PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kesuke Miyagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marijo Palavra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Miyagi's entrance music is Your'e The Best Around. A fine choice. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Marijo Palavra was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Miyagi
vs
Palavra

166 cm
27
142 lbs
22 - 3 - 2

170 cm
26
140 lbs
16 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Fast

Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 3 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Kesuke Miyagi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 13 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marijo Palavra!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Ivan Kurochkin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palavra fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Miyagi avoids it really well and circles away.
Palavra looks for a takedown but Miyagi sprawls well.

Miyagi has managed to clinch.
Palavra managing to block the knees to the body from Miyagi.
Palavra can't get the takedown.
Kesuke Miyagi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marijo Palavra.
Palavra blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Palavra is trying to pull guard but Miyagi turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Miyagi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Palavra.
Palavra jumps guard but Miyagi stands there with Palavra around his waist. Palavra gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Miyagi misses with a knee to the head.
Miyagi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Palavra.
Palavra wants to take the fight to the mat but Miyagi manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miyagi taking a breather.
Miyagi missing with knees to the body.

Palavra jumps guard and drags Miyagi to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
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.
Miyagi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Miyagi passes Palavra's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Palavra tries to get to full guard but Miyagi has control of the leg.
Miyagi wants to stand but Palavra has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Palavra regains full guard. Nicely done.
Palavra being controlled here, momentarily.
Palavra bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Miyagi's guard.
Miyagi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Palavra.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palavra lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Palavra throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Miyagi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Miyagi wants to stand up but Palavra is controlling him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Miyagi is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Palavra can't get the takedown.
Palavra is trying to pull guard but Miyagi turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Miyagi stalls.

Palavra is trying to trip Miyagi. He has hold of a leg but Miyagi is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Palavra persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Palavra is working Miyagi over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Miyagi keeping moving, preventing Palavra from controlling successfully.
Miyagi wants to get back to his feet but Palavra is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Palavra has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Palavra makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Miyagi pushes Palavra off and gets back to his feet.
Miyagi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Miyagi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Miyagi scoring well with a low kick there.
Miyagi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Miyagi tries to clinch up but Palavra circles away and keeps his distance.

Palavra shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Palavra missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Miyagi is trying to stand back up but Palavra is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Palavra trying to control from half guard but Miyagi is working away.

Palavra looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Miyagi pushes Palavra off looking to stand but Palavra dives back in and keeps control.
Palavra looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Miyagi with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Palavra throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Palavra thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Miyagi's head.
Miyagi is trying to stand up here but Palavra is controlling him well.
Palavra is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Miyagi looks like he's trying to stand up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Miyagi trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Miyagi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Palavra.
Palavra looks for a takedown but Miyagi sprawls well.
Miyagi throws a nice head kick!
A nice inside leg kick there by Miyagi. That's going to slow Palavra down.
Palavra tries to clinch up but Miyagi circles away and keeps his distance.
Palavra shoots in but no luck this time.
Kesuke Miyagi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marijo Palavra.
Palavra looks for the body kick but Miyagi saw that one coming.
Miyagi throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Palavra.
Palavra fails with a takedown attempt.
Palavra tries to clinch there but Miyagi circles away.
Marijo Palavra seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Palavra is breathing heavily.
Palavra tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Miyagi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Miyagi.
Palavra looks to land a combination but Miyagi avoids it well.
Palavra takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miyagi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Palavra.

Palavra tries to keep at a distance but Miyagi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Palavra tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Miyagi smiles and moves away.
Palavra throws a right and a left that both miss.
Palavra looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Miyagi fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Palavra shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Miyagi as he jumps to the side.
Palavra fails with a takedown attempt.
Miyagi throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi lands with a thumping leg kick.

Miyagi has Palavra up against the cage in a clinch.
Miyagi manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Palavra avoiding damage as Miyagi throws knees to the body.
Palavra on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Palavra jumps guard but Miyagi turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Miyagi tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Palavra avoids it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Miyagi takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Palavra blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Palavra tries to pull guard but Miyagi holds him up against the cage and eventually Palavra drops back down to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi stalling the fight.
Miyagi landing knees to the head.
Miyagi throws a knee to the head but misses.
Miyagi stalling.
Miyagi trying to land knees to the body.
Miyagi stalling in the clinch but Palavra improves position.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Miyagi obliges.
Palavra jumps guard but Miyagi stands there with Palavra around his waist. Palavra gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Miyagi leaning against his opponent.
Miyagi is trying to maintain a safe position but Palavra gets an underhook and turns Miyagi into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Kesuke Miyagi.
Miyagi slaps away a takedown attempt from Palavra, before circling back to the center of the mat.
No luck for Palavra with that takedown attempt.
Marijo Palavra is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Miyagi attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Palavra shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Miyagi pinned against the cage. Miyagi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Miyagi, right into the meat.

Miyagi clinches up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Palavra drops down looking for an ankle pick but Miyagi pulls his leg out and moves away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Miyagi connects with an inside leg kick.
Palavra fails to land the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kesuke Miyagi dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

An inside leg kick lands from Miyagi.
Miyagi doesn't manage to clinch there - Palavra circles away.
Miyagi scores with a leg kick.

