PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tony Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Palmer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stark comes to the cage accompanied by Sail Alowanation. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Stark
vs
Palmer

195 cm
24
215 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

190 cm
28
212 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tony Stark!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mario Palmer!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Gregory Folan and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palmer moves away from the strike by Stark.
Stark tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Palmer was well out of range. Poor timing from Stark.
Stark swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Stark smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Palmer drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

It looks like Mario Palmer has been cut.
Good exchange - Stark coming out on top.
Stark scores with a jab to the jaw.

Palmer closes the distance and clinches.
Palmer lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Palmer throws an elbow but misses.
Palmer creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Palmer prevents the takedown attempt.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Palmer just misses with a elbow thrown towards Stark's brow.
Stark managing to block the knees to the body from Palmer.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stark tries to break the clinch but Palmer is controlling the position.
Stark looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Stark has Palmer pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Stark pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Palmer tumbling to the mat - Stark dives into Palmer's guard.
Stark is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark won't allow Palmer to get back to his feet.
Stark is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Stark sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stark has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Palmer preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Palmer wants to get back to his feet but Stark is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Palmer tries to clinch there but Stark circles away.
Stark cracks a nice hook into Palmer's ribs.

Palmer rushes Stark and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Stark breaks the clinch.
Stark lands a nice hook to Palmer's body. Palmer takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Palmer has closed the distance and engaged Stark in a clinch.
Stark tries to break free but Palmer pushes him back against the cage.
I was talking to Stark's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Stark on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stark escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Palmer moves into the clinch.
Stark wants to break the clinch but can't.
Palmer tries to land knees in the clinch but Stark avoids the damage to the body.
Palmer missing with knees to the body.
Palmer prevents Stark from breaking the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Palmer.

Stark escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Palmer throws a left and a right that both miss
and Palmer takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Stark attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Palmer steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stark.
Stark bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Stark fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Palmer clinches up against the cage.
Stark is looking to break free of the clinch but Palmer has double underhooks.
Palmer tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stark avoids it.
Stark avoids the elbow strike from Palmer, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark blocks an elbow strike.
Stark on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stark takes a knee to the side of the body.
Palmer crunches a lovely knee into Stark's ribcage.
Stark is breathing heavily.
Palmer misses with a knee to the head.
Palmer prevents Stark from breaking the clinch.
Stark is trying to break free.
Palmer lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Palmer lands a knee to the head.
Palmer lands a knee to the head.

Stark pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A slow jab from Palmer misses its intended target.
Stark misses the jab.
Palmer tries to counter with a clinch but Stark shakes him off and moves away.
Stark throws a lazy right hand but Palmer sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Palmer gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Palmer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mario Palmer will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mario Palmer's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Stark moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Stark throws a jab but it's blocked by Palmer.
Stark lands a nice looking body shot.
A clash of legs there as Palmer blocks the low kick.
Palmer with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Stark to score with a decent uppercut.
Tony Stark seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Palmer tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stark paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mario Palmer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Palmer is looking to clinch but Stark is avoiding it.
Stark connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Stark will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Stark misses.
Stark connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Stark lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Palmer circles away quickly and effectively.
Stark connects with a right hand. Palmer shakes it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Palmer eats them both and turns towards Stark to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Decent striking displayed by Stark there.

Palmer has managed to clinch.
Nice elbow from Palmer.

It looks like Tony Stark has been cut.
Stark is trying to break free.
Palmer lands a knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Palmer gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Knees to the body from Palmer.
Palmer lands a damaging elbow.
A knee to the head by Palmer.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Palmer lands a nice knee to the body.
Palmer lands a nice elbow.
Palmer lands an elbow that stopped Stark in his tracks for a moment.
Knees in the clinch landing for Palmer.
Palmer lands an elbow that stopped Stark in his tracks for a moment.
Palmer crunches a lovely knee into Stark's ribcage.
Palmer lands an elbow that stopped Stark in his tracks for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmer scores a nice knee to the body.
Palmer lands an elbow inside.
Palmer lands a damaging elbow.
Palmer landing knees to the head.
Palmer landing knees to the head.
Palmer lands a nice elbow.
Palmer connects with a nasty looking knee right to Stark's face.
Palmer scores a nice knee to the body.
Stark stalling in the clinch but Palmer improves position.
Palmer missing with knees to the body.
Palmer lands a good knee to the midsection. Stark won't want to take too many of those.
Stark tries to circle away but Palmer has him pinned against the cage.
Palmer misses with a knee to the head.
Palmer landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Palmer gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Palmer lands an elbow inside.
Palmer connects with a nasty looking knee right to Stark's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmer trying to land knees to the body.
Stark takes a knee right on the jaw!
Palmer lands a damaging elbow.
Palmer lands a nice elbow.
Stark managing to block the knees to the body from Palmer.

