PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Christopher Norman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Salvatore Assante (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Assante's choice of entrance music: Lose Yourself. Christopher Norman could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Salvatore Assante's chin.

Norman
vs
Assante

192 cm
23
212 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
224 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

► *159+ for $199 * Total Destruction Pharmac

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Christopher Norman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Salvatore Assante!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Norman tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Assante lands a head kick. Norman smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Norman tries to close the distance and clinch but Assante swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Norman throws a head kick that misses.
Norman takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Assante has Norman up against the cage in a clinch.
Assante missing with knees to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Assante throws an elbow but misses.
Assante lands an elbow just above Norman 's eye.

It looks like Christopher Norman has been cut.
Assante lands an elbow just above Norman 's eye.
Assante lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Assante landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Assante lands a damaging elbow.
Assante scores with a knee to the head.
Assante throws a knee to the head but misses.
Assante lands a damaging elbow.
Assante lands a good knee to the midsection. Norman won't want to take too many of those.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Still in the clinch, Assante scores with a nice short uppercut.
Assante with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Assante lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Assante connects with a knee to the head.
Norman is breathing heavily.
Assante lands an elbow that stopped Norman in his tracks for a moment.

Christopher Norman's cut is getting worse.
Assante landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Norman takes an elbow to the forehead.
Assante unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Assante landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Assante lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Assante lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Assante connects with a knee to the head.
Assante lands an uppercut.
Assante connects with a knee to the head.
Assante comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Assante landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Norman misses with a body punch.
Assante creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Norman's defenses.
Assante fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Assante lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Assante looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Assante lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Assante working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Norman dodges an elbow strike from Assante.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Assante obliges.
A looping hook to the body misses from Norman. Assante does a little dance to reset his feet.
Assante keeps the fight on the outside.
Assante throws a head kick that misses.

Assante moves into the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Assante.
Norman misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Assante landing knees to the head.
Norman avoids the elbow strike from Assante, against the cage.
Assante blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Assante looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A head punch on the inside from Norman fails to land.
Assante misses with an elbow over the top.
Norman lands a right hand.
Assante blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Assante lands an elbow just above Norman 's eye.
Assante landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Norman misses with a short punch on the inside.
Assante misses with a knee to the head.
Norman tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Norman.
Norman tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Assante's elbow.
Assante misses with a knee to the head.
Norman doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Norman misses with some punches.
Norman throws an elbow but it misses.
Assante with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A looping hook to the body misses from Norman. Assante does a little dance to reset his feet.
Norman is looking to clinch but Assante is avoiding it.
Norman tries to clinch but Assante moves out of range.
Norman misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Assante.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Norman clinches up against the cage.
Assante doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Assante is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Norman gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Norman throws a head punch that misses.
Assante throws a knee to the head but misses.
Norman can't find room to land a body shot as Assante controls the action.
Assante blocks an uppercut.
Norman avoiding damage as Assante throws knees to the body.
Norman misses with a short punch on the inside.
Assante looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Assante.
Norman fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Assante misses with a knee to the head.
Norman goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Norman tries to work over Assante's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Assante misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Norman.
Norman misses with a punch to the body.
Norman struggles to land a body shot inside as Assante controls his hands.
Norman tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Assante's elbow.
Norman misses with a short punch on the inside.
Norman misses with a punch on the inside.
Norman misses with a short punch on the inside.
Norman avoids the elbow strike from Assante, against the cage.
Assante misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Norman takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's four 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.
Norman fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Norman tries a body shot but Assante blocks it.
Norman throws a punch but it's blocked by Assante.
Norman has a couple of punches blocked by Assante.
Assante tries to land knees in the clinch but Norman avoids the damage to the body.
Norman avoids a wild elbow strike from Assante.
Norman trying to land knees to the body.
Norman fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Norman misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Norman misses with a punch to the body.
Norman avoiding damage as Assante throws knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Assante.
Norman tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Assante's elbow.
Assante throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Assante lands a nice knee to the body.
Assante misses with a short punch on the inside.
Assante blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Norman lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Norman blocks an elbow strike from Assante.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Norman tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Norman tries to work over Assante's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Assante blocks a body shot from Norman.
Assante pushes off an throws an elbow but Norman leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Norman dodges an elbow strike from Assante.
Norman misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Norman has a couple of punches blocked by Assante.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salvatore Assante dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Christopher Norman's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Norman is looking to clinch.
Assante fails with an attempt to clinch.

