PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Martin Palermo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Palermo
vs
Stevenson

173 cm
23
134 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

170 cm
24
137 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

xXx - Voodoo Labs - 159++ Energy - $50
Fight Club Clothing est. 09™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Martin Palermo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Craig Stevenson!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevenson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Martin Palermo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stevenson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Palermo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stevenson manages to avoid it.
Palermo slaps away a takedown attempt from Stevenson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Palermo doesn't manage to clinch there - Stevenson circles away.
Stevenson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Palermo.
Palermo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stevenson misses with a head kick.
A jab from Palermo misses.
Palermo fails to land with a series of punches.
Palermo throws a left and a right that both miss

and Stevenson counters with a single leg into guard. Palermo didn't expect that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Stevenson stands and steps away. Palermo gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Stevenson rushes Palermo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Palermo prevents Stevenson from breaking the clinch.
Palermo is trying to push Stevenson away but Stevenson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palermo scores with a knee to the head.

Palermo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Palermo tries to clinch up but Stevenson circles away and keeps his distance.
Palermo closes the distance looking to clinch

and Stevenson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Stevenson.
A frustrated look appears on Stevenson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Palermo trying to stall but Stevenson improves his position.

Palermo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stevenson tries to clinch but Palermo moves out of range.

Stevenson has closed the distance and engaged Palermo in a clinch.
Stevenson tries to throw a body punch but Palermo avoids it by throwing Stevenson back against the cage.
Stevenson prevents Palermo from breaking the clinch.

Stevenson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stevenson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Palermo avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palermo misses the shot to the body.
Stevenson fails to land with a series of punches.

Stevenson looking to score a takedown here. Palermo is defending well but Stevenson drives through and ends up in Palermo's guard.
Palermo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Palermo tries to get out of the position.
Stevenson controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stevenson won't allow Palermo to sweep him here.
Palermo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stevenson stays in close to Palermo's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Craig Stevenson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Stevenson goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stevenson.
Martin Palermo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Stevenson.
A nice combination there by Stevenson.

Palermo gets a clinch.

Stevenson jumps into guard, dragging Palermo to the mat.
Palermo won't allow Stevenson to sweep him here.

Palermo decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Stevenson, up you get!
Stevenson tries for a takedown but Palermo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Stevenson looks gassed!
Stevenson throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palermo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Stevenson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Palermo clinches with his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Palermo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Palermo wants to break the clinch but can't.

Palermo breaks from the clinch.

Stevenson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Palermo tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Stevenson is in Palermo's guard.
Palermo trying to control the position.
Palermo trying to control the position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Stevenson dominated that round.
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.

Stevenson throws a body kick that misses.
Palermo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Palermo stuffs the takedown attempt from Stevenson. Stevenson gets slowly back to his feet.
Palermo blocks a head kick by Stevenson.
Nice takedown defense from Palermo. No joy for Stevenson on that attempt.
Martin Palermo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Stevenson.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch but Palermo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Palermo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A short right from Palermo.
A short right from Palermo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson tries to pull guard but Palermo forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Stevenson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Stevenson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stevenson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Palermo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Stevenson takes an elbow to the temple.

Stevenson breaks the clinch.

Stevenson gets a double leg takedown into Palermo's guard.
Stevenson is breathing heavily.
Stevenson prevents Palermo from getting back to his feet.
Stevenson postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson prevents Palermo from getting back to his feet.
Palermo is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Martin Palermo.
Stevenson looks to land a right hand but Palermo moved out of range.
Palermo throws a combination. Stevenson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Stevenson dips to his left and cracks Palermo with an uppercut!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stevenson swats away the attempt to clinch by Palermo.
Stevenson's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Palermo connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Stevenson scrambles back to his feet.
Sloppy strikes from Palermo. Those never looked like landing.
Palermo throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Stevenson tries to move into range but Palermo moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Palermo ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palermo wants to clinch up but Stevenson keeps it at a distance.
Palermo just misses with a punch to the body.
Martin Palermo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stevenson swats away the attempt to clinch by Palermo.
Palermo swings for the body but Stevenson moves out of range.
Palermo is looking to clinch.
Palermo fails in his attempt to clinch.

Stevenson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Palermo napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Stevenson decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Stevenson closes the distance and clinches.
Palermo swings wildly with an uppercut but Stevenson uses good head movement to avoid it.
A bit of stalling here from Palermo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Palermo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Stevenson is trying to push Palermo away but Palermo has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Stevenson letting Palermo take a breather here.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Palermo wants to break the clinch but can't.
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!
Stevenson stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Martin Palermo will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Stevenson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Palermo.
Palermo wants to clinch.

Palermo gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Stevenson to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Stevenson pushes down on Palermo's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Stevenson decides to stand and escape the position.
The fight stays on the outside here - Palermo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Craig Stevenson seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palermo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stevenson paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Palermo gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Palermo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Stevenson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Stevenson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stevenson on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Left hook, right uppercut from Palermo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stevenson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stevenson moves forwards but Palermo connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Stevenson misses with a body kick.
Stevenson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Palermo defends it nicely.
Palermo falls off balance throwing a combination
and Stevenson counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Palermo is lucky that one didn't land flush.
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!
Stevenson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Palermo with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Stevenson to score with a decent uppercut.
No luck for Stevenson with that takedown attempt.
Stevenson tries to clinch but Palermo is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palermo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Martin Palermo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stevenson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Palermo pinned against the cage. Palermo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Martin Palermo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Stevenson.
Stevenson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Palermo swings for the body but Stevenson moves out of range.
A nice combination there by Stevenson.
Palermo wants to clinch up but Stevenson keeps it at a distance.
Palermo looks to land a right hand but Stevenson moved out of range.
Stevenson misses with a body kick.
Stevenson scores with a one two! Palermo had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Stevenson walks into a left hand.
Palermo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stevenson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palermo swings for the body but Stevenson moves out of range.
Palermo tries to clinch but Stevenson moves away
and Stevenson counters with a left and a right that stings Palermo.
Stevenson tries to clinch up but Palermo circles away and keeps his distance.
Palermo swings for the body but Stevenson moves out of range.
Stevenson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Palermo instigates a clinch.

Palermo breaks from the clinch.

Stevenson closes the distance and pushes Palermo back into the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stevenson can't break the clinch.

Stevenson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A looping hook to the body misses from Palermo. Stevenson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Palermo is looking to wear down Stevenson with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stevenson.
Palermo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

And that's the end of the fight!
Craig Stevenson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Stevenson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Stevenson!
After the fight, Craig Stevenson was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.