Stark breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stark attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Palmer tries to counter with a clinch but Stark shakes him off and moves away.
Stark cracks Palmer with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Palmer defending well as Stark loads up on a big left hand.

Palmer closes the distance and clinches.
Stark is trying to force a seperation but Palmer has the dominant position.
Palmer lands an elbow inside that Stark shrugs off.
Palmer tries a knee to the head but Stark blocks it.
Stark wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Stark is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark takes an elbow to the forehead.
Stark tries for a takedown but Palmer manages to get underhooks.
Palmer has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stark is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Palmer is defending well.
Palmer connects with a knee to the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Stark tries to stall but Palmer uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Palmer misses with a knee to the head.
Palmer putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Stark in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Palmer unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Palmer lands a knee to the body.
Palmer utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Palmer lands an elbow inside that Stark shrugs off.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Palmer lands a knee to the head.
Palmer lands a good knee to the midsection. Stark won't want to take too many of those.
Palmer lands a nice knee to the body.
Palmer using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Palmer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Stark swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Stark lands with a nice combination. Palmer backs away looking to recover.
Palmer checks a leg kick nicely.
Palmer tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stark manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Stark thuds his right hand into Palmer's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Palmer darts in and clinches Stark up against the cage.
Stark is trying to force a seperation but Palmer has the dominant position.
Palmer keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Stark's efforts to push away.
Stark goes for a takedown in the clinch but Palmer prevents it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Palmer landing knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Palmer lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Palmer trying to land knees to the body.
Palmer landing knees to the head.
Palmer gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer lands an elbow that stopped Stark in his tracks for a moment.
Palmer is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stark is defending well for now.
Palmer trying to land knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Palmer.
Palmer tries a knee to the head but Stark blocks it.
Palmer gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Palmer lands an elbow just above Stark 's eye.
Palmer lands a knee to the head.
Palmer has Stark pressed against the cage, preventing Stark from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Palmer landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Palmer lands a damaging elbow.
Palmer lands a good knee to the midsection. Stark won't want to take too many of those.
Palmer landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Knees to the body from Palmer.
Palmer lands a knee to the body.
Palmer lands a damaging elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmer lands an elbow inside.
Palmer trying to land knees to the body.
Stark is trying to push Palmer away but Palmer has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Stark on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Palmer obliges.

Stark breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Palmer gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Stark swats away the attempt to clinch by Palmer.
Stark misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stark misses with a series of wild punches.
Palmer uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Stark.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Palmer closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Stark tries to circle away but Palmer has him pinned against the cage.

Stark gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Palmer has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Stark is on him like a limpet, forcing Palmer back against the cage.
Palmer landing knees to the head.
Stark avoiding damage as Palmer throws knees to the body.
Stark tries to circle away but Palmer has him pinned against the cage.
Mario Palmer seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Stark takes an elbow to the forehead.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Palmer is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stark is defending well for now.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Stark.
Palmer tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stark avoids it.
Palmer misses with an elbow strike.
Palmer looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Stark is trying to push Palmer away but Palmer has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Stark wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Palmer has him pressed against the cage.
Palmer misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Palmer gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Stark tries to break free but Palmer pushes him back against the cage.
Stark is trying to force a seperation but Palmer has the dominant position.
A frustrated look appears on Stark's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Stark tries to score a body lock takedown but Palmer shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Stark. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stark is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Palmer gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Palmer lands an elbow inside.
Palmer lands an elbow inside.
Stark on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Palmer lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Stark tries to break the clinch but Palmer is controlling the position.
Palmer lands a nice knee to the body.
Palmer landing knees to the body.
Palmer creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Stark's defenses.
Stark takes a knee to the side of the body.
Palmer landing some nice looking knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Palmer really dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Palmer tries to close the distance and clinch but Stark swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stark tries to counter with a takedown but Palmer is quick to defend against it.
Stark keeps the fight on the outside.
Stark lands a jab-cross combination.
Stark connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Stark swinging wildly here.
Palmer checks a leg kick nicely.
Palmer fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stark feinted with a counter takedown.
Stark avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stark cracks Palmer with a good jab.
Stark looks to throw the jab but Palmer is out of range.
Palmer is looking to clinch but Stark is avoiding it.
Palmer drops his hands momentarily and Stark takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Palmer tries to clinch up
and Stark counters with a nice body shot.
Stark closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A slow jab from Stark misses its intended target.

