PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joey Sass (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Casey Palmer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Palmer's choice of entrance music: Big Shit Poppin' - T.I.. Both these fighters are unbeaten, so somebody's 0 has got to go!Casey Palmer has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Sass
vs
Palmer

192 cm
27
211 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

191 cm
19
218 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joey Sass!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Casey Palmer!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Russell Pearce and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palmer slips a jab and a cross from Sass.
Sass ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Palmer looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sass throws a left and a right that both miss
and Palmer counters with a one-two to the body.
Sass takes a swing at Palmer's ribcage but misses.
No joy there for Palmer, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sass misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Palmer counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Palmer scores with a jab to the head.
Sass swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sass throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Palmer counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Palmer lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Sass bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Sass fails to land the takedown.
Sass misses with a double jab
and Palmer counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sass dodges the punch combination from Palmer.
Palmer misses with a double jab
and Sass counters with a nice uppercut.
Palmer misses with the combination.
Palmer tries to clinch there but Sass circles away.
Palmer lands with a nice combination. Sass backs away looking to recover.
No joy there for Sass, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sass misses with a double jab
and Palmer counters with a three punch combo that has Sass backing up. Sass nods at Palmer to acknowledge the strikes.
Horrible takedown by Sass or perhaps it was just good defense by Palmer which made him look bad.
Palmer throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sass.
Sass shoots for a double leg takedown but Palmer sprawls well. He's pushed Sass's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Sass. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Palmer is looking to clinch.
A left and a right from Sass both land. Nice combination.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Some wild striking there from Sass.
Sass misses with a combination
and Palmer counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Sass looks for a takedown but Palmer sprawls well.
Sloppy strikes from Sass. Those never looked like landing.

Palmer instigates a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Palmer creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Palmer stalling in the clinch but Sass improves position.
Palmer looking to throw knees to the head but Sass is blocking nicely.

Sass breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Palmer looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
No joy there for Sass, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sass takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Palmer pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Sass back to the ropes. Palmer follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Sass throws a sloppy body shot
and Palmer counters with a nice uppercut.
Sass throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Palmer counters by clinching up.
Palmer lands a nice uppercut.
Palmer misses with a short punch on the inside.
Palmer keeps control of Sass as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sass wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A short right from Palmer.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Palmer takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Sass is trying to force a seperation but Palmer has the dominant position.
Sass misses with a punch on the inside.
Palmer throws a head punch that misses.
Sass is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Palmer gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sass tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Sass's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Palmer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A nice combination there by Sass.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sass throws a head kick that misses.
Sass misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sass lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Palmer backs up against the ropes.

It looks like Casey Palmer has been cut.
Left hook, right uppercut from Sass.
Palmer takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Palmer closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Sass is trying to push Palmer away but Palmer has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.

Sass breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sass lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Sass shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sass showed some decent athleticism there.
Sass seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Palmer does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Palmer kicks Sass off and gets back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sass misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Palmer is working the combinations to good effect here.

Palmer instigates a clinch.
Palmer wants to stall.
Sass tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sass has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Palmer clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Palmer turns into Sass and is now in his guard.

Sass looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sass is breathing heavily.
Palmer trying to control the position from guard on top but Sass is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sass throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Palmer avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
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 Joey Sass will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Casey Palmer's cut.
That's time! Sass's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sass swats away the attempt to clinch by Palmer.
Joey Sass is winning the standup battle so far.
Palmer rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sass moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Palmer throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Palmer tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Sass paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Palmer. Those never looked like landing.
Sass scores with a decent looking hook.
Sass lands a nice hook to Palmer's body. Palmer takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Sass throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Palmer throws a nice looking combination but Sass bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sass looks to land a combination but Palmer avoids it well.
Sass falls off balance throwing a combination
and Palmer counters with a three punch combo that has Sass backing up. Sass nods at Palmer to acknowledge the strikes.
Sass throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Palmer.
Sass fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Palmer lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sass, as that shot connected.
The fight stays on the outside here - Palmer looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Palmer closes the distance and pushes Sass back into the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Palmer scores with a nice short uppercut.
Sass blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Palmer working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Palmer fails to land.

Sass's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Palmer scores with a one two! Sass had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Sass shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Palmer throws a low kick, looking for Sass's leg but Sass calmly moves out of range.
Sass shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Palmer sprawls well. Palmer wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sass gets slowly back to his feet.
Joey Sass is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sass scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Palmer doesn't seem bothered though.
Palmer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sass misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sass falls off balance throwing a combination

and Palmer holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sass lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Palmer backwards.
Sass lands an uppercut.
Sass blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sass misses with a hook from the clinch.
Palmer doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sass blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sass lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Sass wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Palmer misses with a hook from the clinch.
Palmer misses with some punches.
Sass is trying to break the clinch but Palmer has him pressed against the ropes.
Sass is trying to stall.
Palmer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Palmer misses with a punch on the inside.
Palmer lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sass as Palmer tries to tie him up.
Sass wants to break free but Palmer has control.
Palmer throws a head punch that misses.
Palmer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sass is trying to break the clinch but Palmer is controlling him.
Palmer misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmer is trying to maintain a safe position but Sass gets an underhook and turns Palmer into the ropes.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sass.
Sass trying to control the position but instead, Palmer has worked for underhooks and has pushed Sass into the ropes.

