PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Red Wolf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marijo Palavra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wolf comes to the cage accompanied by Shawnee Sioux War Dance. 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.

Wolf
vs
Palavra

168 cm
37
148 lbs
27 - 19 - 1

170 cm
35
140 lbs
23 - 27 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Fast

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 27 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Red Wolf!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 27 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marijo Palavra!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wolf throws a nice outside leg kick.
Wolf throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Palavra shoots and misses
and Wolf counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Palavra is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Palavra uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Wolf.
Palavra shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Palavra keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Wolf.
Palavra tries a quick counter leg kick but Wolf is wise to it.
Palavra moves out of range as Wolf strikes.
Wolf throws a hook but Palavra avoids it easily.
Palavra is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wolf darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Wolf scores with a shot to the body.
Palavra uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Wolf.
Wolf moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palavra fails with a takedown attempt.
Red Wolf has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marijo Palavra.
Palavra with a poor takedown
and Wolf counters with a nice uppercut.
Wolf throws a body shot but no joy.
Palavra drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Wolf defends it well.
Palavra keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Palavra shoots in looking for a takedown but Wolf manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Palavra's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
An inside leg kick from Wolf misses.
Palavra shoots in looking for a takedown. Wolf tries to sprawl out of it but Palavra keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Wolf manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wolf tried to score with a low kick but Palavra checks it.
Nice uppercut lands for Wolf. That snapped Palavra's head back.

Palavra shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Wolf manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Wolf pulls Palavra in close to prevent any damage.
Wolf is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Palavra working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Palavra controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palavra looking to sit in guard and control but Wolf gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Palavra keeping moving, preventing Wolf from controlling successfully.

Palavra has his foot on Wolf's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Wolf works his way back into a safe position though.
Palavra working a defensive guard here.
Wolf 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.
Wolf stopping the sweep attempt from Palavra.

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.
Wolf tries to free his leg and advance position but Palavra is retaining full guard.
Palavra tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've been hearing good reports from Wolf's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Wolf showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Palavra keeping moving, preventing Wolf from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Red Wolf is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wolf stuffs the takedown attempt from Palavra. Palavra gets slowly back to his feet.
A little feinted left hand from Wolf on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A combination from Palavra does no damage.
Wolf tries to land a front kick but Palavra steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Red Wolf dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Palavra's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Wolf connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Palavra scrambles back to his feet.
Wolf just misses with a punch to the body.
Palavra is trying hard to land a takedown here. Wolf sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A telegraphed right hand from Wolf misses the target.
Red Wolf seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Palavra avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Wolf throws a jab when Palavra was well out of range.
Wolf throws a hook but Palavra avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Palavra checks the leg kick.
Wolf misses with a hook. Palavra ducked under it nicely.
Wolf is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Palavra can do to turn this around?
Wolf just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palavra shoots in for a takedown but Wolf shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Wolf throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Palavra doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Wolf counters with a series of strikes. Palavra will be more careful next time no doubt.
Red Wolf has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marijo Palavra.
Wolf thows a left - swing and a miss!
Palavra drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Wolf defends it well.
Palavra on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Wolf misses with a head kick.
A jab from Wolf does it's job there.

Palavra is rocked!
Wolf misses with an uppercut

and Palavra counters with a nice double leg into side control. Wolf won't be happy with that.
Palavra is still in real trouble! Can Wolf finish him?
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Palavra tries to move to mount but Wolf blocks the move with his legs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wolf tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wolf can't do much from the bottom here.
Palavra seems to have recovered his senses.
Wolf is looking to reverse the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Palavra lands a decent elbow from side control.
Palavra trying to control the action but Wolf is working from the bottom.
Wolf defending against the ground and pound.
Wolf is not content to let Palavra control the position.
Wolf sneaks back into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palavra wants to advance to full mount but Wolf doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Palavra is looking to work some ground and pound but Wolf has wrist control.
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.
Palavra trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Palavra wants to control from the top but Wolf keeps moving.
Wolf keeping full guard, as Palavra tries to pass.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four 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.
Palavra dives in for a single leg takedown but Wolf sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Wolf misses with the body kick

and Palavra counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Palavra looks to land a strike but Wolf avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Palavra wants to control from the top but Wolf keeps moving.
Wolf keeping full guard, as Palavra tries to pass.
Palavra is looking to advance position but Wolf has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Wolf wants to control the pace but Palavra is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Palavra moves away from the strike by Wolf.
Palavra takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A jab from Wolf finds it's way through Palavra's defenses.
Palavra takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Wolf misses the body punch
and Palavra counters with a one-two to the body.
Wolf stuffs the takedown attempt from Palavra. Palavra gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Palavra shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Wolf but Wolf pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Wolf bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Palavra's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palavra shoots in for a double leg but Wolf sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Red Wolf has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marijo Palavra.
Wolf connects with a body shot.
Wolf pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Palavra shoots in and drives through. Wolf sprawls well.
Wolf thinks about countering with a body kick.
Palavra takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wolf misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And Palavra tries to counter it with a takedown but Wolf pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Palavra takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Palavra lands with a kick to the temple. Wolf shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Wolf just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Palavra looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
It looked like Wolf wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Palavra shoots and misses
and Wolf counters with a head kick that crumples his opponent - he's in a world of trouble! Wolf looks at the referee who does nothing so Wolf lands a crushing right that sends Palavra to the floor! This time the ref steps in to end the fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Red Wolf!
Red Wolf got down on his knees post fight and begged the management for a title shot. 'Please, I want that title shot so bad! Give it to me!'