PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marijo Palavra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thaksin Yodsuwan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Palavra
vs
Yodsuwan

170 cm
29
140 lbs
20 - 17 - 1

165 cm
31
145 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 20 - 17 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marijo Palavra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Thaksin Yodsuwan!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Saam Ante and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yodsuwan leaves Palavra with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Palavra fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Yodsuwan darts in trying to clinch

and Palavra counters with a shoot takedown. Yodsuwan fights it but they end up in guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Palavra trying to control the position from guard on top but Yodsuwan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yodsuwan told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

Palavra drops back, looking for a kneebar! Yodsuwan looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Yodsuwan looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Yodsuwan!
Palavra is trying to improve his position.
Palavra manages to work his way to half guard, despite Yodsuwan's best efforts.
Palavra is looking to control Yodsuwan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Palavra avoid being mounted?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Palavra wants to improve his position but Yodsuwan is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Palavra is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Yodsuwan pulls his head out easily.
Yodsuwan prevents Palavra from improving his position.
Palavra is working hard here to advance position.
Palavra wants to get back to full guard but Yodsuwan has mounted him!
Palavra is desperately trying to improve his position but Yodsuwan has a good base and remains in mount.
Palavra is squirming around, avoiding Yodsuwan's attempts to control the action.
Palavra is trying to escape the mount.
Yodsuwan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Palavra. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palavra tries to hold on but Yodsuwan postures up.
Palavra is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Palavra regains half guard.
Palavra is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yodsuwan wants to stand up but Palavra has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Palavra wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palavra regains full guard. Nicely done.
Palavra tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Palavra is looking for a triangle here but Yodsuwan uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Yodsuwan stands up and beckons Palavra to his feet.
Palavra looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yodsuwan fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marijo Palavra dominated that 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.

Yodsuwan tries to clinch there but Palavra circles away.
Yodsuwan throws a combination. Palavra tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Marijo Palavra is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yodsuwan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Yodsuwan tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Palavra manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Palavra shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Yodsuwan as he jumps to the side.
Yodsuwan throws a sloppy head kick and Palavra moves out of range easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Palavra is defended easily by Yodsuwan.
Yodsuwan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Palavra paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Yodsuwan tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Palavra manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Palavra fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marijo Palavra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown by Palavra or perhaps it was just good defense by Yodsuwan which made him look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yodsuwan looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
No luck for Palavra with that takedown attempt.
Palavra swats away the attempt to clinch by Yodsuwan.

Yodsuwan takes the fight into the clinch.
Yodsuwan gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Palavra.
Palavra drops down looking for an ankle pick but Yodsuwan pulls his leg out and moves away.
Yodsuwan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Palavra.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palavra walks forward, straight into a front kick from Yodsuwan.
Yodsuwan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Yodsuwan clinches up with Palavra and pushes him back against the ropes.
Palavra is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Yodsuwan pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Palavra has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Yodsuwan uses from the top position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Yodsuwan tries to stand but Palavra is controlling from the bottom.
Yodsuwan stopping the sweep attempt from Palavra.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Palavra is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palavra has a closed guard, preventing Yodsuwan from standing up.

Yodsuwan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Yodsuwan trying to stand up but can't free himself from Palavra's guard.
Palavra looking to control.

Yodsuwan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Yodsuwan won't allow Palavra to sweep him here.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Palavra looking for a guillotine here but Yodsuwan defends easily.
Yodsuwan wants to stand but Palavra is controlling his posture from full guard.
Palavra pulls Yodsuwan in close to prevent any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yodsuwan tries to stand but Palavra is controlling from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thaksin Yodsuwan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Yodsuwan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Palavra misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Palavra fails in his attempt to clinch.
Palavra tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Yodsuwan swivels and escapes.
No luck for Palavra with that takedown attempt.
Palavra avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Palavra avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Palavra fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yodsuwan manages to avoid it.
Palavra circles away from the clinch attempt.
Palavra shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marijo Palavra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Palavra takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Yodsuwan tries to clinch there but Palavra circles away.
Yodsuwan looks to land a combination but Palavra avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yodsuwan is looking to slow Palavra down with leg kicks.
Thaksin Yodsuwan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Palavra swats away the attempt to clinch by Yodsuwan.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yodsuwan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Yodsuwan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Palavra misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Yodsuwan avoids the head kick by Palavra.
Yodsuwan tries to clinch there but Palavra circles away.
Palavra circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Yodsuwan!
Palavra shoots for a takedown but Yodsuwan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yodsuwan pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yodsuwan tries to clinch there but Palavra circles away.
Thaksin Yodsuwan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Yodsuwan slips a jab and a cross from Palavra.
Palavra avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Palavra avoids the body shot from Yodsuwan.
Palavra closes this distance looking for a takedown but Yodsuwan circles away.
Yodsuwan throws a head kick but Palavra moves out of range.
Yodsuwan is looking to clinch.
Palavra shoots for a double leg takedown but Yodsuwan sprawls well. He's pushed Palavra's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Yodsuwan swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Palavra.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yodsuwan wants to clinch.
Yodsuwan feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Palavra's calf.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yodsuwan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yodsuwan throws a series of punches but Palavra avoids them all with ease.
Palavra tries for a takedown but Yodsuwan circles away easily
and Yodsuwan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Palavra closes the distance and clinches up with Yodsuwan, looking for a takedown. Palavra pushes Yodsuwan against the ropes but Yodsuwan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Yodsuwan moves into the clinch.
Yodsuwan digs a right hand underneath Palavra's ribcage. Palavra let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Yodsuwan lands a left hand that snaps the head of Palavra backwards.
Yodsuwan is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Yodsuwan is pressed up against the ropes. Palavra has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Yodsuwan down to the mat. Yodsuwan avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Yodsuwan tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Palavra manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Yodsuwan scores with a spinning back kick!

Yodsuwan clinches with his opponent.
Palavra jumps guard but Yodsuwan turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yodsuwan breaks from the clinch.
Yodsuwan tests Palavra's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yodsuwan doesn't manage to clinch there - Palavra circles away.
Yodsuwan fails in his attempt to clinch.
Palavra misses with an uppercut.

Yodsuwan has Palavra up against the ropes in a clinch.
Yodsuwan lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Palavra backwards.

Yodsuwan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yodsuwan cracks the inside of Palavra's front leg.

Yodsuwan takes the fight into the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Yodsuwan.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thaksin Yodsuwan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Yodsuwan 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thaksin Yodsuwan!
Thaksin Yodsuwan seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.