PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Palmares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenshiro Kasumi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kasumi is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Ai Wo Torimodose aka Song of Manliness. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Palmares
vs
Kasumi

181 cm
26
218 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

185 cm
36
220 lbs
15 - 14 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rodrigo Palmares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenshiro Kasumi!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Columbo Gatti and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kasumi loads up on a big right hand but Palmares slips the punch.

Palmares shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kasumi is trying to defend but Palmares finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Palmares is keen to just control but Kasumi is a slippery customer.
Kasumi won't allow Palmares to pass to mount.
Palmares throwing shots but Kasumi is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Palmares is thwarting Kasumi's attempts to control the position.
Palmares thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kasumi manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Palmares is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Palmares connects with a couple of short punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kasumi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Palmares throwing strikes from guard but Kasumi blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmares pushes down on Kasumi's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Palmares wants to pass to mount but Kasumi is defending the position.

Palmares is trying to work for a kimura but Kasumi is defending well.
Kasumi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Palmares works over Kasumi with some ground and pound from guard.
Kasumi wants to stand up but Palmares is controlling him.
Palmares with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Kasumi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Palmares defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmares slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Palmares creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kasumi taking punishment in the form of punches.
Kasumi is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Palmares is trying to control. Kasumi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kasumi tries to roll over but Palmares keeps him under control.
Palmares wants to control but Kasumi is keeping him busy.

Palmares is working for a kimura but Kasumi is defending it quite comfortably.
Kasumi trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kasumi has hold of Palmares's hands but Palmares slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kasumi is staying active underneath Palmares, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Palmares thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kasumi's head.
Kasumi wants to control but Palmares is keeping busy.
Palmares working the head and body with strikes.
Kasumi wants to control but Palmares is keeping busy.
Kasumi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Palmares landing some decent shots from guard.
Kasumi pulls Palmares in close to his closed guard and prevents Palmares from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kasumi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Palmares works over Kasumi with some ground and pound from guard.
Palmares postures up in Kasumi's guard and throws a big left but Kasumi blocks it.
Kasumi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Palmares distracts Kasumi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kasumi controls Palmares momentarily but Palmares frees himself.
Our spies down at at Xtreme Punishment inform us that Kasumi has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Kasumi working a defensive guard but Palmares manages to pass into side control anyway.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Palmares working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Palmares tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kasumi is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Palmares dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kasumi swinging wildly here.
Palmares avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kasumi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kasumi swings for the body but Palmares moves out of range.
Palmares misses with a low kick.
Palmares blocks the body kick.
Palmares takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Palmares throws a sloppy body shot
and Kasumi counters with a two punch combo.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kasumi. That's going to slow Palmares down.
Kasumi throws a sloppy head kick and Palmares moves out of range easily.
Palmares blocks a head kick by Kasumi.
Kasumi scores with a kick to the midsection.
Rodrigo Palmares seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kasumi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kasumi misses with a body shot.
Nice defenses there by Kasumi.
Palmares blocks a head kick by Kasumi.
Kasumi wants to land a leg kick but Palmares is out of range.
Kasumi lands with a straight right. Palmares didn't see that one coming.
Kasumi misses with a low kick as Palmares jumps back.
Palmares misses the jab.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Palmares.

Palmares throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kasumi tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Palmares is in Kasumi's guard.
Palmares postures up and lands a big shot to Kasumi's brow.
Kasumi is trying to keep Palmares in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmares looking to sit in guard and control but Kasumi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kasumi wants to control from the top but Palmares keeps moving.
Palmares not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rodrigo Palmares overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Palmares looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Kasumi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Palmares has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kasumi has managed to get both his arms back between Palmares's legs - danger averted.
Palmares tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kasumi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Palmares has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kasumi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Palmares looking for a guillotine here but Kasumi defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmares keeping moving, preventing Kasumi from controlling successfully.
Kasumi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kasumi trying to control but Palmares is working from the bottom.
Kasumi lands a couple of elbows.
Kasumi chips away with some ground and pound.
Palmares keeping moving, preventing Kasumi from controlling successfully.

Palmares is looking for a triangle but Kasumi pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Palmares looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kasumi wants to control from the top but Palmares keeps moving.

Palmares is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Palmares is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kasumi defends well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kasumi postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Palmares has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kasumi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kenshiro Kasumi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kasumi thows a body shot but no joy.
Kasumi throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Palmares with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kasumi to score with a decent uppercut.

Palmares drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kasumi is trying to control the position but Palmares postures up.
Palmares trying to control the position from guard on top but Kasumi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Palmares with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kasumi is looking to stand up but Palmares isn't so interested in that idea.
Palmares trying to control the position from guard on top but Kasumi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kasumi wriggles free and stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmares misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kasumi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Palmares.
Kasumi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kasumi connects with a right hand. Palmares shakes it off.
Kasumi lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Palmares swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Palmares misses with a takedown
and Kasumi counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Palmares is lucky that one didn't land flush.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Palmares. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kasumi misses with a low kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Kasumi checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kasumi tries a head kick but it misses.
A clash of legs there as Kasumi blocks the low kick.
Kasumi ducks under a wild hook from Palmares.
Kasumi checks the leg kick nicely there.
Palmares shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kasumi sprawls well. Kasumi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Palmares gets slowly back to his feet.
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!
The fighters circling - Palmares throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kasumi.
Kasumi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kasumi just misses with a punch to the body.
Palmares ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Palmares throws out a leg kick but Kasumi moves out of range and Palmares only half commits.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kasumi walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Palmares checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Palmares looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kasumi is fending him off so far but Palmares persists. Nope, Kasumi circles away and we're back to standing.
Kasumi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A good leg kick by Kasumi.
Kenshiro Kasumi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Palmares throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kasumi's waist but Kasumi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Palmares off to one side.
Palmares takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Palmares fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kasumi manages to avoid it.
Palmares slips under a jab.
Kasumi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kasumi keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kasumi.
Kasumi throws a head kick that Palmares semi-blocks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kasumi wants to slow Palmares down by chopping away at his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kasumi.
A cross from Kasumi lands.
Palmares throws out a leg kick but Kasumi moves out of range and Palmares only half commits.
Palmares takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kasumi staying out of range there.
Kasumi wants to land a leg kick but Palmares is out of range.
Palmares on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kasumi. Kasumi obviously looking to wear him down.
Kasumi checks a low kick from Palmares.
A nice leg kick lands there from Palmares.
Kasumi scores with a crisp jab that stopped Palmares in his tracks.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Palmares shoots in for a takedown but Kasumi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kasumi throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Kasumi throws a head kick but Palmares moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenshiro Kasumi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kasumi 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenshiro Kasumi!
As Kenshiro Kasumi got his breath back, he grabbed the microphone and managed to blurt out the following: You are already dead....'.