PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mihail Gaina (ranked 4066 p4p, 3173 weight class) and Cole Palmer (ranked 297 p4p, 0 weight class). Palmer is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Cold Palmer. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gaina
vs
Palmer

176 cm
25
150
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
155
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid 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 St Petersburg, Mihail Gaina!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Cole Palmer!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Dmitry Maklakov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palmer dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gaina. That did some damage!

Palmer has managed to clinch.

Palmer breaks from the clinch.

Palmer clinches up against the cage.

Palmer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Gaina has taken the fight to the clinch.
Palmer is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gaina pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Palmer lands a right hand.
Palmer is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Gaina is defending well.

Palmer breaks from the clinch.

Palmer gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Palmer lands an elbow inside that Gaina shrugs off.
Palmer lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Mihail Gaina has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gaina takes an elbow to the forehead.
Palmer lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Gaina fails to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Palmer breaks the clinch.
Gaina avoids a kick to the body.
Palmer throws a nice looking combination but Gaina bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cole Palmer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gaina throws a nice looking combination but Palmer bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Palmer follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Palmer scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Gaina tries to clinch but Palmer moves out of range.
Palmer with a nice calf kick.

Palmer moves into the clinch.
Palmer working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Palmer lands an elbow inside that Gaina shrugs off.
Palmer controlling the action here for a moment.
Palmer lands an elbow inside.

Gaina breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Palmer clinches with his opponent.
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!
A nice glancing elbow lands by Palmer.
Gaina misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Gaina has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Palmer is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Palmer breaks from the clinch.
Gaina fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mihail Gaina. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Palmer rushes Gaina and presses him up against the cage.

Palmer escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Gaina feints and as Palmer raises his hands in defense, Gaina changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gaina sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Palmer's guard.
Gaina is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaina winds up and cracks Palmer with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Palmer trying to control here.
Gaina takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Palmer is trying is best to control the position here.
Palmer is staying active underneath Gaina, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gaina trying to pass the guard but Palmer defending well.
We've been informed that Palmer has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Gaina passes to full mount!
Gaina tries to control but Palmer wriggling away.
Palmer wants to hold on but Gaina pushes him away.
Gaina lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cole Palmer dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mihail Gaina's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Palmer clinches up against the cage.

Palmer breaks the clinch.

Palmer moves into the clinch.
Cole Palmer seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Palmer lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Palmer manages to break the clinch.
Gaina has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Gaina misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mihail Gaina is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gaina shoots in for a double leg but Palmer sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Palmer rushes Gaina and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Palmer lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
The referee calls for Palmer to work.

Palmer escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer digs a good hook to Gaina's body.
Gaina digs a good body shot into Palmer's ribs.
Palmer throws a nice looking combination but Gaina bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Palmer takes the fight into the clinch.
Nice body punch from Palmer.
Palmer trying to land knees to the body.
Gaina is trying to force a seperation but Palmer has the dominant position.

Palmer's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Palmer has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Palmer rushes Gaina and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Gaina escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Palmer gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Palmer leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Palmer escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gaina tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Palmer plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Palmer pushes Gaina up against the cage in a clinch.
Gaina is trying to pull guard but Palmer turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mihail Gaina. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gaina tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Palmer avoids it.
Gaina has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Palmer is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Gaina goes for a takedown attempt but Palmer pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Palmer throws a head kick that misses.
Cole Palmer seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Palmer gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Palmer pushes Gaina off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaina goes for a double leg but Palmer avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Palmer continues to drive forward.
Palmer throws a counter combo.

Palmer's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Gaina looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Palmer avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gaina looking to pass the guard.

Gaina stands up from Palmer's guard - Gaina perhaps looking for a knockout.
Palmer scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Palmer rushes Gaina and presses him up against the cage.
Palmer dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Palmer avoiding damage.
The crowd are getting on Palmer's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Palmer works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gaina is trying to pull guard but Palmer turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Palmer jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Gaina walks away with a smile on his face. Palmer gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gaina tries to clinch up but Palmer circles away and keeps his distance.
Despite the aggression on Palmer's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Gaina shoots in but no luck this time.
Palmer is looking for the big counter here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cole Palmer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mihail Gaina's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Palmer closes the distance and pushes Gaina back into the cage.

Palmer breaks the clinch.
Palmer misses with a head kick.
Palmer digs a good body shot into Gaina's ribs.
Gaina shoots in looking for a takedown. Palmer tries to sprawl out of it but Gaina keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Palmer manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gaina dives in and grabs Palmer's left leg, looking for a takedown. Palmer pushes down on Gaina's head and hops out.
Gaina takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Gaina as Palmer shoots in.
Palmer tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gaina sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Palmer somewhat.
Gaina doesn't manage to clinch there - Palmer circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaina takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Gaina misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Palmer lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mihail Gaina. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gaina looks for a takedown but Palmer sprawls well.
Gaina throws a low kick but Palmer avoids it.
Gaina with a lazy takedown attempt
and Palmer counters with a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gaina takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Nice takedown defense from Palmer. No joy for Gaina on that attempt.
Gaina walks forward, straight into a front kick from Palmer.

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

Palmer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaina throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Palmer misses with a takedown attempt - Gaina sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Palmer has managed to clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Palmer breaks the clinch.

Palmer rushes Gaina and presses him up against the cage.

Palmer's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Palmer lands with a slapping head kick.
Gaina showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Palmer.

Palmer gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Palmer breaks from the clinch.

Gaina has Palmer up against the cage in a clinch.
Gaina fails to pull guard.

Palmer manages to break the clinch.
Gaina doesn't manage to clinch there - Palmer circles away.
Gaina blocks a head kick by Palmer.

Palmer drives through and clinches with Gaina against the cage.
Gaina jumps guard but Palmer turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Gaina tries to break the clinch but Palmer is controlling the position.
Palmer lands an elbow inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Palmer.
Palmer taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Palmer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Gaina drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gaina is standing up over Palmer. Palmer looks to escape but Gaina dives into side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Palmer can do anything to dispel that myth.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Gaina is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Palmer knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Gaina wants to lay and pray for a moment but Palmer keeps working.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cole Palmer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Palmer winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cole Palmer!
Post fight, Cole Palmer stared into the camera and said 'Thats why they call me Cold Palmer innit.'.