PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marijo Palavra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antti Hammer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hammer has chosen Bolt Thrower - IV Crusade as his entrance music. Marijo Palavra has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Palavra
vs
Hammer

170 cm
30
140 lbs
20 - 20 - 1

155 cm
33
134 lbs
23 - 18 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Firebird Designs - 10% Laundry commission

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 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marijo Palavra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Antti Hammer!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Ian Loll and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palavra fails with the takedown
and Hammer counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Palavra is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Palavra is looking to land body kicks.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hammer enables Palavra to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hammer manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Palavra thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We've been hearing that Palavra has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Palavra passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Palavra is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hammer knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Palavra looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Palavra looking to control but instead Hammer has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Palavra is thwarting Hammer's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammer is looking for a sweep. Palavra is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hammer controlling the position well.
Hammer wants to get back to full guard.
Hammer on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Hammer is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Palavra's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Palavra's back!
Palavra tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Palavra manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Palavra has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hammer is working away from the top position though.
Hammer prevents Palavra from improving his position.
Hammer looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hammer working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammer not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Palavra looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hammer throwing shots but Palavra is blocking nicely.
Hammer is trying to control. Palavra wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Palavra keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Palavra is trying to control but can't.
Hammer throwing shots but Palavra is blocking nicely.
Palavra on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Hammer is thwarting Palavra's attempts to control the position.
Hammer lands with a punch from half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Palavra manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Palavra looking for a guillotine here but Hammer defends easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Palavra looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hammer with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Palavra has control of Hammer's left arm, preventing Hammer from doing any damage.
Hammer won't allow Palavra to sweep him here.
Palavra is trying to keep Hammer in close.
Hammer trying to control the position from guard on top but Palavra is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammer postures up.
Hammer stands up over Palavra, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hammer postures up in Palavra's guard and throws a big left but Palavra blocks it.
Hammer throws a big right hand that misses.
Hammer trying to control the position from guard on top but Palavra is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammer being controlled here momentarily.
Hammer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hammer lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palavra looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hammer throws a big right hand that misses.

Palavra working for a triangle but Hammer defends it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hammer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Palavra will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hammer postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Palavra is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hammer postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Palavra is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Palavra trying to keep a closed guard but Hammer is proving a slippery customer.
Palavra preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hammer trying to control the position from guard on top but Palavra is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Palavra wants to sweep but no luck.

Palavra has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hammer can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Marijo Palavra will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Palavra darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Hammer is pressing down on Palavra's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hammer is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hammer lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Palavra avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hammer.
Palavra is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hammer's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hammer's back!

Palavra is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Hammer is defending well though. Palavra let's go of the attempt for now.
Hammer wants to control his opponent's hands but Palavra gets his hands free.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hammer preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Palavra.

Palavra is looking for the choke from the back position but Hammer is controlling his hands well.
Hammer wants to escape the position.
Hammer tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Palavra trying to control but Hammer is having none of it.
Hammer wants to control but Palavra is having none of it.
Hammer is wriggling around trying to escape.
Palavra tries to control but Hammer wriggling away.
Palavra avoids the attempt from Hammer to control.

Palavra is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Hammer is surviving well by controlling Palavra's body position as best he can.
Palavra unloading with bombs!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Palavra misses with a head shot.
Hammer tries to lock up and control but Palavra gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hammer is trying desperately to improve position.
Hammer is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Palavra cracks Hammer with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Palavra working the ground and pound effectively.

Palavra jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Hammer manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Palavra tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Hammer is trying to get back to half guard.
Hammer holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palavra trying to control the position but Hammer is working away.
Hammer tries to buck Palavra off but Palavra is having none of it.
Palavra trying to control the position but Hammer is working away.
Hammer tries to bench press Palavra off him but Palavra keeps the position.
Palavra throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Palavra is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hammer has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on Hammer's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Palavra takes a little break here. Hammer wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

Palavra is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hammer has escaped the position, nice work there.

Palavra looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Palavra tries for a kimura but Hammer is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Hammer's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hammer is holding Palavra down, trying to stall.
You can see the frustration on Hammer's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hammer tries to bench press Palavra off him but Palavra keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hammer darts in and clinches Palavra up against the cage.

Palavra jumps guard and drags Hammer to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Hammer must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Palavra is trying to keep Hammer in close.
Palavra working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hammer.
Hammer controlling from the top position.
Palavra avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Palavra throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hammer postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hammer makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Palavra pulls Hammer in to control the position.
Hammer with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hammer wants to pass the guard but Palavra is keeping the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hammer working some strikes from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palavra is trying to control the position but Hammer postures up.
Palavra striking from his own guard.

Hammer avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Palavra trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Palavra has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hammer can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Palavra had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hammer defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hammer landing with the ground and pound.
Hammer scoring with some ground and pound.
Hammer scoring with some ground and pound.
Palavra bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hammer's guard.
Antti Hammer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marijo Palavra overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammer is trying to control the position from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Palavra wants to control from the top but Hammer keeps moving.
Hammer can't keep his opponent in guard - Palavra advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Palavra is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hammer has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hammer wants to improve his position but Palavra is controlling well.
Hammer keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Hammer wants to get back to full guard.

Palavra wants to work for an arm triangle but Hammer is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hammer blocking the ground and pound attempt from Palavra.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Palavra seems to be working for a kimura but Hammer defends the submission attempt.
Palavra is trying to control. Hammer wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hammer manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Hammer looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Palavra trying to control the position from guard on top but Hammer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hammer escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Palavra gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Palavra tries to free his leg and advance position but Hammer is retaining full guard.
Palavra throws a big right hand that misses.
Palavra postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Palavra not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammer keeping moving, preventing Palavra from controlling successfully.
Palavra slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Palavra tries for a kimura but Hammer is defending well.
Palavra wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hammer keeps working.

Palavra wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hammer, who protects the arm well.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Palavra goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hammer has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Palavra but great work by Hammer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hammer working the head and body with strikes.
Hammer in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Marijo Palavra is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hammer looks up at the clock and then as Palavra takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Hammer smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Marijo Palavra.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Palavra, 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Marijo Palavra!
Marijo Palavra really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Resistance logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.