PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frankie Palmeri (ranked 2068 p4p, 291 weight class) and Mike Lambert (ranked 5052 p4p, 596 weight class). Lambert is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Aaron Lewis - Country Boy. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Palmeri
vs
Lambert

194 cm
28
217 lbs
8 - 1 - 1

187 cm
27
212 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Granite chin

Sin City Allstars

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 8 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frankie Palmeri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Lambert!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palmeri steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Lambert. That one must have hurt.
Lambert avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lambert clobbers Palmeri with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Palmeri throws a head kick that misses.
Palmeri tries a head kick but it misses.
Palmeri misses the shot to the body.
Lambert scoring well with a low kick there.
Mike Lambert seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Palmeri stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Palmeri lands the left hand.

Lambert closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Palmeri did well to prevent Lambert getting side control.

Palmeri has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Lambert is on him like a limpet, forcing Palmeri back against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Palmeri looking to stall.
Palmeri cracks Lambert with a nice body shot.
Palmeri has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Lambert blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Palmeri breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lambert fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lambert misses with a takedown attempt - Palmeri sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmeri is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lambert.
Lambert looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Palmeri is fending him off so far but Lambert persists. Nope, Palmeri circles away and we're back to standing.
Palmeri is looking to counter punch.
Frankie Palmeri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Lambert.
Lambert fails with a takedown attempt.
Lambert rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Palmeri moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Palmeri slips a straight right by Lambert.
Lambert moves out of range as Palmeri throws a body kick.
Lambert is trying to counter with his kicks.
Lambert shoots in but Palmeri avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lambert looks to land a left hand but Palmeri moved out of range nicely.
Lambert will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lambert tries for a takedown but Palmeri sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Palmeri connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Lambert throws a right hand that Palmeri ducks under and follows up with a left that Palmeri also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lambert misses with a series of wild punches.
Palmeri cracks Lambert with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Palmeri scoring well with a low kick there.
Lambert defending well as Palmeri loads up on a big left hand.
Lambert fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Palmeri.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Some wild striking there from Lambert.

Lambert shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Palmeri manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Palmeri pulls Lambert in close to prevent any damage.
Lambert in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmeri looking for a sweep. Not yet Palmeri, not yet.
Lambert trying to control the position from guard on top but Palmeri is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lambert is stalling in the full guard.
Lambert throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Palmeri works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lambert is in close to Palmeri's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Lambert is fighting to break Palmeri's control of his arms but Palmeri is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Lambert content to stall in guard here.

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.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Lambert walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Lambert misses with a low kick.
Palmeri cracks Lambert with an open hand slap.
Lambert goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Lambert moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Lambert has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Palmeri tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lambert was well out of range. Poor timing from Palmeri.
Palmeri goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Frankie Palmeri is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Palmeri throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Lambert stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Palmeri lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Palmeri throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Palmeri dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Palmeri looks to land a combination but Lambert avoids it well.
Lambert tries for a takedown but Palmeri sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Palmeri throws a head kick but Lambert moves out of range.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Lambert shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Lambert showed some decent athleticism there.
Lambert thows a huge punch but Palmeri dodges it nicely.
Palmeri won't allow Lambert to pass to mount.

Lambert is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Palmeri has managed to free his arm - good work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lambert missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lambert prevents Palmeri from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lambert with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Lambert thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lambert sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Palmeri defending well though.
Lambert not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lambert lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Lambert content to control rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Lambert connects with a nice short shot to Palmeri's temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lambert controlling the pace.
Lambert looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Lambert trying to control the action but Palmeri is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Palmeri lands with a cross.
Palmeri stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Palmeri wants it to stay on the feet.
Palmeri quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lambert misses with a double jab.
Palmeri staying out of range there.

Lambert shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Palmeri manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Lambert pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Palmeri is keeping the position for now.
Lambert must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lambert trying to control the position from guard on top but Palmeri is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lambert throws an elbow that misses. Palmeri uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lambert's guard. Nice move by Palmeri!

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lambert looking for a sweep. Not yet Lambert, not yet.
Palmeri trying to control but Lambert is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lambert working a defensive guard but Palmeri manages to pass into side control anyway.
Lambert managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Palmeri.
Palmeri trying to control the position but Lambert is working away.
Lambert is looking for a sweep.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lambert is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Palmeri asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Palmeri is chipping away with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mike Lambert will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Lambert will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
As Lambert backs away, Palmeri returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Palmeri bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Lambert's head backwards.
Nice shot lands for Palmeri.
Nice sprawl there from Palmeri as Lambert shoots in.
Palmeri appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Lambert lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Lambert takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Palmeri misses with an uppercut. Lambert saw that one coming.
Palmeri slaps away a takedown attempt from Lambert, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Frankie Palmeri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Lambert.
A decent looking cross lands there for Lambert.
Lambert throws a series of strikes that have Palmeri backpedaling.
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!
Palmeri connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Lambert misses with a low kick.
A left and a right from Palmeri both land. Nice combination.
Lambert lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmeri misses with a looping right.
Palmeri throws a leg kick but Lambert moved away.
No joy there for Lambert, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lambert shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Palmeri as he jumps to the side.
Palmeri ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lambert moves away.
Palmeri misses with a jab, cross combination.
It seemed like Lambert was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Lambert looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Mike Lambert has got the better of the ground game so far.
Palmeri blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lambert.
Lambert thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Palmeri's head.
Palmeri keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Lambert seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Palmeri does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lambert is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Palmeri has managed to free his arm - good work.
Lambert trying to advance position but Palmeri counters by regaining guard.
Palmeri seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Palmeri keeping full guard, as Lambert tries to pass.
Lambert passes Palmeri's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lambert working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Palmeri's thigh. Palmeri counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Palmeri looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Palmeri manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lambert manages to get himself to full guard.

Palmeri throwing strikes but missing.
Lambert trying to control the position.

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.
Lambert wants to sweep here but Palmeri controlling him for the moment.
Lambert seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Lambert avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lambert is on top in guard.

Lambert stays in close to Palmeri's body and controls the position.

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 Frankie Palmeri.
I think Palmeri 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!