PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Denzel Palmer (ranked 1827 p4p, 2335 weight class) and Nate Masvidal (ranked 251 p4p, 318 weight class). Nate Masvidal has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Palmer
vs
Masvidal

193 cm
20
179
3 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
185
6 - 4 - 1

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Arcticus University: London
Threads of HARDCORE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Denzel Palmer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 1, fighting out of London, Nate Masvidal!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Eliza Hachem and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palmer throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Masvidal counters with a straight right hand.
Palmer definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Denzel Palmer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Palmer staying out of range there.
Masvidal throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Palmer looking to score a takedown here. Masvidal is defending well but Palmer drives through and ends up in Masvidal's guard.
Palmer throws a big right hand that misses.
Masvidal utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Masvidal is looking to stand up but Palmer isn't so interested in that idea.
Palmer missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Masvidal controlling the position.
Palmer postures up in Masvidal's guard and throws a big left but Masvidal blocks it.
Palmer won't allow Masvidal to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Palmer tries to free his leg and advance position but Masvidal is retaining full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Palmer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Masvidal pulls Palmer in to control the position.
Palmer has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Palmer stopping the sweep attempt from Masvidal.

Masvidal has his feet on Palmer's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer slips a jab and a cross from Masvidal.
Palmer scores with a hook to the body. Masvidal takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Palmer throws a leg kick
and Masvidal connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Masvidal slips under a jab from Palmer.
Palmer fails to land the takedown.
Masvidal checks the leg kick nicely there.
Masvidal misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Masvidal takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Palmer dives in for a single leg takedown but Masvidal sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Palmer misses with a straight left.
Palmer really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Palmer dives in for a single leg takedown but Masvidal sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Masvidal swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Denzel Palmer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice uppercut there from Masvidal.
Palmer just misses with a punch to the body.
Masvidal misses with a hook. Palmer ducked under it nicely.
Masvidal blocks a head kick by Palmer.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Palmer changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Masvidal tries to avoid it but Palmer manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Masvidal to the ground. Masvidal escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmer shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Masvidal but Masvidal pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Masvidal jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Palmer jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Masvidal throws the left hand but Palmer avoids the punch easily.
Palmer ducks under a wild hook from Masvidal.
Palmer ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Masvidal moves away.
Palmer throws a series of punches but Masvidal avoids them all with ease.
Palmer shoots in looking for a takedown. Masvidal tries to sprawl out of it but Palmer keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Masvidal manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Palmer misses with a body shot.
Masvidal moves away from the strike by Palmer.
Masvidal looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Nice defenses there by Palmer.
Masvidal scores with a nice right hand.

Masvidal gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Masvidal is looking to stand up but Palmer isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masvidal seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Palmer cracks Masvidal with a solid left hand.
Masvidal utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Palmer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Masvidal manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Palmer manages to get himself to full guard.

Masvidal won't allow Palmer to sweep him here.

Palmer is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Masvidal defends well.
Masvidal told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

Palmer is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Palmer looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Masvidal looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Palmer manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Masvidal manages to get himself to full guard.

Masvidal trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nate Masvidal will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A big left from Masvidal misses.
Masvidal slaps away a takedown attempt from Palmer, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Palmer lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Masvidal has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Masvidal and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Masvidal cracks Palmer with a good jab.
Palmer throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nice straight punches there by Palmer. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Palmer.
Palmer throws out a loose jab but Masvidal uses good head movement to avoid it.

Palmer shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Masvidal napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Palmer wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Masvidal, who protects the arm well.

Palmer tries for a kimura but Masvidal is defending well.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Palmer misses with the ground and pound.
Masvidal manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Denzel Palmer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masvidal keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Palmer thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Masvidal's head.
Palmer slips a nice elbow through Masvidal's hands, connecting with Masvidal's forehead.
Masvidal regains full guard. Nicely done.
Masvidal pulls Palmer in to control the position.
Palmer prevents Masvidal from getting back to his feet.
Masvidal 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.
Masvidal is looking to stand back up but Palmer counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Masvidal.
Palmer thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Masvidal's head.
Palmer missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Palmer missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Masvidal moves into full guard.
Masvidal working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Palmer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masvidal avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Palmer is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Palmer drops back looking for a leg! Masvidal is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Masvidal manages to kick Palmer off! Palmer jumps back into Masvidal's guard.
Masvidal wants to get back to his feet but Palmer is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Palmer lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Masvidal preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Masvidal is trying to keep Palmer in close.
Palmer is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Palmer is looking to stand up but Masvidal won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Palmer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Masvidal has a closed guard, preventing Palmer from standing up.
Masvidal trying to control the position.
Palmer postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Palmer scoring with some ground and pound.
Masvidal not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Palmer connects with a couple of short punches.
Palmer is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Masvidal is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Palmer presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Palmer pulls Masvidal into guard.

Palmer is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Masvidal sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Palmer is looking for a triangle but Masvidal pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Masvidal controlling from the top position.

Masvidal gets to his feet - Palmer follows without any prompting.
Palmer avoids a punch combination nicely.

Palmer shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Masvidal's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Masvidal has his hands on Palmer's head, controlling the position.
Palmer throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denzel Palmer dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Palmer gets a double leg takedown into Masvidal's guard.
Masvidal wants to get back to his feet but Palmer passes into half guard.

Palmer thows a huge punch but Masvidal dodges it nicely.
Palmer throwing shots but Masvidal is blocking nicely.
Palmer seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Palmer not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Masvidal missing with punches from the bottom.
Palmer missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Palmer prevents Masvidal from standing back up.
Masvidal is doing well to control the position and prevent Palmer from advancing to side control.

Masvidal kicks off Palmer and gets to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Palmer shoots for a takedown but Masvidal saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Palmer takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Masvidal shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Palmer eats them both and turns towards Masvidal to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Masvidal stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Masvidal wants it to stay on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A telegraphed right hand from Masvidal misses the target.
Palmer is trying hard to land a takedown here. Masvidal sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Denzel Palmer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Masvidal looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Palmer shoots in for a takedown but Masvidal shows good takedown defense.
A combination from Masvidal does no damage.
Masvidal jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Palmer throws a leg kick that is checked
and Masvidal cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Palmer is rocked!
Masvidal pounces like a tiger and cracks Palmer with a vicious hook! Palmer is down but not out! Masvidal follows up with more strikes forcing the ref to jump in and stop it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Nate Masvidal!