PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hideo Tokoro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marijo Palavra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tokoro's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, World's End Rhapsody. Marijo Palavra is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Tokoro
vs
Palavra

171 cm
26
143 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

170 cm
26
140 lbs
15 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

El Zoido's Feeble Fightwear *** ROUPA DOS BROTHER*
Go 2 Sleep Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hideo Tokoro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 13 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marijo Palavra!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Vladimir Khabensky and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tokoro tries to sprawl but Palavra drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Palavra scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Tokoro blocking the ground and pound attempt from Palavra.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Palavra is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Palavra is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Tokoro sees it coming and defends easily.
Tokoro wants to get back to full guard.

Tokoro looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Tokoro wants to improve his position but Palavra is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Palavra not doing much here.

Tokoro actively working from the bottom here.

Palavra seems to be looking for submissions.
Tokoro wants to improve his position but Palavra is controlling well.
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!
Tokoro has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Palavra is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palavra thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tokoro's head.

Palavra seems to be looking for submissions.
Palavra wants to control but Tokoro is keeping him busy.
Palavra thows a huge punch but Tokoro dodges it nicely.
Tokoro avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Palavra.
Nice strikes from Palavra there.

Palavra is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Tokoro is just riding it out for now. Palavra eventually gives up the hold.
Tokoro is looking to improve his position.

Palavra is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Tokoro as he works his way to full guard.

Palavra avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palavra trying to control the position from guard on top but Tokoro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Palavra working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Palavra postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tokoro trying to keep a closed guard but Palavra is proving a slippery customer.
Palavra postures up in Tokoro's guard and throws a big left but Tokoro blocks it.

Tokoro looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tokoro wants to sweep here but Palavra controlling him for the moment.

Tokoro had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Palavra defends it easily.
Palavra with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palavra is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Tokoro looking for a guillotine here but Palavra defends easily.
Palavra seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Tokoro keeping moving, preventing Palavra from controlling successfully.
Palavra is in close to Tokoro's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Palavra tries to free his leg and advance position but Tokoro is retaining full guard.
Palavra preventing the sweep.
Palavra loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tokoro looking to control.
Tokoro keeping moving, preventing Palavra from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tokoro avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Palavra trying to control but Tokoro is working from the bottom.

Tokoro is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Palavra wants to control from the top but Tokoro keeps moving.

Palavra drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Palavra jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Palavra throwing strikes from guard but Tokoro blocks nicely.
Palavra throwing strikes from guard but Tokoro blocks nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tokoro manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Palavra really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marijo Palavra dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Palavra closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Tokoro to the mat! Tokoro manages to get full guard.
Palavra wants to control from the top but Tokoro keeps moving.

Tokoro has his foot on Palavra's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Palavra works his way back into a safe position though.

Tokoro looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Palavra wants to control from the top but Tokoro keeps moving.
Palavra with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tokoro controls Palavra momentarily but Palavra frees himself.
Palavra slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Palavra scores with punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Palavra is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Tokoro has escaped the position, nice work there.
Tokoro struggling a bit here.
Palavra is working Tokoro over with some ground and pound from side control.

Palavra is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Tokoro is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Palavra is looking to take a break and control but Tokoro is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Tokoro's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Palavra trying to control the action but Tokoro is working from the bottom.
Palavra works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tokoro manages to get back to half guard.
Tokoro regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Palavra.
Tokoro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Palavra scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Tokoro looking to control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Palavra trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Palavra is working Tokoro over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Marijo Palavra has got the better of the ground game so far.

Tokoro is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Palavra is aware though and is defending well.
Palavra postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Palavra wants to control from the top but Tokoro keeps moving.

Tokoro working for a triangle but Palavra defends it easily.
Tokoro lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Palavra!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palavra is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Palavra slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Palavra is looking to get back to full guard here but Tokoro has managed to pass to side control instead.
Palavra manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Palavra moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Palavra is trying to control the position but Tokoro postures up.
Palavra wants to sweep here but Tokoro controlling him for the moment.
Tokoro pushes down on Palavra's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Palavra is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palavra is staying active underneath Tokoro, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Palavra wants to control but Tokoro is keeping busy.
Palavra is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Palavra wants to control but Tokoro is keeping busy and won't allow it.
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!
Tokoro keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Tokoro is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Palavra gets back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Palavra not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marijo Palavra 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!

Tokoro fails with the takedown.

Palavra drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Palavra lands a decent elbow from side control.
Tokoro is working to avoid the ground and pound but Palavra connects with a decent elbow.
Tokoro struggling a bit here.
Tokoro manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Tokoro is trying to control the action in half guard but Palavra is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Palavra is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Palavra is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tokoro perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Palavra is trying to maintain the position but Tokoro is very close to passing his half guard.
Palavra tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Tokoro prevents Palavra from improving his position.

Tokoro is trying to work for a kimura but Palavra is defending well.
Tokoro seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Palavra does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Palavra has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tokoro is working away from the top position though.

Tokoro is working for a submission of some sort.
Tokoro is keen to just control but Palavra is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Palavra looking for submissions off his back.

Tokoro is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Palavra is just riding it out for now. Tokoro eventually gives up the hold.
Tokoro prevents Palavra from improving his position.
Palavra won't allow Tokoro to pass to mount.
Palavra has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tokoro is working away from the top position though.
Palavra wants to get back to full guard.
Palavra gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palavra keeping moving, preventing Tokoro from controlling successfully.

Palavra throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tokoro sitting in guard here, content to control.
Tokoro trying to control but Palavra is working from the bottom.
Palavra manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Palavra wants to control the pace but Tokoro is squirming around nicely.
Tokoro can't escape the position.
Palavra with shots to the head and body - Tokoro looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palavra dominating with strikes here.
Tokoro tries to reverse the position but Palavra maintains control.
Palavra looking to control but Tokoro is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Palavra punishing his opponent with strikes.
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!
Tokoro really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Tokoro wants to control but Palavra is having none of it.
Palavra lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Palavra working for a guillotine from mount but Tokoro is in no mood to give up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Palavra looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Hideo Tokoro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marijo Palavra is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Palavra controlling from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marijo Palavra comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Palavra 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marijo Palavra!
After the big win, Marijo Palavra made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Resistance and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.