PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Luke Lazzarino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Buddy Palermo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lazzarino
vs
Palermo

180 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Luke Lazzarino!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Buddy Palermo!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Winston Howard and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palermo throws a head kick but Lazzarino moves out of range.
Lazzarino tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Palermo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lazzarino tries to clinch but Palermo moves out of range.

Lazzarino clinches up against the cage.
Knees to the body from Lazzarino.
Palermo looks gassed!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lazzarino trying to land knees to the body.
Lazzarino lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Buddy Palermo has been cut.
Lazzarino lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Palermo avoiding damage as Lazzarino throws knees to the body.
Lazzarino misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Palermo.
Lazzarino utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Lazzarino crunches a lovely knee into Palermo's ribcage.
Palermo avoiding damage as Lazzarino throws knees to the body.
Lazzarino throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Palermo blocks it with crossed arms.
Palermo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Lazzarino crunches a lovely knee into Palermo's ribcage.
Lazzarino lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Lazzarino unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lazzarino using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Lazzarino works on Palermo's body with a couple of short punches.
Lazzarino crunches a lovely knee into Palermo's ribcage.
Lazzarino tries a knee to the head but Palermo blocks it.
Lazzarino putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Palermo in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Lazzarino lands an elbow just above Palermo 's eye.
Lazzarino with a knee to the head.
Palermo avoiding damage as Lazzarino throws knees to the body.
Lazzarino unloads a knee to the mid-section. Palermo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lazzarino with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Lazzarino is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Palermo is defending well for now.
Lazzarino trying to stall but Palermo improves his position.
Lazzarino has Palermo pushed against the cage.
Lazzarino misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Palermo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lazzarino throws an elbow but misses.
Lazzarino throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Palermo is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Lazzarino misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Palermo.
Palermo blocks an elbow strike from Lazzarino.
Lazzarino lands a knee to the body.
Lazzarino blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lazzarino using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Lazzarino misses with a knee to the head.
Palermo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lazzarino creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Lazzarino jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Palermo walks away with a smile on his face. Lazzarino gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Lazzarino wants to clinch up but Palermo keeps it at a distance.
Lazzarino tries to clinch up.
Palermo circles away from the clinch attempt

and Palermo counters with a takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Palermo tries for a kimura but Lazzarino is defending well.
Palermo trying to control the action but Lazzarino is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lazzarino stops Palermo from passing to mount.
Lazzarino struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Lazzarino dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Buddy Palermo's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lazzarino tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Palermo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
An inside leg kick lands from Lazzarino.
Luke Lazzarino is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lazzarino tries to clinch but Palermo is having none of it.
Palermo circles away from the clinch attempt.

Lazzarino darts in and clinches Palermo up against the cage.
Lazzarino looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Palermo tightens his grip and picks Lazzarino up, before dumping him to the ground. Lazzarino manages to land in guard.
Lazzarino bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Palermo's guard.

Lazzarino decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Palermo, up you get!
Lazzarino fails with an attempt to clinch.
Palermo is breathing heavily.
Lazzarino tries to close the distance and clinch but Palermo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palermo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lazzarino fails with an attempt to clinch.

Palermo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Lazzarino was covering up waiting for the punch and Palermo finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Lazzarino trying to control the position.
Lazzarino is really struggling to control Palermo but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Luke Lazzarino wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Lazzarino lands a high kick!
Lazzarino throws a quick inside leg kick.
Luke Lazzarino is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Palermo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lazzarino fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lazzarino swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Palermo circles away from the clinch attempt

and Palermo counters with a takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lazzarino is not content to let Palermo control the position.
Palermo is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Palermo goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Lazzarino has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Palermo but great work by Lazzarino.
Lazzarino just content to control the position.
Palermo is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lazzarino trying to control the position but Palermo is working away.
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 Luke Lazzarino will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Buddy Palermo's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Palermo looking to score a takedown here. Lazzarino is defending well but Palermo drives through and ends up in Lazzarino's guard.
Palermo trying to control the position from guard on top but Lazzarino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lazzarino pushes Palermo off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lazzarino looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lazzarino tries to clinch there but Palermo circles away.
A slapping leg kick lands for Lazzarino.
Palermo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Palermo keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lazzarino tries to clinch but Palermo moves out of range.

Lazzarino rushes Palermo and presses him up against the cage.
Lazzarino stops a takedown attempt from Palermo.
Lazzarino stalls.

Lazzarino pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lazzarino wants to clinch up but Palermo keeps it at a distance.

Lazzarino gets a clinch.
Lazzarino unloads a knee to the mid-section. Palermo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Nice elbow from Lazzarino.
Lazzarino lands an uppercut.
Lazzarino misses with an elbow over the top.
Palermo managing to block the knees to the body from Lazzarino.
Lazzarino lands a nice elbow.
Lazzarino tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lazzarino tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Lazzarino misses with a knee to the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lazzarino lands an elbow inside that Palermo shrugs off.
Palermo is trying to maintain a safe position but Lazzarino gets an underhook and turns Palermo into the cage.
Palermo jumps guard but Lazzarino turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Lazzarino manages to break the clinch.

Lazzarino has Palermo up against the cage in a clinch.
Lazzarino unloads a knee to the mid-section. Palermo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Palermo is trying to drag Lazzarino to the mat but Lazzarino just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Luke Lazzarino has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Buddy Palermo.
Lazzarino using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Lazzarino throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Palermo blocks it with crossed arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lazzarino lands an elbow inside that Palermo shrugs off.

Lazzarino breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lazzarino tries to clinch there but Palermo circles away.
Palermo tries for a takedown but Lazzarino sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Palermo avoids the head kick by Lazzarino.
Lazzarino tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lazzarino fails with an attempt to clinch.
Palermo looks for a takedown but Lazzarino sprawls well.
Palermo keeps the fight on the outside.
Palermo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lazzarino is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palermo circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lazzarino looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lazzarino tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Palermo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lazzarino is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Palermo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Luke Lazzarino is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lazzarino tries to clinch there but Palermo circles away.

Lazzarino rushes Palermo and presses him up against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lazzarino throws an elbow but misses.
Lazzarino tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Buddy Palermo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Palermo misses with a knee strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luke Lazzarino showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lazzarino, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luke Lazzarino!
Luke Lazzarino is the new welterweight champion!
During a confident post fight interview, Luke Lazzarino thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.