Miyagi clinches up against the cage.
Miyagi pressing his opponent against the cage.
Palavra is working for takedown but Miyagi is calmly controlling the position for now.
Miyagi using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Miyagi unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Miyagi pressing his opponent against the cage.
Palavra takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Miyagi missing with knees to the body.
Palavra's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miyagi is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Palavra is defending well for now.
Miyagi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Palavra.
Miyagi dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Palavra goes for a takedown attempt but Miyagi pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kesuke Miyagi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marijo Palavra.
Miyagi feints and then cracks Palavra's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Palavra down.
Kesuke Miyagi is winning the standup battle so far.
Palavra takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Palavra gets tackled into the cage by Miyagi. Miyagi maintains the clinch.
Knees to the body from Miyagi.
Miyagi is struggling to control the position.
Miyagi lands a good knee to the midsection. Palavra won't want to take too many of those.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Miyagi stalls.
Kesuke Miyagi has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Kesuke Miyagi.
Miyagi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Palavra misses with a takedown attempt - Miyagi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Palavra shoots for a double leg takedown but Miyagi sprawls well. He's pushed Palavra's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Palavra.
A slapping body kick lands there for Miyagi.

Miyagi closes the distance and pushes Palavra back into the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Miyagi obliges.
Miyagi using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Miyagi stalling.
Miyagi seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Miyagi unloads a knee to the mid-section. Palavra lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Miyagi will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Palavra up against the cage.
Miyagi lands a knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Miyagi utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Miyagi content to slow the pace in the clinch.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Kesuke Miyagi.
Palavra takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Miyagi lands a nice looking kick to the body. Palavra takes a step back to recover.

Miyagi moves into range and clinches up with Palavra.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Palavra jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Miyagi walks away with a smile on his face. Palavra gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Palavra fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Miyagi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kesuke Miyagi clearly takes that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Miyagi clinches up with Palavra and pushes him back against the cage.
Miyagi lands a knee to the body.
Miyagi with a knee to the head.
Palavra has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Miyagi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Knees to the body from Miyagi.
Miyagi putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Palavra in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Miyagi stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Miyagi lands a good knee to the midsection. Palavra won't want to take too many of those.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Miyagi dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Miyagi unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Palavra is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Miyagi is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Palavra is looking to take this one to the mat.
Kesuke Miyagi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marijo Palavra.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miyagi putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Palavra in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Miyagi effectively controlling the action here.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Miyagi for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Miyagi prevents the takedown attempt.
Miyagi lands a nice knee to the body.
Miyagi controlling the action here for a moment.
Knees to the body from Miyagi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Miyagi - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Kesuke Miyagi.
Palavra fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Miyagi avoids it really well and circles away.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Miyagi, right into the meat.
Miyagi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Miyagi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Palavra can do to turn this around?
Miyagi lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Miyagi avoids the head kick by Palavra.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Palavra.

Miyagi has closed the distance and engaged Palavra in a clinch.
Miyagi holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Palavra takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi slowing the pace effectively.
Palavra goes for a takedown in the clinch but Miyagi prevents it.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Miyagi obliges.
Miyagi is stalling here.
Miyagi landing knees to the body.
Miyagi pressing his opponent against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Kesuke Miyagi.
Miyagi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Palavra.
Palavra shoots in for a takedown but Miyagi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Miyagi has Palavra up against the cage in a clinch.
Palavra jumps guard but Miyagi stands there with Palavra around his waist. Palavra gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee is keeping an eye on Miyagi - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Miyagi gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kesuke Miyagi had his way with Marijo Palavra in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, 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.

Miyagi moves out of range of the body kick.
Miyagi scores with a leg kick.
Palavra shoots in and drives through. Miyagi sprawls well.
Palavra looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Palavra looks for a takedown but Miyagi sprawls well.
Kesuke Miyagi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marijo Palavra.
Palavra closes the distance and clinches up with Miyagi, looking for a takedown. Palavra pushes Miyagi against the cage but Miyagi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Miyagi slaps away a takedown attempt from Palavra, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Miyagi throws a head kick but Palavra moves out of range.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Miyagi, right into the meat.
Palavra is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

Miyagi pushes Palavra up against the cage in a clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Palavra is trying to trip Miyagi. He has hold of a leg but Miyagi is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Palavra persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Miyagi has his feet on Palavra's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Palavra shoots for a takedown but Miyagi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Miyagi.
Palavra tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Miyagi swivels and escapes.
Miyagi scores with a push kick.
Good leg kick by Miyagi there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Miyagi throws a head kick that misses.
Miyagi throws a head kick that misses.

Miyagi drives through and clinches with Palavra against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Miyagi.
Palavra managing to block the knees to the body from Miyagi.
Miyagi missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palavra is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Miyagi to keep the fight standing.
Palavra blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Miyagi stalling against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Palavra jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Miyagi walks away with a smile on his face. Palavra gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Palavra shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Miyagi as he jumps to the side.
Palavra fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Palavra as he checks the leg kick.
Palavra closes the distance and clinches up with Miyagi, looking for a takedown. Palavra pushes Miyagi against the cage but Miyagi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kesuke Miyagi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Palavra shoots in looking for a takedown. Miyagi tries to sprawl out of it but Palavra keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Miyagi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Miyagi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A good leg kick by Miyagi.
Miyagi throws a head kick that Palavra semi-blocks.
Miyagi throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Palavra tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Palavra on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Miyagi. Miyagi obviously looking to wear him down.
Miyagi throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Palavra is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Miyagi is looking to slow Palavra down with leg kicks.
Palavra is still on wobbly legs! Can Miyagi finish him?
Palavra darts in trying to clinch
and Miyagi counters with a head kick that crumples his opponent - he's in a world of trouble! Miyagi looks at the referee who does nothing so Miyagi lands a crushing right that sends Palavra to the floor! This time the ref steps in to end the fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kesuke Miyagi!
Kesuke Miyagi retains his bantamweight title!
An out of breath Kesuke Miyagi thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.