PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Altintop Palonesess (ranked 3337 p4p, 82 weight class) and Umberto Grena (ranked 5796 p4p, 111 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Palonesess
vs
Grena

175 cm
28
154 lbs
9 - 21 - 0

165 cm
34
169 lbs
14 - 26 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Altintop Palonesess!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Umberto Grena!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palonesess shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Grena pinned against the cage. Grena gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Grena blocks a head kick by Palonesess.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Grena has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Grena tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Palonesess just stands there and leans against the cage.

Palonesess lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grena moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grena wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Grena tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grena is looking to stand up but Palonesess isn't so interested in that idea.

Grena looking for a guillotine here but Palonesess defends easily.
Palonesess missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Palonesess drops back, looking for a kneebar! Grena looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Grena looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Grena!

An elbow from Grena crashes against the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palonesess is looking to regain half guard here but Grena keeps moving and retains side control.
Grena working the body and head with strikes.
Grena scores with a couple of short elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
An elbow from Grena crashes against the mat.
Palonesess is looking for a sweep.
Grena creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Palonesess sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Palonesess tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Palonesess's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Palonesess isn't going anywhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grena throwing strikes but Palonesess manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Grena is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Palonesess not doing much here.
Palonesess trying to control the action but Grena is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Palonesess looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Palonesess trying to control from half guard but Grena is working away.
We've been hearing good reports from Palonesess's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Palonesess sitting and controlling from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Umberto Grena will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Palonesess stuffs the takedown.
Grena misses with a few strikes there.

Palonesess decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Palonesess decides to stand and escape the position.

Palonesess moves into range and clinches up with Grena.

Palonesess's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Palonesess closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Grena quickly recovers to half guard.
Palonesess is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
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!
Grena moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palonesess's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Palonesess trying to control the position from guard on top but Grena is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Altintop Palonesess overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Palonesess wants to pass the guard but Grena is keeping the position.
Grena working a defensive guard here.
Palonesess is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Palonesess wants to control from the top but Grena keeps moving.

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.
Palonesess content to stall in guard here.
Palonesess working some strikes from top position.
Palonesess throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Palonesess's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Palonesess pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Grena is keeping the position for now.
Palonesess being controlled here momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palonesess lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Palonesess lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Palonesess.

Palonesess gets tackled into the cage by Grena. Grena maintains the clinch.

Palonesess turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Palonesess working away.

Palonesess decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Palonesess instigates a clinch.

Grena pulls guard effortlessly.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Grena 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.
Palonesess 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Palonesess trying to control but Grena is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Altintop Palonesess dominated that second round.
That's time! Palonesess's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Palonesess shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Grena sprawls well. Grena wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Palonesess gets slowly back to his feet.
Grena swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Palonesess misses with a wild combination.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Palonesess prevents a takedown attempt there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Palonesess manages to break the clinch.
No luck for Palonesess with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palonesess shoots in but Grena avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Altintop Palonesess. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Palonesess lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Palonesess.
Grena gets back to half guard.
Grena is trying to control but can't.
Grena pushes Palonesess off looking to stand but Palonesess dives back in and keeps control.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Grena misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grena wants to get back to his feet.
Grena is looking for a sweep. Palonesess is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Palonesess controlling the action here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Palonesess has his takedown stuffed

and Grena decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Palonesess's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Grena stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Palonesess swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Palonesess looking to hit a scissor sweep but Grena is one step ahead there.
Grena working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grena working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Grena throws a big right hand that misses.
Palonesess trying to control the position here.
Grena throws a strike but Palonesess rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Grena is looking to sweep but instead, Palonesess has passed into half guard.
Grena tries to get to full guard but Palonesess has control of the leg.
Grena is refusing to be controlled, as Palonesess sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grena moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Palonesess stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Grena swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Palonesess lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Palonesess trying to control but Grena is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Palonesess postures up.
Grena is adopting a defensive guard.

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 Altintop Palonesess.
I think Palonesess 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Altintop Palonesess!
Altintop Palonesess seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.