PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lupe Mejia (ranked 7338 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Palmer (ranked 6360 p4p, 477 weight class). Palmer has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Mejia
vs
Palmer

159 cm
19
214 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Lupe Mejia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, John Palmer!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Steven Brown and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mejia fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Palmer has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Palmer fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Mejia has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Palmer will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Palmer looks winded!
Palmer throws a body kick that misses
and Mejia counters with a solid body kick.

Mejia pushes Palmer up against the cage in a clinch.

Mejia has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Palmer uses from the top position.

Mejia has his feet on Palmer's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Mejia misses with a two punch combination.
Palmer looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Mejia throws a big counter combination but Palmer scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Palmer misses with the body kick
and Mejia counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head kick misses from Palmer.

Mejia darts in and clinches Palmer up against the cage.

Mejia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mejia really is a fat lump.
Palmer throws a leg kick that is checked
and Mejia counters with a three punch combo that has Palmer backing up. Palmer nods at Mejia to acknowledge the strikes.
Palmer misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mejia misses with a series of wild punches.
Palmer misses with a head kick.
Sloppy strikes from Mejia. Those never looked like landing.
Palmer steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Mejia feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Palmer's calf.
Palmer slips a jab and a cross from Mejia.
Mejia fails to land with a series of punches.
John Palmer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A right-left combo lands from Mejia.
Palmer wants to clinch
and Mejia counters with a nice leg kick.
Mejia avoids the head kick by Palmer.
As Palmer tries to get set, Mejia tries to push him back and clinch up but Palmer manages to avoid the attempt.
Palmer tried to score with a low kick but Mejia checks it.
Mejia is looking for a counter combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Mejia forces Palmer back against the cage and clinches.
Mejia drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Palmer gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Palmer tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mejia's elbow.
Mejia jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Palmer walks away with a smile on his face. Mejia gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
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!

Mejia clinches up with Palmer and pushes him back against the cage.
Mejia's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Palmer can't find room to land a body shot as Mejia controls the action.
Palmer struggles to land a body shot inside as Mejia controls his hands.

Mejia manages to pull guard.

Mejia wriggles free and stands up.
Palmer misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Palmer.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Mejia. Palmer shrugs it off though.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Mejia stalls.
Palmer tries to work over Mejia's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mejia drops down looking for an ankle pick but Palmer pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lupe Mejia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mejia looks to land a combination but Palmer avoids it well.
No joy there for Mejia, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Palmer throws a head kick that misses.

Mejia fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Palmer, pushing him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mejia tries to pull guard but Palmer holds him up against the cage and eventually Mejia drops back down to his feet.
Mejia jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Palmer walks away with a smile on his face. Mejia gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Palmer tries a head kick but it misses.
Mejia comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Palmer misses with a kick to the body
and Mejia counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Mejia avoids the head kick by Palmer.
Mejia seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Palmer throws a body kick that misses
and Mejia counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A head kick misses from Palmer.
As Palmer looks to move away, Mejia throws a big counter combo but Palmer just gets out of the way.
Palmer takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

Mejia moves into the clinch.
Palmer lands a hook that snaps the head of Mejia backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lupe Mejia dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Palmer takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Palmer throws a series of punches but Mejia moves out of range.
Palmer misses with a body punch
and Mejia counters with a series of strikes. Palmer will be more careful next time no doubt.
Mejia avoids the body shot from Palmer.
Mejia seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Palmer throws a push kick but Mejia slaps the foot to one side.
As Palmer looks to move away, Mejia throws a big counter combo but Palmer just gets out of the way.
Mejia throws a quick inside leg kick.

Mejia has closed the distance and engaged Palmer in a clinch.
Mejia has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

Mejia jumps into guard, dragging Palmer to the mat.

Mejia pushes Palmer off and gets back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A chopping leg kick lands by Mejia.
Palmer is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mejia moves out of range as Palmer throws a body kick.
Danga de danga de dang - Mejia scores with a four punch combination!
Lupe Mejia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Palmer throws a leg kick but Mejia checks it.

Mejia clinches up against the cage.

Mejia pulls guard successfully.
Mejia seems keen to control Palmer's posture.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Mejia manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Mejia is trying to trip Palmer. He has hold of a leg but Palmer is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Mejia persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Palmer wants to get back to his feet but Mejia passes into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Mejia seems to be working for a kimura but Palmer defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mejia performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Mejia is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Palmer is just riding it out for now. Mejia eventually gives up the hold.
Mejia is nestled in close to Palmer, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mejia lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Mejia is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mejia is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Palmer has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mejia is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Well, if Mejia is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Mejia's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lupe Mejia dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Palmer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Palmer thows a leg kick but Mejia checks it
and Mejia counters with a two punch combo.
Palmer throws a half hearted mid kick.
Palmer takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Mejia is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Palmer can do to turn this around?
Mejia throws a sloppy head kick and Palmer moves out of range easily.
Mejia scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Mejia jumps guard but Palmer stands there with Mejia around his waist. Mejia gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mejia has had enough of the clinch but Palmer keeps him there for the moment.

Mejia successfully pulls guard.
Palmer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Mejia pushes Palmer off and gets back to his feet.
Mejia is looking to wear down Palmer with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Palmer misses with a hook to the body
and Mejia counters with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Mejia. That's going to slow Palmer down.
Palmer wants to clinch up but Mejia keeps it at a distance.

Mejia darts in and clinches Palmer up against the cage.
Mejia tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Palmer just stands there and leans against the cage.
Palmer gets through Mejia's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Mejia is trying to break the clinch but Palmer has him pressed against the cage.
Palmer tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mejia jumps guard but Palmer stands there with Mejia around his waist. Mejia gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lupe Mejia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Palmer fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mejia has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Palmer avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Mejia gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Palmer is wriggling around but Mejia manages to pass to half guard.
Lupe Mejia overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mejia is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Mejia in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Palmer tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Mejia!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Lupe Mejia!