PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hrvoje Palmotic (ranked 1317 p4p, 1492 weight class) and Drax Bautista (ranked 187 p4p, 204 weight class). Palmotic comes to the cage accompanied by One day I'll be king. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Palmotic
vs
Bautista

189 cm
31
205
19 - 13 - 0

190 cm
36
209
26 - 19 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

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 19 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hrvoje Palmotic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Drax Bautista!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palmotic lunges at Bautista with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Bautista's hand.

It looks like Drax Bautista has been cut.

Palmotic drops Bautista with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Bautista looks back up at him and smiles so Palmotic waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Bautista is rocked!
Palmotic seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Palmotic throws a right hand that misses
and Bautista counters with a straight right hand.
Bautista is still on wobbly legs! Can Palmotic finish him?
Palmotic works Bautista's body with a nice hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Palmotic thumps Bautista with a low kick.
Bautista seems to have recovered his senses.
Palmotic throws a jab but it's blocked by Bautista.
Bautista let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
A swing and a miss from Palmotic.
Palmotic attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Bautista walks into a jab.
Palmotic throws a nice outside leg kick.
Bautista throws a jab but it's blocked by Palmotic.
Palmotic misses with an uppercut
and Bautista counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmotic misses with a hook. Bautista ducked under it nicely.
A little jabbing left from Bautista on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Bautista scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Bautista.
Hrvoje Palmotic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Palmotic thows a leg kick but Bautista checks it
and Bautista cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The fighters circling - Palmotic throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Palmotic bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Bautista's head backwards.
Palmotic misses with a hook to the body
and Bautista counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Palmotic misses with a hook.
Bautista throws out a counter right but Palmotic avoids it with no problem.
Palmotic staying out of range there.
Bautista avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Bautista swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmotic misses the jab.
Bautista looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bautista misses with a hook. Palmotic ducked under it nicely.
Palmotic misses with a jab to the body
and Bautista counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Palmotic pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A telegraphed right hand from Bautista misses the target.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bautista misses with a kick to the body
and Palmotic makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Palmotic throws a lazy body kick
and Bautista cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Palmotic throws a body kick that misses
letting Bautista counter with a right hand.

Palmotic lands a big right hand that sends Bautista crashing to the mat! Palmotic stays standing though and waves Bautista back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmotic punishes Bautista's body with a nice straight punch.
Bautista takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Bautista appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Bautista has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Palmotic takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Bautista checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Nice defenses there by Palmotic.
As Bautista backs away, Palmotic returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Palmotic misses with a head kick.
Bautista slips a jab from Palmotic.
Palmotic gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Palmotic takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bautista keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bautista takes a jab right on the kisser.
Palmotic finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Bautista appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Palmotic throws a solid leg kick but Bautista takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Palmotic.
Bautista throws out a counter right but Palmotic avoids it with no problem.
Bautista avoids a kick to the body.
Palmotic throws a nice inside leg kick.
A solid body kick from Palmotic.
Bautista avoids a kick to the body.
A little jabbing left from Bautista on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Palmotic throws a lazy uppercut
and Palmotic takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Palmotic throws a right hand that misses
letting Bautista counter with a right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hrvoje Palmotic dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Drax Bautista's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Palmotic throws a lazy uppercut
and Bautista counters with a nice uppercut.
Palmotic throws a quick inside leg kick.
A big left from Bautista misses.
Bautista connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Palmotic misses with a right hand
and Bautista counters with a right hand to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Bautista.
Palmotic with the inside leg kick.
Hrvoje Palmotic is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Palmotic misses with an uppercut
letting Bautista counter with a right hand.
Palmotic misses the body punch
and Bautista finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Palmotic shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bautista looks to throw the jab but Palmotic is out of range.
Bautista takes one on the button.
Palmotic throws a hook but Bautista avoids it easily.
Palmotic takes a swing at Bautista's ribcage but misses.
Bautista checks the leg kick nicely there.
Palmotic scores with a spinning back kick!
Bautista throws a body shot but no joy.
Palmotic misses with a kick to the body
and Palmotic takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Palmotic misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bautista throws a shot to the body.
A big right from Bautista misses.
Palmotic misses with a kick to the body
letting Bautista counter with a right hand.
Palmotic pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Palmotic throws a body kick that misses
and Bautista counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Palmotic misses the body punch
and Bautista cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Palmotic misses with a hook to the body
and Bautista connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Palmotic looks to throw a body kick
and Bautista cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Palmotic looks to land a combination. Bautista sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bautista jabs Palmotic right on the nose. Palmotic blinks but takes it well.
Palmotic throws a body punch but Bautista moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Palmotic. Bautista does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bautista looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Palmotic throws a leg kick
and Bautista counters with an outside leg kick.
Palmotic misses with a kick to the body.
Palmotic loads up on a big right hand but Bautista slips the punch.
Palmotic displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bautista throws out the jab.
Palmotic throws a right hand that misses
and Bautista counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmotic misses with an uppercut.
Bautista tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Palmotic cracks Bautista with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Bautista looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Palmotic finish him?
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!
Palmotic throws a combination that misses
enabling Bautista to counter with a crisp jab.
A lazy left from Bautista finds it's target.
Palmotic lands the left hand.
A lazy body kick from Palmotic
and Bautista counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Bautista.
Palmotic moves out of range as Bautista strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Drax Bautista will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Drax Bautista's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Palmotic swings widly with a right hand
and Palmotic takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Palmotic throws a lazy uppercut
and Bautista counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bautista walks into a left hand.
Palmotic avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bautista fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Palmotic cracks Bautista with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Palmotic has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Bautista to stand back up!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Palmotic pushes Bautista away with a front kick.
Palmotic throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Bautista counters with a stiff right hand.
Bautista is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Palmotic.
Palmotic appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmotic looks to score with a jab to the body but Bautista is just out of range.
Palmotic misses with a left hand
and Bautista counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Palmotic wants to land a leg kick but Bautista is out of range.
Bautista swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A jab from Palmotic misses.
Bautista keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Palmotic throws a lazy right hand but Bautista sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bautista counters with a body kick.
Bautista connects with the punch.
Bautista blocks a head kick by Palmotic.
Bautista swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmotic checks a low kick from Bautista.
Palmotic waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bautista.
Palmotic is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bautista can do to turn this around?
Palmotic lands a nice looking body kick.
Palmotic misses the shot to the body.
Palmotic misses with a two punch combination.
Palmotic misses with a shot to the body
and Bautista counters with a thumping low kick.
Bautista looks to throw the jab but Palmotic is out of range.
Palmotic is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Bautista is looking to land body kicks.
Bautista moves out of range of the body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmotic throws a lazy uppercut
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Bautista lands a slapping body shot.
Palmotic throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bautista takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Palmotic uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bautista.
Bautista staying out of range there.
Bautista let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Palmotic looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Palmotic connects with a right hand. Bautista shakes it off.
Palmotic moves out of range of the body kick from Bautista.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmotic is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bautista.
Palmotic throws a lazy body kick
and Bautista counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Palmotic throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Palmotic throws a right hand that misses
and Bautista counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Palmotic fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Bautista is out of range.
Bautista throws out a counter right but Palmotic avoids it with no problem.
Palmotic keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Palmotic throws a lazy uppercut
and Bautista counters with a right hand to the body.
Good shot there by Palmotic.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hrvoje Palmotic showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Palmotic has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hrvoje Palmotic!
Hrvoje Palmotic thanked the fans post fight for their support.