PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Palmares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Oneil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Palmares
vs
Oneil

181 cm
36
218 lbs
18 - 12 - 0

194 cm
23
220 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rodrigo Palmares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kevin Oneil!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oneil avoids the body shot from Palmares.
Oneil throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Palmares counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Palmares.
Palmares is stalling in the full guard.
Palmares has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Palmares trying to control but Oneil is working from the bottom.
Palmares preventing the sweep.

Palmares thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Palmares controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Palmares in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Oneil trying to keep a closed guard but Palmares is proving a slippery customer.
Oneil wants to stand up but Palmares is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmares pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Oneil is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Palmares slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Palmares wants to control from the top but Oneil keeps moving.
Palmares controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Oneil moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
The crowd cheers as Oneil lands an impressive looking overhand right. Palmares doesn't seem phased though.
Oneil misses with a left hand
and Palmares counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Oneil thinking.
Oneil bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Kevin Oneil seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Palmares ducks under a wild hook from Oneil.
Palmares appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmares takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Oneil displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Palmares.
Oneil swings for the body but Palmares moves out of range.
Palmares changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Oneil's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Palmares connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Oneil scrambles back to his feet.
A swing and a miss from Oneil.
Oneil throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Palmares sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Oneil scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Palmares doesn't seem bothered though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Palmares ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Oneil moves away.
Oneil wants to land a leg kick but Palmares is out of range.
Palmares tries to counter with a takedown but Oneil is quick to defend against it.
Oneil works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kevin Oneil is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Oneil throws a nice head kick!
Palmares ducks under a wild hook from Oneil.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oneil lands with a cross.
Palmares misses the body punch
and Oneil counters with an outside leg kick.
Oneil misses with a hook.
Palmares takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Oneil throws a big shot that misses.
Palmares tries to counter with a takedown but Oneil is quick to defend against it.
An inside leg kick lands from Oneil.
Oneil misses the jab.
Oneil misses with a wild body shot.
Oneil doesn't manage to clinch there - Palmares circles away.
Oneil lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Palmares missing with a left hand there. Oneil was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Oneil tries to clinch but Palmares moves away

and Palmares counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Oneil tries to kick Palmares off but Palmares keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Palmares content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Oneil is looking to improve his position.
Palmares prevents Oneil from standing back up.
Palmares is looking to take a break and control but Oneil is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Oneil is trying to maintain the position but Palmares is very close to passing his half guard.
Palmares keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Oneil is controlling Palmares's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Palmares controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Oneil dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Palmares darts in looking for a takedown but Oneil gets double underhooks and turns Palmares into the cage.
Oneil swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Palmares changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Oneil has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Oneil slips under a jab.
Oneil thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Palmares if he has to take too many more of those.
Palmares takes one to the side of the head.
Palmares is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Oneil swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A jab from Oneil misses.
Oneil fakes the leg kick and cracks Palmares in the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oneil misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A slow jab from Palmares misses its intended target.
A jab from Oneil misses.
Palmares appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Oneil misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oneil misses the shot to the body.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Oneil.

Oneil tries to sprawl but Palmares drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Palmares working over Oneil with some ground and pound. Oneil looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Oneil is trying to control but can't.
Palmares sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Palmares scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Oneil has one foot on Palmares's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Palmares misses with a looping left.
Oneil tries to counter by closing the distance.
Palmares takes a kick to the side of the head.
Oneil is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Oneil throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Palmares counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Oneil pushes Palmares off and scrambles back to his feet.
Palmares throws a body punch but Oneil moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oneil cracks Palmares with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Oneil scores with a jab to the head.

Oneil has closed the distance and engaged Palmares in a clinch.

Oneil breaks from the clinch.
Palmares fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Oneil avoids it really well and circles away.
Palmares shoots for a double leg takedown but Oneil sprawls well. He's pushed Palmares's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Oneil steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Palmares. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Palmares misses with a two punch combination.
Palmares throws a leg kick
and Oneil counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Oneil throws a hook but Palmares avoids it easily.
Oneil connects with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oneil throws a hook but Palmares blocks it.
Oneil pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Palmares slips under a jab.
Oneil misses the shot to the body.
Palmares misses the shot to the body.
Oneil lands a body shot.
A left lands for Palmares.
Good exchange - Oneil coming out on top.
A swing and a miss from Oneil.
Nice defenses there by Palmares.
Oneil throws a lazy head kick

and Palmares counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Oneil has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Palmares is on him like a limpet, forcing Oneil back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Palmares wants a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oneil throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Palmares is trying to stall.

Oneil escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Oneil misses the shot to the body.
Palmares drops down looking for a counter takedown but Oneil sprawls and moves away.
A good leg kick by Oneil.
Oneil ducks under a wild hook from Palmares.
Oneil looks to score with a jab to the body but Palmares is just out of range.
Kevin Oneil seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Palmares shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Palmares showed some decent athleticism there.
Palmares missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Palmares stalling.
Oneil blocking the ground and pound attempt from Palmares.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Oneil showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Palmares fails with the takedown
and Oneil cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Oneil throws a hook but Palmares blocks it.
Oneil misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Palmares.
Oneil misses with a body shot.
Palmares takes a swing at Oneil's ribcage but misses.
It seemed like Oneil was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Oneil goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Oneil finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Oneil lands a lovely overhand right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Palmares gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Oneil counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Oneil throws the left hand but Palmares avoids the punch easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Palmares misses the target.
Oneil fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Palmares looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Oneil clinches.
Palmares effectively controlling the action here.
Palmares misses with a hook from the clinch.
Oneil can't find room to land a body shot as Palmares controls the action.
Palmares blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Palmares's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Oneil lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Palmares backwards.
Palmares stalling against the cage.
Palmares tries to throw a body punch but Oneil avoids it by throwing Palmares back against the cage.
Palmares blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Palmares pushes Oneil back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Oneil swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Oneil scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Oneil tries to work over Palmares's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rodrigo Palmares has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oneil misses with a punch to the body.
Palmares looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Palmares. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Oneil throws a head punch that misses.
Palmares has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Oneil after a bit of a struggle.
Palmares goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Oneil lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Palmares blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Palmares keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Oneil's efforts to push away.
The referee is keeping an eye on Palmares - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Oneil scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Palmares working aggressively here.
Oneil working hard to break the clinch.
Nice body punch from Oneil - that landed with a thud.
Oneil lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Palmares.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Oneil breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oneil throws a half hearted mid kick.
Palmares half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Oneil throws a sloppy head kick
and Palmares counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Oneil throws a leg kick

and Palmares counters with a takedown into side control.
Oneil tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Palmares trying to control the position but Oneil is working away.
Oneil tries to bench press Palmares off him but Palmares keeps the position.
Palmares throws an elbow but Oneil slips to the side and avoids it well.
Palmares has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Oneil gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Palmares controlling the pace.
Palmares prevents Oneil from improving his position.
Palmares thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Oneil's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmares winds up and cracks Oneil with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Palmares is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Oneil has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Palmares lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Oneil is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Oneil controlling the position for now.
Oneil is staying active underneath Palmares, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Oneil looks like he's trying to stand up.
Oneil wants to improve his position but Palmares is controlling well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Oneil comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Oneil winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Oneil!
Kevin Oneil thanked the fans post fight for their support.