Sass breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sass throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Palmer holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sass lands a right hand that snaps the head of Palmer backwards.
Sass wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Sass. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Palmer throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sasss head.
Nice elbow from Palmer.

It looks like Joey Sass has been cut.
Palmer throws an elbow that misses.
Palmer throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sasss head.

Sass breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Palmer moves to clinch but Sass breaks away
and Sass makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Palmer jabs Sass right on the nose. Sass blinks but takes it well.
Sass cracks Palmer with a right hand to the side of the head.
Palmer misses with a two punch combination.
Sass misses with a double jab

and Palmer counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Palmer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmer misses with a hook from the clinch.
Palmer lands with a right to the head.
Sass is looking to break free of the clinch but Palmer has double underhooks.
Palmer lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Palmer throws an elbow but misses.
Palmer has Sass pressed against the ropes, preventing Sass from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Palmer keeps control of Sass as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Palmer taking a breather.
Sass dodges an elbow strike from Palmer.
Palmer lands a nice uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Palmer working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Sass makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Palmer throws a head punch that misses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Sass is trying to force a seperation but Palmer has the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Casey Palmer will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Sass's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sass lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Sass.
Sass misses with a few strikes there.
Sass bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Palmer's head.
Sass misses with a wild body shot.
Palmer throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Palmer throws a series of punches but Sass moves out of range.
Palmer throws a low kick but it's checked well by Sass.
Sass throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sass misses with a hook
and Palmer counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sass shoots in looking for a takedown but Palmer manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sass's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Palmer moves into the clinch successfully.
Sass throws a punch but it's blocked by Palmer.
Palmer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sass dodges an elbow strike from Palmer.
Sass tries to circle away but Palmer has him pinned against the ropes.
Palmer gets through Sass's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Palmer stalling.
Sass wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sass manages to break the clinch.

Palmer gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A short right from Palmer.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Palmer.
Casey Palmer seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Palmer working aggressively here.

Sass breaks the clinch.
Palmer cracks the inside of Sass's front leg.
Palmer throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sass counters with a stiff right hand.
Sass takes a swing at Palmer's ribcage but misses.
Palmer looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Palmer misses with a double jab
and Sass counters with a two punch combo.
Some bone on bone action there as Sass checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Sass throws a lazy uppercut

and Palmer holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Palmer throws an elbow that misses.
Palmer tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Palmer fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Sass breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sass is looking to wear down Palmer with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Palmer looks to land a combination but Sass avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmer dodges the punch combination from Sass.
Sass falls off balance throwing a combination

and Palmer moves into the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Palmer creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Palmer looking to throw knees to the head but Sass is blocking nicely.
Palmer pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Sass blocking some punches.
Palmer prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sass is looking to break free of the clinch but Palmer has double underhooks.
Palmer throws a punch but it's blocked by Sass.
A frustrated look appears on Sass's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Palmer has Sass pressed against the ropes, preventing Sass from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Sass pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Palmer tries to clinch up
and Sass counters with a nice body shot.
Sass throws a series of punches but Palmer avoids them all with ease.
Palmer throws a series of punches but Sass avoids them all with ease.
Sass works over Palmer's head and body with a nice combination.

That has opened up Casey Palmer's cut even more.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sass misses with a body punch

and Palmer holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Sass breaks the clinch.
Palmer misses with a wild combination.
Sass throws a combination that misses
letting Palmer counter with a right hand.
Palmer falls off balance throwing a combination

and Sass counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Palmer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Palmer trying to control but Sass postures up.
Palmer might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sass kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Sass is pressing down on Palmer's thigh, looking to free his foot. Palmer is holding on for now.
Palmer has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sass is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmer is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Sass is staying active.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Casey Palmer hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Palmer blocks a head kick by Sass.
Palmer fails with an attempt to clinch.
Casey Palmer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sass swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Sass gets tackled into the ropes by Palmer. Palmer maintains the clinch.
Palmer just leaning against Sass, taking a breather.
Palmer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Palmer misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sass wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sass blocks an uppercut.
Palmer misses with a short punch on the inside.
Palmer trying to control the position but instead, Sass has worked for underhooks and has pushed Palmer into the ropes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sass breaks from the clinch.
Palmer misses with a double jab.
Sass lands with a good body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Sass clearly takes that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sass misses with a few strikes there.
Sass closes the distance and clinches up with Palmer, looking for a takedown. Sass pushes Palmer against the ropes but Palmer circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Palmer as Sass shoots in.
Palmer misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sass throws an off balance right hand

