PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Buddy Palermo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rusty Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Rusty Johnson enters the cage!

Palermo
vs
Johnson

180 cm
20
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Buddy Palermo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rusty Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Hugh Johnson and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palermo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Palermo wants it to stay on the feet.
Palermo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Palermo wants it to stay on the feet.
Johnson tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so Palermo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Johnson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Palermo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Johnson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Palermo is fighting to break Johnson's control of his arms but Johnson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Palermo postures up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Rusty Johnson wasn't active enough on the ground.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is keen to just control but Palermo is a slippery customer.

Palermo looking for submissions off his back.
Palermo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Palermo is breathing heavily.
Johnson wants to stand up but Palermo has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Palermo won't allow Johnson to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Johnson slows the pace down in half guard.
Palermo wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Palermo keeps working.

Johnson is working for an americana but Palermo has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Johnson was thinking about the submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palermo has Johnson pulled in close to control his posture.

Palermo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Johnson is aware though and is defending well.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Palermo trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.
Palermo keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to stand but Palermo is controlling his posture from full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.
Buddy Palermo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rusty Johnson.
Palermo stuffs the takedown.
Johnson misses with a low kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Palermo is defended easily by Johnson.
Palermo shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rusty Johnson will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Johnson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Johnson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Johnson pushes down on Palermo's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Johnson works his way into side control.
Johnson trying to control the action but Palermo is working from the bottom.

Johnson stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Johnson darts in and clinches Palermo up against the cage.
Johnson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Johnson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Palermo prevents it.
Johnson is trying to stall.
Johnson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson prevents the takedown attempt.
Palermo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Johnson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Buddy Palermo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Palermo is keeping busy.

Johnson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Johnson doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Johnson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Palermo stopping the sweep attempt from Johnson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has control of Palermo's left arm, preventing Palermo from doing any damage.

Johnson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Palermo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Palermo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Palermo stopping the sweep attempt from Johnson.
Johnson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palermo engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Palermo stands up and waves to Johnson to follow him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Palermo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Johnson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Palermo's guard now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Palermo is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rusty Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Palermo but Palermo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Palermo takes a jab right on the kisser.

Palermo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Palermo wants to control the pace but Johnson is squirming around nicely.
Johnson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson tries to hold on but Palermo postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusty Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson trying desperately to get to his feet.
Palermo with shots to the head and body - Johnson looks very uncomfortable down there.
Palermo controlling the position easily from mount.
Palermo manages to capitalize on a mistake by Johnson to take his back!

Johnson defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Will Palermo go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Palermo doesn't have the hooks in and Johnson manages to turn into his guard.
Palermo has a closed guard, preventing Johnson from standing up.
Johnson is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Johnson forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palermo is looking to improve his position.
Palermo wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Johnson is trying to control. Palermo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Johnson might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Palermo kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Rusty Johnson.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Johnson.
Palermo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Palermo shows good takedown defense.
Buddy Palermo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rusty Johnson.

Palermo shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Johnson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Palermo gets to his feet. Johnson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Palermo connects with a right hand. Johnson shakes it off.
Johnson is looking to clinch but Palermo is avoiding it.
Buddy Palermo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rusty Johnson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Johnson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Buddy Palermo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Johnson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rusty Johnson!