PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Eli Wiggin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marijo Palavra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marijo Palavra acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Wiggin
vs
Palavra

174 cm
30
154 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

170 cm
34
140 lbs
23 - 26 - 1

Great wrestler
World class MT
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eli Wiggin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 26 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marijo Palavra!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wiggin is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Palavra motions for Wiggin to come forward. Palavra throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Wiggin was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Wiggin stalks Palavra and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Palavra's face. Palavra staggers backwards, shaken.
Wiggin misses with a wild body shot.

Wiggin gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Palavra to score an easy takedown into full guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Palavra working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Wiggin controlling the position.
Palavra pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wiggin is keeping the position for now.
Palavra scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Palavra drops back looking for a leg! Wiggin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Wiggin manages to kick Palavra off! Palavra jumps back into Wiggin's guard.
Palavra trying to control but Wiggin is working from the bottom.
Palavra passes into half guard.
Wiggin is refusing to be controlled, as Palavra sits in half guard.
Palavra thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Palavra lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Palavra thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Wiggin tries to roll over but Palavra keeps him under control.
Palavra thows a huge punch but Wiggin dodges it nicely.
Palavra trying to control from Wiggin's half guard. Wiggin has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Palavra trying to control the position from guard on top but Wiggin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Palavra tries to free his leg and advance position but Wiggin is retaining full guard.
Palavra looking to sit in guard and control but Wiggin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Palavra is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Wiggin taking some punishment here, with Palavra in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palavra trying to control the action but Wiggin is working from the bottom.
Wiggin trying to control from the bottom.
Palavra sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Wiggin defending well though.
Wiggin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Palavra is working away from the top position though.
Palavra thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Wiggin has his hands clasped together around Palavra's back. He's all about the action.

Palavra is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Wiggin is just riding it out for now. Palavra eventually gives up the hold.
Palavra thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Wiggin's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Palavra is trying to control the action in half guard but Wiggin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Palavra wants to free his trapped foot but Wiggin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Palavra throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Wiggin to regain full guard.
Palavra working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Palavra trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Palavra stopping the sweep attempt from Wiggin.
Palavra trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Palavra postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Palavra sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Wiggin's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marijo Palavra dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Wiggin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Palavra tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Wiggin defends well and Palavra ends up having to push Wiggin into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Palavra tries to clinch but Wiggin moves out of range.
Wiggin throws a body punch but Palavra moves out of range.
Wiggin stuffs the takedown attempt from Palavra. Palavra gets slowly back to his feet.
Wiggin lands a nice shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Palavra takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Wiggin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Palavra fails with the takedown.
Eli Wiggin 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.
Wiggin scores with a shot to the body.
Palavra misses with a takedown attempt
and Wiggin counters with a right hand to the body.
Palavra shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Wiggin pinned against the cage. Wiggin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Eli Wiggin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Wiggin, right into the meat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wiggin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Palavra moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Palavra throws a big counter head kick but Wiggin avoids it with no problem.

Palavra gets a clinch.
Wiggin unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Wiggin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Wiggin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Palavra prevents a body shot from Wiggin.
Palavra wants to take the fight to the mat but Wiggin manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Wiggin lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Our sources have told us that Wiggin has been working on his elbows in the gym.

Palavra drags the fight down to the ground.
Wiggin cracks Palavra with a solid left hand.

Wiggin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Palavra has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Wiggin has managed to get both his arms back between Palavra's legs - danger averted.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wiggin sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Marijo Palavra has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palavra pulls Wiggin in to control the position.
Palavra not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Wiggin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Palavra working for a triangle but Wiggin defends it easily.
Palavra controls Wiggin momentarily but Wiggin frees himself.
Wiggin stopping the sweep attempt from Palavra.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Palavra working for a triangle but Wiggin defends it easily.
Palavra has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Wiggin trying to control but Palavra is working from the bottom.
Palavra bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Wiggin's guard.

Palavra won't allow Wiggin to sweep him here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Palavra stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wiggin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Palavra working some strikes from top position.
Palavra passes Wiggin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Wiggin dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Palavra shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Wiggin's guard.
Wiggin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Palavra with a nice head shot there.
Wiggin keeping full guard, as Palavra tries to pass.
Wiggin is pulling down on Palavra's head. It's preventing any offense from Palavra, at least for the moment.
Wiggin keeping moving, preventing Palavra from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Palavra postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Wiggin keeping moving, preventing Palavra from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palavra pushing down on Wiggin's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Palavra is looking for a kimura here.

Palavra is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Wiggin is looking to improve his position.
Wiggin is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Palavra thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Palavra thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Wiggin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Palavra closes this distance looking for a takedown but Wiggin circles away.
Wiggin throws a jab when Palavra was well out of range.
Palavra is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Palavra fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Wiggin sprawls well initially but Palavra persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Palavra not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Palavra seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Wiggin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Palavra missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Palavra seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palavra tries to pass to full mount but Wiggin defends it.
Palavra is keen to just control but Wiggin is a slippery customer.

