer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Palmer wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Palmer trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jones keeping full guard, as Palmer tries to pass.
Jones wants to sweep but no luck.
Jones has his hands on Palmer's head, controlling the position.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Palmer from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jones is keeping the position for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Roy Palmer.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jones. Palmer does a little dance to reset his feet.
Palmer shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Jones pinned against the cage. Jones gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Palmer fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Jones to the ground. Palmer is now in Jones's guard.
Palmer is fighting to break Jones's control of his arms but Jones is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmer stopping the sweep attempt from Jones.
Jones being controlled here, momentarily.

Jones escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Palmer gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Jones 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 stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jones swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmer is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Palmer trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Jones has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Jones leaves Palmer with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roy Palmer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Palmer has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... James Jones!
James Jones made sure to mention his sponsor, 5th Round Clothing in his post fight interview.