PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Altintop Palonesess (ranked 4033 p4p, 310 weight class) and Wang Qiang (ranked 3501 p4p, 288 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Palonesess
vs
Qiang

175 cm
25
155 lbs
5 - 13 - 0

175 cm
23
155 lbs
10 - 5 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Altintop Palonesess!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Wang Qiang!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Qiang has Palonesess up against the cage in a clinch.
Palonesess with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Qiang looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Palonesess is trying to trip Qiang. He has hold of a leg but Qiang is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Palonesess persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Palonesess wants to control from the top but Qiang keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Palonesess looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Qiang uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Palonesess moves in looking to clinch but Qiang pushes him off.
Qiang doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Palonesess tries to score a power double leg takedown but Qiang sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Palonesess somewhat.
Qiang raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Qiang fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Qiang showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Palonesess.
Palonesess has his takedown stuffed
and Qiang counters with a nice body shot.

Palonesess throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Qiang was covering up waiting for the punch and Palonesess finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Palonesess trying to control the position from guard on top but Qiang is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Palonesess stands and steps away. Qiang gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Qiang scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Palonesess shoots in looking for a takedown but Qiang manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Palonesess's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Altintop Palonesess. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Qiang misses with a head kick.
Qiang lands a nice looking body shot.
Nice defenses there by Palonesess.
Qiang avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Palonesess looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Qiang is fending him off so far but Palonesess persists. Nope, Qiang circles away and we're back to standing.
Qiang fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Qiang fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Palonesess on the side of the head.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Qiang - that will leave a mark!
Palonesess looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Wang Qiang is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Palonesess shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Qiang lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palonesess tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Qiang is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Palonesess looking for a sweep. Not yet Palonesess, not yet.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

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.
Qiang is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Palonesess pulls Qiang in close to prevent any damage.
Palonesess trying to keep a closed guard but Qiang is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Palonesess is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Qiang is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wang Qiang dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Palonesess shoots and misses
and Qiang counters with a nice uppercut.
Palonesess shoots and misses
and Palonesess takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Qiang connects with the punch.
Palonesess shoots for a takedown but Qiang saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Altintop Palonesess. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Palonesess manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Qiang on his heels. He'll look to pass Qiang's guard now, I'm sure.
Qiang is pulling down on Palonesess's head. It's preventing any offense from Palonesess, at least for the moment.
Palonesess trying to control but Qiang is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Palonesess decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Qiang pushes Palonesess up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Palonesess turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Palonesess manages to end up in side control.
Palonesess is looking to take a break and control but Qiang is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Palonesess has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Altintop Palonesess is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Qiang looks to throw the jab but Palonesess is out of range.
Palonesess shoots in but Qiang avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palonesess with a poor takedown
enabling Qiang to counter with a crisp jab.
Palonesess shoots for a takedown but Qiang saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Palonesess misses with a takedown attempt
and Qiang cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Palonesess doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Qiang counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Qiang throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
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!
Palonesess tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Qiang paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Palonesess will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Qiang only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Qiang.
Qiang slips under a jab from Palonesess.
Qiang throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Palonesess chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Qiang can pounce on him.
Palonesess shoots in but Qiang avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palonesess moves out of range as Qiang throws a body kick.
Palonesess shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Qiang pinned against the cage. Qiang gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Qiang throws a low kick, looking for Palonesess's leg but Palonesess calmly moves out of range.
Qiang tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Palonesess.
Palonesess takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Palonesess has a takedown stuffed.
Qiang has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Qiang lands with an overhand left.
Palonesess on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Qiang lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Qiang throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Palonesess stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Palonesess checks a leg kick.
Qiang keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Palonesess doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Qiang counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A left lands for Qiang.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Palonesess with a lazy takedown attempt
and Qiang counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A good leg kick by Qiang.

Qiang closes the distance and clinches.
Qiang gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Palonesess.
Qiang has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Palonesess avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wang Qiang showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Palonesess's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Palonesess fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Qiang leaves Palonesess with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Qiang jabs Palonesess right on the nose. Palonesess blinks but takes it well.
Altintop Palonesess seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Qiang listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Qiang closes the distance and pushes Palonesess back into the cage.

Qiang escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Danga de danga de dang - Qiang scores with a four punch combination!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Palonesess feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Qiang manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Palonesess manages to get himself to full guard.

Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Qiang wants to pass the guard but Palonesess is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palonesess looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Palonesess is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Qiang decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Qiang bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Palonesess's head.

Palonesess is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Qiang's half guard.
Palonesess trying to control from half guard but Qiang is working away.
Qiang is controlling Palonesess's trapped leg to prevent Palonesess from advancing to side control.

Qiang has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Palonesess is on him like a limpet, forcing Qiang back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Qiang is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Palonesess is defending well.

Qiang manages to break the clinch.
Qiang looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Qiang throws a jab but it's blocked by Palonesess.
Qiang throws a front kick aimed at Palonesess's knee but Palonesess avoids it well.
Palonesess half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
A big left from Qiang misses.
Wang Qiang is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Palonesess looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Altintop Palonesess. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown attempt by Palonesess or perhaps it was just good defense by Qiang, which made it look bad.
Palonesess tries to clinch
and Qiang counters with a nice body shot.
Palonesess is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Qiang.
Palonesess looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Palonesess throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Qiang tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Palonesess is in Qiang's guard.
Palonesess lands a couple of digs.
Qiang keeping moving, preventing Palonesess from controlling successfully.
Qiang manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Palonesess manages to get himself to full guard.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Palonesess trying to keep a closed guard but Qiang is proving a slippery customer.
Qiang passes easily into side control. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wang Qiang comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Qiang has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wang Qiang!
During a confident post fight interview, Wang Qiang thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
Altintop Palonesess was interviewed post fight and said 'Shit happends!!! '.