PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between nat north (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Howard Eastman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

north
vs
Eastman

188 cm
24
212 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

187 cm
23
215 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Fortitude Apparel

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, nat north!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Howard Eastman!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Richard Clark and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

north feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Eastman keeping full guard, as north tries to pass.
north with a flurry of punches that miss.
north has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
north advances to half guard.

north 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.

north is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Eastman is just riding it out for now. north eventually gives up the hold.
north wants to control but Eastman is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

north is looking for a kimura but Eastman is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for north to get the leverage.
Eastman trying to control here.
north blocks the strikes from Eastman.

north is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Eastman sees it coming and defends easily.

Eastman is defending against the submission attempts here by north.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Eastman misses with a low kick as north jumps back.
Eastman fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
north dodges the punch combination from Eastman.
Eastman throws a low kick, looking for north's leg but north calmly moves out of range.
Howard Eastman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Eastman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
north thows a body kick. Eastman tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Eastman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
north pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Eastman looks to land a right hand but north moved out of range.
Eastman moves out of range of the strikes.
north takes a shot to the body in his stride.

north gets a clinch.
Eastman wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Eastman tries to break the clinch but north is controlling the position.
north misses with a knee strike.
Eastman is looking to control north's arms but north gets an underhook and turns him. Now Eastman has his back to the cage.

north breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Eastman missing with a left hand there. north was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Some wild striking there from Eastman.
Eastman throws a right and a left that north avoids nicely.
Eastman doesn't succeed with the takedown
and north counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Eastman looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eastman misses with a double jab

and north counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Eastman!

north is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Eastman has managed to escape the submission attempt.
north has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Eastman's face.

north jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Eastman is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Eastman and north has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

north wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Eastman, who protects the arm well.
Eastman can't do much from the bottom here.

north is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Eastman is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eastman is pushing north's head away, looking to escape. north manages to hold on to the position though.

north looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Eastman is trying to get back to half guard.

north looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Eastman tries to buck north off but north is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

nat north dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Eastman throws a sloppy body shot

and north counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Eastman!

north is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Eastman is surviving well by controlling north's body position as best he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
north throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Eastman tries to hold on but north postures up.

north moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Eastman has worked his arm free - good work by Eastman!
Eastman is trying to get back to half guard.
Sloppy strikes there by north.
north trying to control the action but Eastman is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

north wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Eastman, who protects the arm well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Eastman is looking to regain half guard here but north keeps moving and retains side control.
Eastman is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Eastman's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

north working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Eastman is trying to buck north off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
north misses with a body shot.
north lands a head kick. Eastman smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Howard Eastman has been cut.
Eastman dips to his left and cracks north with an uppercut!
Eastman takes a swing at north's ribcage but misses.
north stalks Eastman and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Eastman's face. Eastman staggers backwards, shaken.
north ducks under a wild hook from Eastman.

Eastman tries to keep at a distance but north has taken the fight into the clinch.

Eastman is fighting off a takedown attempt but north is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Eastman to the mat. Eastman regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Eastman manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Eastman avoids the head kick by north.
Eastman looks to score with a jab to the body but north is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eastman checks a low kick from north.
Eastman swings for the body but north moves out of range.
Eastman is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down north rather than just go for the knockout.
Eastman misses with a kick to the body.
north tries to clinch but Eastman moves out of range.
Good shot there by Eastman.
north looks to land a combination but Eastman avoids it well.
nat north is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Eastman throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and north counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Eastman lands with a right hand.
Eastman throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and north makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Eastman really felt that one!
north tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Eastman swivels and escapes.
A punch combination from north misses.
Eastman lands a right hook to the body.
Eastman avoids the head kick by north.
Eastman throws a jab when north was well out of range.
Eastman misses with an attempted mid kick.

north clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from north.
Eastman blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Eastman is stalling here.

north breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Eastman lands a right hook to the body.
north thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Eastman if he has to take too many more of those.
north is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
north throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
north tries a head kick but it misses.
north avoids the head kick by Eastman.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
north pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Eastman blocks a jab.
Eastman throws a sloppy body shot
and north counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

nat north dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Howard Eastman's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

north throws a head kick that misses.
north just misses with a punch to the body.
Eastman fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
north fails to land the takedown.
Eastman throws a combination that misses

and north counters with a nice double leg into side control. Eastman won't be happy with that.
north postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

north thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Eastman defending against the ground and pound.
Eastman is trying to control north's posture but north avoids it.
Eastman is not content to let north control the position.

north swings around for an armbar but Eastman sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into north's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eastman trying to control the position from guard on top but north is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

north escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Eastman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Eastman throws a head kick but north moves out of range.
Eastman tries to bum rush north with a series of wild strikes but north uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Eastman throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Eastman misses with the combination.
Eastman lands a nice shot to the body.
Eastman steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from north. That one must have hurt.
Eastman throws a hook but north blocks it.
nat north is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Eastman throws a series of punches but north moves out of range.
north looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
nat north is winning the standup battle so far.

north rushes Eastman and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
north tries to land a knee to the head but Eastman blocks with his arms.

north breaks the clinch.
north swings and misses with a hook to the body.

north closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Eastman to the mat! Eastman manages to get full guard.
north trying to control but Eastman is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Eastman avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
north prevents Eastman from getting back to his feet.

north drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and north jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
north tries to free his leg and advance position but Eastman is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eastman wants to stand but north is controlling the position.
Eastman really doesn't want to stay on the ground with north. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
north is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

north pushes Eastman up against the cage in a clinch.

north breaks the clinch.

north shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
north controlling his opponent.
north can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Eastman is looking to escape.
Howard Eastman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
nat north overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Eastman tries to improve his position but instead north has taken his back!
Eastman trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
north struggling to keep hold of the position.
Eastman controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
north lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.

And that's the end of the fight!
nat north showed his dominance in that final round.
Well north has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... nat north!