Palavra is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Wiggin has managed to free his arm - good work.
Wiggin is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Palavra tries to pass the half guard into mount. Wiggin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Wiggin tries to roll over but Palavra keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Wiggin is staying active underneath Palavra, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Palavra is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Palavra is just content to waste time from the top position. Wiggin takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Palavra engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Wiggin can't keep his opponent in guard - Palavra advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Palavra trying to control from half guard but Wiggin is working away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Palavra throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Palavra shoots for a double leg takedown but Wiggin sprawls well. He's pushed Palavra's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Wiggin misses the target.
Palavra misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Wiggin lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Palavra will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Eli Wiggin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marijo Palavra.
Wiggin's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Wiggin duly obliges.
Palavra closes the distance and clinches up with Wiggin, looking for a takedown. Palavra pushes Wiggin against the cage but Wiggin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Wiggin fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Palavra on the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wiggin throws a nice outside leg kick.
Palavra throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Eli Wiggin is winning the standup battle so far.
Wiggin misses with a hook. Palavra ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Palavra shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Wiggin napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Palavra trying to control the action but Wiggin is working from the bottom.
Wiggin is looking to reverse the position.
Palavra throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Palavra thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Palavra tries for a kimura but Wiggin is defending well.
Palavra wants to control but Wiggin is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Palavra wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Wiggin, who protects the arm well.
Wiggin gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Wiggin is looking to improve his position but Palavra isn't that keen on the idea.
Palavra wants to control the pace but Wiggin is squirming around nicely.

Palavra with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wiggin tries to lock up and control but Palavra gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Palavra can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Wiggin is looking to escape.
Palavra is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Wiggin can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Wiggin bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Wiggin postures up in Palavra's guard and throws a big left but Palavra blocks it.
Wiggin being controlled here momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wiggin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Palavra is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Wiggin is aware though and is defending well.
Palavra is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Palavra trying to keep a closed guard but Wiggin is proving a slippery customer.
Palavra wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Wiggin preventing the sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wiggin throws a big elbow that misses.
Wiggin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Palavra looking to control.
Wiggin slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Eli Wiggin will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Wiggin scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Wiggin with a hook.
A head kick misses from Wiggin.
Despite the aggression on Palavra's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Palavra doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Wiggin lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Wiggin bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Palavra's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Palavra fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wiggin is looking to land body kicks.
Palavra throws a right hand that Wiggin ducks under and follows up with a left that Wiggin also avoids with ease.
Wiggin scores with a body shot.
Wiggin scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Eli Wiggin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Palavra dives in for a single leg takedown but Wiggin sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Wiggin looks to land a combination but Palavra avoids it well.
Palavra tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Palavra closes the distance and clinches.
Palavra tries for a takedown. No joy.
Eli Wiggin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marijo Palavra.
Wiggin lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palavra is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Wiggin tries to throw a body punch but Palavra avoids it by throwing Wiggin back against the cage.
Palavra is working for takedown but Wiggin is calmly controlling the position for now.
Wiggin lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Palavra.
Palavra is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Palavra is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A left hand lands to the body for Wiggin.
Palavra has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Wiggin is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nice body punch from Wiggin - that landed with a thud.
Wiggin gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Wiggin lands a nice elbow.
A knee to the head by Wiggin.
Wiggin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Palavra has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Wiggin landing knees to the body.
Wiggin putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Palavra in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Wiggin is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Eli Wiggin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Wiggin.
Wiggin lands a right hand that snaps the head of Palavra backwards.
Wiggin landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Palavra jumps guard but Wiggin stands there with Palavra around his waist. Palavra gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Palavra is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Wiggin landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Wiggin lands a left hand that snaps the head of Palavra backwards.
Wiggin stops a takedown attempt from Palavra.
Wiggin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Palavra avoids it.
Wiggin gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palavra looking for a takedown.
Palavra tries to pull guard but Wiggin forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Wiggin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Palavra has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Palavra is trying to pull guard but Wiggin turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Wiggin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Palavra.
Palavra changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Wiggin fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Wiggin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Palavra can do to turn this around?
Wiggin swats away the attempt to clinch by Palavra.
Wiggin throws a big counter combination but Palavra scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Nice sprawl there from Wiggin as Palavra shoots in.
Palavra shoots in for a takedown but Wiggin shows good takedown defense.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eli Wiggin showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Wiggin has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Eli Wiggin!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Eli Wiggin!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Eli Wiggin!

Eli Wiggin wins by unanimous decision!
Eli Wiggin decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.