PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Khaba Furgusen (ranked 2686 p4p, 5501 weight class) and Alex Palmer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Furgusen
vs
Palmer

220 cm
26
265
4 - 3 - 0

198 cm
26
265
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Khaba Furgusen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Alex Palmer!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Bart Greer and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Furgusen misses with a straight right.
Furgusen throws a body shot but no joy.
Furgusen slaps away a takedown attempt from Palmer, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Furgusen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Good shot there by Furgusen.

Furgusen has managed to clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Furgusen fails to land.

Palmer breaks the clinch.

Furgusen shoots in and gets a takedown into Palmer's guard.
Furgusen preventing the sweep.
Furgusen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Furgusen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

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

Palmer has his foot on Furgusen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Furgusen works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Palmer is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Palmer is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Palmer throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Palmer has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Furgusen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Palmer is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Palmer is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Furgusen has managed to free his arm - good work.
Furgusen is looking for a sweep. Palmer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Furgusen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Furgusen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Furgusen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Palmer.
Furgusen looking for a sweep. Not yet Furgusen, not yet.
Furgusen is trying to control the position but Palmer postures up.

Palmer is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Furgusen is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Furgusen has escaped and now he's on top!

Palmer has momentary wrist control but Furgusen slips an elbow through the middle.
Furgusen connects with a couple of short punches.
Furgusen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Furgusen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Furgusen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Palmer's head.
Our spies down at at Island Training Centre inform us that Palmer has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Furgusen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Palmer manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Furgusen manages to get himself to full guard.

Furgusen 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 drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Palmer jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Palmer drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Palmer jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Palmer is looking to work some ground and pound but Furgusen has wrist control.
Furgusen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Palmer with a flurry of punches that miss.
Furgusen looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Palmer throws a big right hand that misses.
Furgusen is trying to keep Palmer in close.
Palmer preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Palmer is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Palmer thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Palmer looks winded!
Furgusen wants to sweep here but Palmer controlling him for the moment.
Palmer is looking to work some ground and pound but Furgusen has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Furgusen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Furgusen is trying to keep Palmer in close.
Furgusen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Palmer is one step ahead there.
Palmer throws a big elbow that misses.
Furgusen controls Palmer momentarily but Palmer frees himself.
Furgusen wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Khaba Furgusen will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Furgusen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Palmer shoots for a double leg takedown but Furgusen sprawls well. He's pushed Palmer's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Furgusen leaning against his opponent.
Furgusen content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Palmer has had enough of the clinch but Furgusen keeps him there for the moment.
Palmer wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Furgusen has him pressed against the cage.
Furgusen is pressed up against the cage. Palmer has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Furgusen down to the mat. Furgusen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Palmer fails with a takedown attempt.
Furgusen feinted with a counter takedown.
Khaba Furgusen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Palmer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Furgusen. No joy for Palmer on that attempt.
Furgusen lands a jab.
Palmer shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Furgusen as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Palmer fails to land with a series of punches.
Furgusen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Palmer shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Furgusen defends it nicely.
Palmer is breathing heavily.
Palmer showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Furgusen.

Furgusen instigates a clinch.
Furgusen misses with a body punch.
Palmer doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Palmer jumps guard and drags Furgusen to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Furgusen landing with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Furgusen connects with a couple of short punches.
Furgusen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Furgusen slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
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!
Furgusen working the ground and pound from side control.
Furgusen working the ground and pound.
Palmer is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Palmer looks like he's trying to stand up.
Furgusen seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Palmer is rocked!
Furgusen scores with a big shot! Palmer's head bounced off the canvas with a huge thud! More strikes land and the referee has jumped in to save Palmer! He was hurt real bad - good stoppage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Khaba Furgusen!