PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zharis Palmidi (ranked 7145 p4p, 281 weight class) and Gary Dema (ranked 7089 p4p, 277 weight class). Gary Dema has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Palmidi
vs
Dema

175 cm
21
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
24
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Very confident

Knockdown Clothes
Evil Empire Nutrition - 151Q $100

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zharis Palmidi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gary Dema!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Chris Dean and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palmidi attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Dema blocks a head kick by Palmidi.
Dema falls off balance throwing a combination

and Palmidi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Dema scores with a knee to the head.
Dema scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Zharis Palmidi has been cut.
Dema with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Palmidi wants to get back to striking at distance but Dema won't allow it.
Palmidi avoids a wild elbow strike from Dema.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Dema using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Palmidi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dema landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Dema tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Palmidi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Dema is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Palmidi is defending well for now.
Dema misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Palmidi.
Palmidi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Dema just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Palmidi jumps guard and drags Dema to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Palmidi pulls Dema in to control the position.
Palmidi keeping moving, preventing Dema from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Palmidi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Palmidi lands with a punch from half guard.
Palmidi stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Palmidi is thwarting Dema's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmidi takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Dema tries to roll over but Palmidi keeps him under control.
Palmidi works his way into full mount!

Palmidi goes for an armbar but Dema turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Dema.
Dema trying to control the position from guard on top but Palmidi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmidi is trying to keep Dema in close.
Palmidi keeping moving, preventing Dema from controlling successfully.
Palmidi wants to stand up but Dema is controlling him.
Palmidi keeping full guard, as Dema tries to pass.
Palmidi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dema is one step ahead there.
We've been informed that Dema has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Palmidi on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Palmidi tries to get out of the position.

That's four 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.
Palmidi is working hard here to advance position.
Dema trying to control but Palmidi is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Dema turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Palmidi takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Palmidi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
That kick from Dema tenderised Palmidi's leg. Palmidi is trying to keep his angry face on.
Dema cracks Palmidi with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Dema dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zharis Palmidi's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dema fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Dema tries to clinch up but Palmidi circles away and keeps his distance.
Zharis Palmidi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dema lands a head shot.

Palmidi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Dema gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Palmidi creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Palmidi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Dema misses with a knee to the head.
Dema works on Palmidi's body with a couple of short punches.
Dema has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Palmidi effectively controlling the action here.
Palmidi is working for takedown but Dema is calmly controlling the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Palmidi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dema swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Palmidi.

Dema gets caught flat footed, as Palmidi shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
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!
Dema is trying to control the position but Palmidi postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmidi trying to control the position from guard on top but Dema is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Palmidi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Dema looking for a sweep. Not yet Dema, not yet.
Palmidi wants to stand and escape but instead Dema has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Palmidi keeping moving, preventing Dema from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dema wants to pass the guard but Palmidi is keeping the position.
Palmidi is adopting a defensive guard.
Dema trying to control but Palmidi is working from the bottom.
Dema missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Palmidi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

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

Palmidi darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Palmidi tries to pass to full mount but Dema defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dema manages to get to full guard.

Dema looking for a guillotine here but Palmidi defends easily.
Dema bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Palmidi's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dema wants to control from the top but Palmidi keeps moving.
Dema tries to free his leg and advance position but Palmidi is retaining full guard.
Palmidi wants to stand up but Dema is controlling him.
Zharis Palmidi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dema wants to control from the top but Palmidi keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dema slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Dema showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Zharis Palmidi's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Dema wants to clinch up but Palmidi keeps it at a distance.
Dema looks to throw the jab but Palmidi is out of range.
Gary Dema seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Palmidi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Dema defends well and Palmidi ends up having to push Dema into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Dema tries to clinch but Palmidi is having none of it.
Palmidi tries to land a front kick but Dema steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Dema tries to clinch up but Palmidi circles away and keeps his distance.
Dema wants to clinch up but Palmidi keeps it at a distance.

Palmidi moves into the clinch.
Palmidi is trying to break free.
Palmidi is trying to push Dema away but Dema has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Dema unloads a knee to the mid-section.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A knee to the head by Dema.
Dema lands a good knee to the midsection. Palmidi won't want to take too many of those.
Palmidi is trying to push Dema away but Dema has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Dema using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Palmidi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dema lands an elbow inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Dema.

Palmidi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dema tries to close the distance and clinch up but Palmidi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Palmidi feinted with a counter takedown.
Dema throws a right and a left that Palmidi avoids nicely.
Dema cracks Palmidi with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Dema tries to clinch but Palmidi is having none of it.
Gary Dema is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Dema drives through and clinches with Palmidi against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Palmidi pressing his opponent against the cage.
Dema using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Palmidi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Palmidi wants to break free but Dema has control.
Dema utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Palmidi stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dema is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Dema creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Palmidi's defenses.
Dema tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Palmidi's elbow.
Dema stops a takedown attempt from Palmidi.
Dema connects with a knee to the head.

Palmidi pulls guard effortlessly.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dema throws a big elbow that misses.
Dema throwing strikes from guard but Palmidi blocks nicely.
Dema wants to control from the top but Palmidi keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmidi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dema pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Palmidi is keeping the position for now.
Dema trying to control the position from guard on top but Palmidi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dema showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Dema passes Palmidi's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Dema tries to pass the half guard into mount. Palmidi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Dema is looking to take a break and control but Palmidi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Dema works his way into side control.
Dema trying to control the position but Palmidi is working away.
Palmidi stops Dema from passing to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dema throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Palmidi works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gary Dema comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Dema 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gary Dema!