Assante rushes Norman and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Assante misses with an elbow strike.
Norman blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Assante misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Norman.
Assante lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Assante creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Norman blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Assante with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Assante.
Salvatore Assante seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Assante just misses with a elbow thrown towards Norman's brow.
Norman misses with a short punch on the inside.
Assante misses with an elbow over the top.
Norman throws a head punch that misses.
Norman doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Assante lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Assante tries to land knees in the clinch but Norman avoids the damage to the body.
Assante tries a knee to the head but Norman blocks it.
Norman gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Assante.
Norman goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Norman tries to land knees in the clinch but Assante avoids the damage to the body.
Assante is breathing heavily.
Assante fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Assante blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Assante prevents a body shot from Norman.
Assante tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Norman misses with the head strike.
Norman can't find room to land a body shot as Assante controls the action.
Norman misses with a punch to the body.
Norman tries to work over Assante's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Norman swings wildly with an uppercut but Assante uses good head movement to avoid it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Assante.
Norman blocks an elbow strike.
Norman tries to throw a body punch but Assante avoids it by throwing Norman back against the cage.
Norman avoids the elbow strike from Assante, against the cage.
Norman misses with a body punch.
Norman lands a body punch.
Norman goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Norman misses with a punch to the body.
Norman misses with a body punch.
Assante trying to land knees to the body.
Norman doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Norman swings wildly with an uppercut but Assante uses good head movement to avoid it.
Assante misses with an elbow over the top.
Norman struggles to land a body shot inside as Assante controls his hands.
Norman blocks an elbow strike from Assante.
Norman swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Assante missing with knees to the body.

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.
Norman working aggressively here.
Assante with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Assante blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A looping hook to the body misses from Norman. Assante does a little dance to reset his feet.
Norman dives in and grabs Assante's left leg, looking for a takedown. Assante pushes down on Norman's head and hops out.
Norman tries to clinch but Assante is having none of it.
Norman shoots in for a takedown but Assante shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Assante tries to clinch but Norman moves out of range.
Norman misses with a body kick.
Norman is trying hard to land a takedown here. Assante sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Christopher Norman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Assante throws the left hand but Norman avoids the punch easily.
A head kick from Assante lands but Norman takes it in his stride.
Norman is looking to land body kicks.
Christopher Norman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Assante misses with a jab to the body

