PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Stuart Bridgeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Normandale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stuart Bridgeman has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Bridgeman
vs
Normandale

193 cm
22
189 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
23
185 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Stuart Bridgeman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Normandale!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Paul Tew and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Normandale throws a shot from downtown. Bridgeman moves away and avoids it.
Normandale looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Normandale slaps away a takedown attempt from Bridgeman, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Bridgeman closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Bridgeman in particular looking to stall.
Normandale tries to get to full guard but Bridgeman has control of the leg.
Bridgeman sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Normandale looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bridgeman is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bridgeman wants to control but Normandale is keeping him busy.
Bridgeman looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Normandale with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Bridgeman trying to control from half guard but Normandale is working away.
Normandale is looking to improve his position.

Bridgeman is trying to work for a kimura but Normandale is defending well.
Normandale is trying to control but Bridgeman manages to pass to mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bridgeman connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Normandale defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Bridgeman.

Bridgeman jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Normandale manages to avoid the submission attempt.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Normandale is not content to let Bridgeman control the position.
Bridgeman is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Normandale is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Stuart Bridgeman just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Bridgeman closes the distance and clinches up with Normandale, looking for a takedown. Bridgeman pushes Normandale against the cage but Normandale circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Bridgeman drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Bridgeman working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Normandale tries to bench press Bridgeman off him but Bridgeman keeps the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bridgeman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Normandale keeps working.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stuart Bridgeman dominated that round.
That's time! Bridgeman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Normandale misses with a takedown attempt

and Bridgeman counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Bridgeman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Normandale seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Bridgeman trying to control but Normandale is working from the bottom.
Bridgeman has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bridgeman sitting in guard here, content to control.
Normandale is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Normandale keeping moving, preventing Bridgeman from controlling successfully.
Normandale is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bridgeman staying out of range there.
Paul Normandale seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bridgeman shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Normandale manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Bridgeman looking to pass the guard.
Bridgeman trying to control but Normandale is working from the bottom.
Bridgeman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bridgeman is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Normandale avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bridgeman stopping the sweep attempt from Normandale.
Bridgeman trying to control but Normandale is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Normandale is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Bridgeman shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Normandale napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Bridgeman trying to control the action but Normandale is working from the bottom.
Bridgeman is really struggling to control Normandale but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Bridgeman controlling from side mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bridgeman landing a few strikes.
Normandale is not content to let Bridgeman control the position.
Normandale is trying to escape the position but Bridgeman is controlling the position.
Normandale is not content to let Bridgeman control the position.

Bridgeman thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stuart Bridgeman dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Bridgeman misses with a low kick.
Normandale thumps Bridgeman with a low kick.
Bridgeman gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Normandale counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Bridgeman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bridgeman wants to control but Normandale is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Stuart Bridgeman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Normandale takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Normandale misses with a head shot. Bridgeman uses the momentum to regain guard.
Bridgeman looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bridgeman escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Normandale gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bridgeman trying to control the position.

Bridgeman had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Normandale is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Bridgeman Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Normandale's back instead.
Stuart Bridgeman 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.
Bridgeman looking to hold on to the position here but Normandale rolls and ends up regaining guard.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Stuart Bridgeman just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Normandale looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Normandale falls off balance throwing a combination

and Bridgeman counters with a single leg into guard. Normandale didn't expect that.
Bridgeman trying to control but Normandale is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Normandale looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bridgeman is one step ahead there.
Bridgeman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bridgeman trying to control the position from guard on top but Normandale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bridgeman controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Bridgeman preventing the sweep.

That's four 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Bridgeman shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Bridgeman was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Bridgeman tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Normandale is trying desperately to improve position.
Bridgeman trying to control but Normandale is having none of it.
Paul Normandale has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bridgeman controlling his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stuart Bridgeman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bridgeman, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stuart Bridgeman!