PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roy Palmer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bret Hart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hart comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Vertigo - U2 kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Palmer
vs
Hart

180 cm
24
188 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

180 cm
26
198 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Roy Palmer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bret Hart!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Yves DeLean and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palmer looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hart misses with an uppercut.

Palmer shoots in and bounces Hart off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Palmer with a flurry of punches that miss.
Palmer stopping the sweep attempt from Hart.
Hart looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Palmer wants to control from the top but Hart keeps moving.
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 drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hart manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Palmer has Hart in his guard.
Palmer wants to stand and escape but Hart is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hart lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Palmer wants to get back to his feet but Hart is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Palmer on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Palmer tries to get out of the position.
Hart missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Palmer wants to stand and escape but Hart is having none of it.
Hart is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hart advances position into side control!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Hart trying to control the action but Palmer is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hart landing strikes.
Hart lands a decent elbow from side control.
Hart lands an elbow.
Hart lands a decent elbow from side control.
Palmer tries to escape but Hart is in control.
Hart scores with punches from side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hart cracks Palmer with a big elbow.
Hart lands an elbow.
Palmer tries to escape but Hart is in control.
Hart creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Palmer on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Palmer is rocked!
Hart lands a nice forearm strike.
Oh Palmer is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Palmer tries to escape but Hart is in control.
Palmer is working to avoid the ground and pound but Hart connects with a decent elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmer wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hart moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Palmer seems to have got his legs back now.
Palmer taking a bit of punishment here - Hart scoring with strikes.

Hart is trying to get an arm triangle but Palmer is defending well.
Palmer is trying to get back to his feet.
Hart lands a decent elbow from side control.
Palmer is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmer is trying to get back to his feet.
Hart lands a decent elbow from side control.
Hart is chipping away with strikes.
Hart taking a break here but Palmer is having none of it and regains half guard.
Hart is looking to take a break and control but Palmer is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ground and pound from Hart.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Palmer pushes Hart off looking to stand but Hart dives back in and keeps control.
Hart seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hart trying to mount his opponent but Palmer defends it.
Hart prevents Palmer from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bret Hart dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Palmer shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hart with a nice cross.
Hart connects with a body shot.
Hart fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Palmer manages to avoid it.
Palmer ducks under a wild hook from Hart.
Palmer with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hart to score with a decent uppercut.

It looks like Roy Palmer has been cut.
Palmer keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Palmer shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hart is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Palmer wants to control but Hart is keeping him busy.
Hart has his hands clasped together around Palmer's back. He's all about the action.

Palmer is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hart has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hart is trying to control but can't.

Palmer is looking for a kimura but Hart is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Palmer to get the leverage.

Palmer is looking for a kimura but Hart is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Palmer to get the leverage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hart misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hart throws a jab when Palmer was well out of range.
Hart shoots in for a takedown but Palmer shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Hart drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hart must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Palmer pushes Hart off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
A slow jab from Hart misses its intended target.
Hart throws a big shot that misses.
Hart with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hart fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Palmer manages to avoid it.
Hart throws a jab but it's blocked by Palmer.
Roy Palmer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Palmer has his takedown stuffed

and Hart counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Palmer's guard now.
Bret Hart has got the better of the ground game so far.

Palmer is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Hart can't get the takedown.
Palmer misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hart is trying to break free.
Palmer misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hart.

Hart breaks the clinch.

Palmer gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hart.
Palmer can't find room to land a body shot as Hart controls the action.
With the fighters up against the cage, Palmer throws an elbow but misses.
Palmer prevents the takedown attempt.
Roy Palmer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bret Hart.
Palmer landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Hart avoiding damage as Palmer throws knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hart as Palmer tries to tie him up.

Hart's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bret Hart seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hart closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hart is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Palmer looks like he's trying to stand up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Palmer kicks Hart off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bret Hart showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Roy Palmer's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Palmer staying out of range there.
Hart swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hart just misses with a punch to the body.
Hart misses with a looping left.
Palmer gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hart counters with a straight right hand.
Palmer has his takedown stuffed
and Hart counters with a straight right hand.
Palmer doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hart counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roy Palmer. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hart is controlling him.
Hart looking to sit in guard and control but Palmer gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hart is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Palmer postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Hart is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Palmer, into his guard.
Palmer wants to get back to his feet but Hart is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hart stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Palmer swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hart postures up in Palmer's guard and throws a big left but Palmer blocks it.
Hart chips away with some ground and pound.
Hart wants to pass the guard but Palmer is keeping the position.
Palmer is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hart is controlling him.
Hart has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hart trying to control the position from guard on top but Palmer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Palmer with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hart to score with a decent uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hart throws and low kick but Palmer moves out of range easily.
Hart takes a swing at Palmer's ribcage but misses.
Hart throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Palmer drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hart has control of Palmer's left arm, preventing Palmer from doing any damage.

Palmer drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Hart dives on top into guard.
Hart chips away with some ground and pound.
Hart won't allow Palmer to get back to his feet.
Hart is standing up over Palmer. Palmer looks to escape but Hart dives into side control.
Palmer is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Hart is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmer is not content to let Hart control the position.
Roy Palmer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hart grinds an elbow into Palmer's temple.
Hart cracks Palmer with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Palmer pushes Hart away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Hart gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Hart taking a break here but Palmer is having none of it and regains half guard.
Palmer is trying to stand up here but Hart is controlling him well.
Bret Hart is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hart is keen to just control but Palmer is a slippery customer.
Palmer looks like he's trying to stand up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bret Hart comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hart 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bret Hart!