PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mark Norman (ranked 799 p4p, 998 weight class) and George Hale (ranked 72 p4p, 90 weight class). Hale has chosen Tenggar Cavalry - Lone Wolf as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Norman
vs
Hale

173 cm
20
145
5 - 1 - 0

170 cm
27
146
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Furnace Performance 🔥
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Norman!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, George Hale!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Gregory Folan and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hale gets caught flat footed, as Norman shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Norman stands and throws Hale's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Norman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hale keeps working.
Norman tries to move into full mount but can't pass Hale's legs.
You can see the frustration on Hale's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hale is not content to let Norman control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norman tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norman is working hard here to advance position.

Norman tries for a kimura but Hale is defending well.

Norman working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Norman is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Hale's shoulder. That is not cool.
Hale really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Norman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Norman trying to control the position but Hale is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Norman tries for a kimura but Hale is defending well.
Norman trying to control the action but Hale is working from the bottom.

Norman is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hale is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hale gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Norman wants to control the pace but Hale is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norman wants to take Hale's back but he can't do it this time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hale can do anything to dispel that myth.
Norman takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Norman has the hooks in. Hale is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Norman is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Hale knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Hale for a finish.
Hale trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norman controls the action.
We've been hearing good reports from Norman'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.

Hale defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Norman has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hale is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hale wants to get back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hale scores with a nice right hand.
Norman on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Norman clinches up with Hale and pushes him back against the cage.
Norman changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hale fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Hale gets tackled into the cage by Norman. Norman maintains the clinch.
Hale missing with knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hale.
Hale lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hale scores with an uppercut up the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norman digs a right hand underneath Hale's ribcage. Hale let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Hale cracks Norman with a nice body shot.
Hale working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Norman tries to pull guard but Hale forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hale scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hale lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Norman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hale working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Norman wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Norman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hale blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hale digs a right hand underneath Norman's ribcage. Norman let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Hale looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Norman is trying to drag Hale to the mat but Hale just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hale lands a body shot.
A hook to the body from Hale.
Hale lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Norman or not.
Norman is looking for a takedown.
Norman is trying to pull guard but Hale has him pressed against the cage.
Nice body punch from Hale.
A nice left hand lands by Hale.
George Hale seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hale lands a nice uppercut.
Hale digs a right hand underneath Norman's ribcage. Norman let out a lung full of air as it connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Hale.
Norman is looking for a takedown.
Hale lands with a left to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Norman misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Norman swings wildly with an uppercut but Hale uses good head movement to avoid it.
Norman throws a head punch that misses.
Hale's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Hale lands an uppercut.
Hale softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Norman blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hale scores with a shoulder strike.
A right hand to the body from Hale.
Hale lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Norman backwards.
Hale lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A body shot lands from Hale.
A head punch on the inside from Norman fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norman has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hale is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
With the fighters up against the cage, Hale throws an elbow but misses.
Hale lands a hook that snaps the head of Norman backwards.
Norman misses with the head strike.
Hale lands a body shot.
Norman tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hale just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hale softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hale lands a shot to the body.
Norman misses with the head strike.
Hale blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hale just misses with a elbow thrown towards Norman's brow.
Hale digs a right hand into Norman's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Norman's gas tank.
A left hand lands to the body for Hale.
Norman fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hale is working Norman over against the cage.
Norman tries to work over Hale's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Hale.
Hale lands a nice uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hale scores with a shot to the side of Norman's head.
Hale lands a nice uppercut.
Hale has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hale pushes Norman back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Hale lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hale lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Norman backwards.

Norman is rocked!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hale creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Oh Norman is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hale scores with a shoulder strike.
Hale blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hale misses with an elbow strike.
Hale lands with a left to the head.
Hale lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Hale lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Hale creates some distance for himself and unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Norman's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Norman drops to his knees and Hale pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). George Hale!
George Hale is the new featherweight champion!
Our winner, George Hale, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.