PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cole Palmer (ranked 2807 p4p, 4177 weight class) and Daniel Laruso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Palmer's entrance music is Cold Palmer. A fine choice. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Palmer
vs
Laruso

175 cm
25
155
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
160
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Cole Palmer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Daniel Laruso!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Paul Gruel and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laruso fakes the leg kick and cracks Palmer in the body.
Sloppy strikes from Palmer. Those never looked like landing.
Laruso throws the kick towards the body but Palmer avoids it.
Laruso works Palmer's body with a nice hook.
A head kick from Palmer lands but Laruso takes it in his stride.
Palmer tries to clinch up but Laruso circles away and keeps his distance.
Palmer tries a head kick but it misses.
Palmer connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Palmer connects with the punch.
Daniel Laruso seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Laruso connects with a right hand. Palmer shakes it off.

Laruso gets a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Palmer wants to get back to striking at distance but Laruso won't allow it.
Laruso throws a head punch that misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Laruso.
Palmer tries to work over Laruso's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Palmer controlling the action here for a moment.
Palmer tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Palmer takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Laruso lands a hook to the side of the head.
Laruso tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Palmer's elbow.
Laruso has Palmer pushed against the cage.
Palmer prevents a takedown attempt there.
Palmer wants to get back to striking at distance but Laruso won't allow it.
Palmer has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Palmer is trying to force a seperation but Laruso has the dominant position.
Laruso blocking some punches.

Laruso breaks the clinch.
Palmer takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Palmer lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Daniel Laruso has been cut.
Palmer tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Laruso counters with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmer moves forwards but Laruso connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Palmer walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Laruso works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Laruso misses with the combination.
Laruso takes a kick to the side of the head.
Palmer displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Laruso.
Laruso throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Palmer counters with a three punch combo that has Laruso backing up. Laruso nods at Palmer to acknowledge the strikes.
Laruso throws a head kick that Palmer semi-blocks.
Palmer lands a high kick!
Palmer tries to clinch there but Laruso circles away.
A swing and a miss from Laruso.

Palmer has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmer is looking to break free of the clinch but Laruso has double underhooks.
Laruso stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Laruso throws a head punch that misses.
Palmer tries to pull guard but Laruso won't allow it.
Palmer blocks the elbow strike.
Laruso misses with a punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Laruso.
Palmer throws an elbow that misses.

Palmer manages to break the clinch.
Laruso thuds his right hand into Palmer's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Laruso misses with a straight right.
Palmer sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Good exchange - Laruso coming out on top.
Palmer darts in looking for a takedown but Laruso gets double underhooks and turns Palmer into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cole Palmer. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laruso misses with a punch on the inside.
Laruso misses with a hook from the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Palmer just misses with a elbow thrown towards Laruso's brow.

Palmer escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Laruso has a takedown stuffed.

Laruso gets tackled into the cage by Palmer. Palmer maintains the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Laruso breaks from the clinch.
Palmer misses with the combination.
Palmer checks the leg kick nicely there.
Laruso takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Palmer walks into a straight right hand from Laruso.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Daniel Laruso will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Daniel Laruso's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Laruso takes the fight into the clinch.

Palmer breaks from the clinch.
Palmer throws a lazy head kick
and Laruso counters with a straight right hand.
Palmer 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 body kick that digs right into the meat.
Laruso lands a right hook to the body.

Laruso rushes Palmer and presses him up against the cage.
Palmer creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A left hand lands to the body for Laruso.
Laruso stalling in the clinch but Palmer improves position.
Laruso tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Laruso gets a nice trip takedown 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!
Laruso missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Palmer is looking to improve his position.
Laruso has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Laruso trying to control the action but Palmer is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laruso throwing shots but Palmer is blocking nicely.
Laruso is trying to control the action in half guard but Palmer is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Still in half guard, Laruso seems content to control.
Laruso throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Palmer is trying to stand back up but Laruso is controlling him

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Laruso throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Palmer walks into a jab.
Palmer is looking to clinch.
Laruso doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Laruso throws a sloppy head kick and Palmer moves out of range easily.

Laruso rushes Palmer and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Palmer lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Palmer is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Laruso keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Palmer's efforts to push away.
Daniel Laruso seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Laruso lands with a light punch inside.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Palmer wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Palmer breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laruso will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Laruso tries to score a power double leg takedown but Palmer sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Laruso somewhat.
Laruso is breathing heavily.

Palmer has Laruso up against the cage in a clinch.

Palmer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Laruso has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Laruso misses with a body kick.
Laruso misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Palmer.
Palmer defending well as Laruso loads up on a big left hand.
Laruso wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laruso throws a low kick, looking for Palmer's leg but Palmer calmly moves out of range.

Palmer clinches up against the cage.
Laruso taking a breather.
Palmer has a couple of punches blocked by Laruso.
Laruso blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Laruso has a couple of punches blocked by Palmer.
Palmer scores a nice knee to the body.
Palmer taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Laruso tries to score a body lock takedown but Palmer shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cole Palmer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Laruso.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Palmer.

Palmer breaks from the clinch.
Laruso gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Palmer counters with a series of strikes. Laruso will be more careful next time no doubt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Laruso takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Laruso moves into range and clinches up with Palmer.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Daniel Laruso will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Daniel Laruso's cut.
That's time! Palmer's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Laruso finds himself stumbling back on wobbly legs after being clipped by a right hand. He's up against the cage, ducking and weaving under Palmer's strikes but an uppercut finds it's way through and Laruso falls! - He's completely out of it and the ref jumps in to save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Cole Palmer!
Cole Palmer took some time post fight to say the following; 'Thats why they call me Cold Palmer innit.'.