and Palmer counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Palmer.
Sass lands a left hand.
Sass can't break the clinch.
Sass lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Palmer fails to land.
Palmer has Sass pressed against the ropes, preventing Sass from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Palmer fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Palmer gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sass.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Sass. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Palmer misses with an elbow over the top.
Palmer has a couple of punches blocked by Sass.
Sass wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sass blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Palmer trying to control the position but instead, Sass has worked for underhooks and has pushed Palmer into the ropes.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sass showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Palmer.
Palmer lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Sass backs up against the ropes.
Palmer tries to bum rush Sass with a series of wild strikes but Sass uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sass fails with the takedown
and Palmer counters with a series of strikes. Sass will be more careful next time no doubt.
A combination from Palmer does no damage.
Palmer slips a jab and a cross from Sass.
Sass misses with a double jab.

Palmer has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sass's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Palmer lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Sass is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Sass blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Sass escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Palmer misses with a double jab.
Palmer looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sass looks to land a combination but Palmer avoids it well.
A left and a right from Palmer both land. Nice combination.
Sass misses with a double jab.
Palmer will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Palmer swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Sass counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Sass misses with the combination.
Palmer swinging wildly here.
Sass falls off balance throwing a combination
and Palmer counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Palmer misses with a wild combination.
Sass misses with the combination.
Sass shoots in for a double leg but Palmer sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Palmer misses with a combination
and Sass counters with a right hand to the body.
Sass throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Palmer counters with a thumping low kick.
Palmer throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmer looks to land a combination but Sass avoids it well.
Sass throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Palmer counters with an outside leg kick.
Sass looks to score with a jab to the body but Palmer is just out of range.
Sass misses with a combination
and Palmer counters with a one-two to the body.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Sass!
Some wild striking there from Sass.
No joy there for Sass, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Palmer looks to land a combination but Sass avoids it well.
Sass swings away with a body shot that misses
and Palmer counters with a two punch combo.
Sass misses with a double jab
and Palmer counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sass thinking.
A punch combination from Sass misses.

Palmer gets a clinch.
Palmer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Sass's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Sass blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmer creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sass's defenses.
A right hook to the body lands for Sass.
Sass blocks an uppercut.
Sass avoids the elbow strike from Palmer, against the ropes.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Palmer.
Sass is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Palmer.
Sass takes a shot to the head.
Palmer scores with a shoulder strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sass.
Palmer throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sass as Palmer tries to tie him up.
Sass blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Palmer lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sass backwards.
Sass avoids a wild elbow strike from Palmer.
A nice left hand lands by Palmer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sass working hard to break the clinch.
Sass blocks an uppercut.
Palmer misses with some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Casey Palmer dominated that fourth round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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.

Sass looks to land a combination. Palmer sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Sass throws a left and a right that both miss

and Palmer counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Palmer lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sass backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sass.
A head punch on the inside from Palmer fails to land.
Palmer pushes Sass back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sass tries to circle away but Palmer has him pinned against the ropes.
Sass wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Sass's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Palmer misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sass throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Palmer counters by clinching up.

Sass breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sass scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Palmer displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Palmer throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sass counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Palmer is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Sass throws a combination. Palmer tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Palmer closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Sass closes this distance looking for a takedown but Palmer circles away.
Sass misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sass throws a right and a left that both miss.

Palmer closes the distance and clinches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sass.

Sass breaks the clinch.
Sass misses with a double jab

and Palmer counters by moving into the clinch.
Sass blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Palmer misses with some punches.
Palmer has a couple of punches blocked by Sass.
Palmer lands a shoulder strike.
Sass is looking to break free of the clinch but Palmer has double underhooks.
Sass blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sass has had enough of the clinch but Palmer keeps him there for the moment.
Palmer lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sass backwards.
Sass tries to circle away but Palmer has him pinned against the ropes.
Sass looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Palmer with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sass blocking some punches.
Palmer lands a hook to the side of the head.
Palmer with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sass breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sass lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Sass closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Palmer did well to prevent Sass getting side control.
Sass working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Palmer's thigh. Palmer counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Sass stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Palmer swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sass has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sass is working hard here to advance position.
Palmer looking for a sweep. Not yet Palmer, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sass pushing down on Palmer's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sass wants to take a breather but Palmer is having none of it.
Palmer wants to control but Sass is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sass prevents Palmer from improving his position.
Palmer trying to hold on to Sass's head to control him but Sass postures up.
Palmer wants to get back to full guard.
Sass works his way into full mount!
Sass controlling from the full mount.
Palmer tries to lock up and control but Sass gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Sass prevents Palmer from getting the reversal.

Sass is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Palmer can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Sass moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Palmer has worked his arm free - good work by Palmer!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Palmer sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Sass wants to pass the guard but Palmer is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Joey Sass.
I think Sass has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 48:47
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 48:47
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 48:48

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Joey Sass!
Joey Sass retains his light heavyweight title!