Palmer drives through and clinches with Stark against the cage.
Palmer has Stark pressed against the cage, preventing Stark from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Stark avoiding damage as Palmer throws knees to the body.
Palmer lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Stark takes an elbow to the temple.

Stark breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmer doesn't manage to clinch there - Stark circles away.
Stark throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stark swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Palmer moves into range and clinches up with Stark.
Stark on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stark gets through Palmer's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Stark is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Palmer pulls him back up using the underhooks.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Stark.
Palmer lands a knee to the body.
Palmer utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Palmer lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Palmer tries to land knees in the clinch but Stark avoids the damage to the body.
Palmer misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stark.
Stark avoiding damage as Palmer throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stark gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Stark misses with a head shot. Palmer uses the momentum to regain guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stark won't allow Palmer to get back to his feet.
Stark trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stark 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Palmer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stark trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Stark is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Stark is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Palmer wants to stand up but Stark is controlling him.
Palmer being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Stark had his way with Mario Palmer in that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Stark's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Jab from Stark.

Palmer pushes Stark up against the cage in a clinch.

Stark breaks from the clinch.
Palmer is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Stark.
Stark scores with a decent looking hook.
Stark with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Stark fails to land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stark throws a body shot but no joy.
Palmer tries to counter by closing the distance.
Stark fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Palmer manages to avoid it.
Palmer gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Palmer blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark throws a head kick but Palmer moves out of range.
Palmer wants to counter with a clinch but Stark pushes him away.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Stark scores with a jab to the head.
Palmer tries to clinch up
letting Stark counter with a right hand.
Palmer tries to clinch there but Stark circles away.
Stark misses with a straight left.
Stark is looking to score with low kicks.
Palmer doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Palmer displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stark throws out the jab.

Palmer has managed to clinch.
Stark tries to break the clinch but Palmer is controlling the position.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Palmer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Palmer throws a knee to the head but misses.
Palmer misses with a knee strike.
Palmer with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Palmer with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Palmer tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stark avoids it.
Palmer using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Stark can't break the clinch.

Stark breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Palmer tries to close the distance and clinch but Stark swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stark lands a right hook to the body.
Stark scores with a hook to the body. Palmer takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Palmer has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Stark finds it's way round the side to connect with Palmer's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Stark there.
Stark throws a right and a left that Palmer avoids nicely.
Palmer gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Stark.
Stark throws a head kick but Palmer moves out of range.

Palmer forces Stark back against the cage and clinches.
Palmer landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nice elbow from Palmer.
Palmer lands a damaging elbow.
Palmer working Stark over with knees to the body.
Palmer has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Palmer using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stark has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Palmer missing with knees to the body.
Palmer tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Palmer trying to land knees to the body.
Stark tries to circle away but Palmer has him pinned against the cage.
Stark blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmer tries a knee to the head but Stark blocks it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stark has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Palmer after a bit of a struggle.
Palmer gets underhooks to prevent Stark's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Stark. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Palmer scores a nice knee to the body.
Palmer lands a good knee to the midsection. Stark won't want to take too many of those.
Tony Stark has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Palmer utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Palmer is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stark is defending well for now.
Stark on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Stark breaks the clinch.
Stark scores with a shot to the body.
Stark scores with a body shot.
Stark lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Mario Palmer is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Stark thuds a left hand into Palmer's body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Stark showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Palmer 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 47:48
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 47:48
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mario Palmer!
Mario Palmer is the new light heavyweight champion!
Mario Palmer decided to call for a title shot in his post fight interview, which was very strange given the fact this fight was for a title and he's already the champion. I guess that's what getting punched in the head does for you.
Tony Stark spoke after the fight, saying 'Got to go save People!!! God Bless'.