PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Masamune Date (ranked 6874 p4p, 0 weight class) and Altintop Palonesess (ranked 7502 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Date
vs
Palonesess

170 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
27
154 lbs
6 - 18 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Masamune Date!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Altintop Palonesess!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palonesess doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Date counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Palonesess avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Palonesess closes the distance and clinches.
Date misses with the head strike.
Date is trying to break free.
Palonesess looking for a takedown.

Palonesess is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Date can't fight it off and eventually Palonesess manages to take the fight to the floor. Date looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Palonesess decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Palonesess closes the distance and clinches up with Date, looking for a takedown. Palonesess pushes Date against the cage but Date circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Masamune Date has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Altintop Palonesess.
Palonesess fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Date on the side of the head.

Palonesess moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Date throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Date goes for a takedown attempt but Palonesess pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Palonesess shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Date pinned against the cage. Date gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Palonesess on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Date. Date obviously looking to wear him down.
Palonesess looks to land a combination. Date sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Palonesess fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Date, pushing him back against the cage.
Palonesess stalling.
Palonesess blocks an elbow strike.
Palonesess comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Palonesess just leaning against Date, taking a breather.
Palonesess controlling the action here for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palonesess leaning his opponent against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Palonesess blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Palonesess jumps guard but Date stands there with Palonesess around his waist. Palonesess gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Palonesess ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Palonesess no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Palonesess pulls Date in close to his closed guard and prevents Date from doing any damage or advancing position.
Date wants to stand but Palonesess has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Date gets to his feet. Palonesess looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Palonesess shoots in looking for a takedown but Date manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Palonesess's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Date gets caught napping as Palonesess dives in and scores a takedown. Date manages to retain guard.
Palonesess slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Palonesess stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Date gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Date tries to throw a body punch but Palonesess avoids it by throwing Date back against the cage.
Date misses with an elbow over the top.
Date looking to throw knees to the head but Palonesess is blocking nicely.
Palonesess is looking for a takedown.

Palonesess breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Palonesess darts in and clinches Date up against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Date throws a knee to the head but misses.

Palonesess ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Palonesess no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Date trying to stand up but can't free himself from Palonesess's guard.
Palonesess trying to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Altintop Palonesess 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.

Date throws a leg kick

and Palonesess counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Date stalling in the clinch but Palonesess improves position.

Palonesess successfully pulls guard.
Date wanted to stand there but Palonesess had control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Palonesess wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Palonesess looking to control.
Palonesess has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Palonesess wants to hit a switch here but Date passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Palonesess there!
Date controlling from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palonesess tries to lock up and control but Date gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Palonesess bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Palonesess working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Palonesess controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Palonesess's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palonesess is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Palonesess gets to his feet - Date follows without any prompting.
Palonesess shoots for a takedown but Date saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Date tries to clinch but Palonesess moves out of range.
As Date backs off Palonesess throws a huge counter combo but Date manages to avoid it all.
Palonesess fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Date doesn't manage to clinch there - Palonesess circles away.

Palonesess has managed to clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Date.

Palonesess jumps guard and drags Date to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Palonesess is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Palonesess managing to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Date slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Date wants to control from the top but Palonesess keeps moving.

Palonesess working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Date doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Date manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Palonesess is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Palonesess pulls Date in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Altintop Palonesess showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Date wants to clinch up but Palonesess keeps it at a distance.
Date tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Palonesess throws out a counter right but Date avoids it with no problem.
Palonesess misses with a two punch combination.
Date swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Palonesess circles away from the clinch attempt.

Date instigates a clinch.
Palonesess drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Date gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Date.

Palonesess breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Palonesess looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Date is looking to clinch but Palonesess is avoiding it.
Palonesess is trying hard to land a takedown here. Date sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Masamune Date has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Altintop Palonesess.
Palonesess with a lazy takedown attempt
and Date counters with a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Palonesess gets a clinch.
Date is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Date gets underhooks to prevent Palonesess's takedown attempt.
Date looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Date just leaning against Palonesess, taking a breather.
Date wants to break free but Palonesess has control.
Date stalling the fight.
Date misses with the head strike.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Date creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Date swings wildly with an uppercut but Palonesess uses good head movement to avoid it.
Date displaying some good clinch control by pressing Palonesess up against the cage.
Date misses with a hook from the clinch.
Masamune Date has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Palonesess pulls guard.
Palonesess is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Date is controlling him.
Palonesess seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Date wants to stand but Palonesess is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palonesess looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

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.
Palonesess dives in for a single leg takedown but Date sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Date motions for Palonesess to come forward. Date throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Date tries to clinch but Palonesess moves out of range.

Date gets caught napping as Palonesess dives in and scores a takedown. Date manages to retain guard.
Palonesess sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Date managing to control the position.
Palonesess controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Masamune Date showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Palonesess 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Altintop Palonesess!
Altintop Palonesess seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.