and Norman counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Norman won't allow Assante to sweep him here.
Norman trying to control but Assante is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Assante wants to sweep here but Norman controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Norman is looking to stand up but Assante won't let him.
Assante looking for a sweep. Not yet Assante, not yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Norman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Assante's waist but Assante gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Norman off to one side.
Salvatore Assante seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Norman clinches.
Norman tries to throw a body punch but Assante avoids it by throwing Norman back against the cage.
Norman tries a body shot but Assante blocks it.
Norman avoids the elbow strike from Assante, against the cage.
Norman misses with a short punch on the inside.
Assante looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Norman tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Assante's elbow.
Assante missing with knees to the body.
Norman avoids a wild elbow strike from Assante.
Norman blocks an elbow strike.
Assante lands a good knee to the midsection. Norman won't want to take too many of those.
Norman tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
With the fighters up against the cage, Assante throws an elbow but misses.
Norman avoids the elbow strike from Assante, against the cage.
A looping hook to the body misses from Norman. Assante does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Norman wants to clinch up but Assante keeps it at a distance.
Assante fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Norman manages to avoid it.
Norman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Norman misses with a body kick.
Norman misses with a takedown attempt - Assante sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Assante clinches.
Norman softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Norman goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Norman.
Assante lands an elbow that stopped Norman in his tracks for a moment.
Norman avoids the elbow strike from Assante, against the cage.
Norman tries to work over Assante's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Assante with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Assante lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Norman has a couple of punches blocked by Assante.
Assante prevents a body shot from Norman.
Norman works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Norman blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Norman lands a body punch in the clinch.
Assante looks to throw an elbow but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christopher Norman dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Christopher Norman's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Norman shoots for a takedown but Assante saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Norman takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Norman shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Assante pinned against the cage. Assante gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Assante lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Norman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Christopher Norman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Norman tries to keep at a distance but Assante has taken the fight into the clinch.
Norman takes an elbow to the temple.
Assante is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Assante trying to land knees to the body.
Assante missing with knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Norman tries a body shot but Assante blocks it.
Assante throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Normans head.
Norman swings wildly with an uppercut but Assante uses good head movement to avoid it.
Norman avoiding damage as Assante throws knees to the body.
Assante dodges an elbow strike from Norman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norman prevents a body shot from Assante.
Assante lands an elbow just above Norman 's eye.
Assante looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Assante throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Norman tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Assante pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Norman misses with a body punch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Assante.
Norman tries to throw a body punch but Assante avoids it by throwing Norman back against the cage.
Norman misses with a hook to the ribs.
Norman blocks an elbow strike from Assante.
Assante tries to score a body lock takedown but Norman shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Norman throws an elbow that misses.
Norman tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Assante's elbow.
Norman misses with a punch on the inside.
Norman swings wildly with an uppercut but Assante uses good head movement to avoid it.
Norman has a couple of punches blocked by Assante.
Assante prevents a body shot from Norman.
Assante tries to score a body lock takedown but Norman shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Norman avoids the elbow strike from Assante, against the cage.
Norman blocks an uppercut.
Norman misses with a hook from the clinch.
Norman misses with a body punch.

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.
Norman swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Assante lands a nice elbow.
A looping hook to the body misses from Norman. Assante does a little dance to reset his feet.
An inside leg kick from Norman misses.

Assante rushes Norman and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Assante throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Assante avoiding damage as Norman throws knees to the body.
Assante lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A body shot lands from Norman.
Norman can't find room to land a body shot as Assante controls the action.
Norman misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Norman throws a head punch that misses.
Assante on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Assante using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Norman has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Assante blocks a body shot from Norman.
Norman tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Norman blocks an elbow strike.
Assante gets through Norman's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Norman misses with a punch to the body.
Norman swings wildly with an uppercut but Assante uses good head movement to avoid it.
Assante blocks a body shot from Norman.
Assante throws an elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assante connects with a knee to the head.
Assante tries to land knees in the clinch but Norman avoids the damage to the body.
Norman throws a punch but it's blocked by Assante.
Norman tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Assante's elbow.
Assante tries to land knees in the clinch but Norman avoids the damage to the body.
Norman working aggressively here.
Norman swings wildly with an uppercut but Assante uses good head movement to avoid it.
Assante on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Norman gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Assante.
A looping hook to the body misses from Norman. Assante does a little dance to reset his feet.
Norman misses with a head kick.
Assante tries to clinch but Norman moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Norman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Salvatore Assante is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Norman fails in his attempt to clinch.
Norman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Norman throws a head kick but Assante moves out of range.
Norman shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Assante as he jumps to the side.

That's four 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.
Norman takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Assante throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Assante forces Norman back against the cage and clinches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Assante.
Assante tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Assante tries to land a knee to the head but Norman blocks with his arms.
Norman misses with a punch to the body.
Norman tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Norman blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Assante blocks a body shot from Norman.
Norman swings wildly with an uppercut but Assante uses good head movement to avoid it.
Norman blocks an uppercut.
With the fighters up against the cage, Assante throws an elbow but misses.
Assante throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Norman misses with the head strike.
Norman avoids a wild elbow strike from Assante.
Norman struggles to land a body shot inside as Assante controls his hands.
Norman throws a punch but it's blocked by Assante.
Assante throws a punch but it's blocked by Norman.
Norman misses with a punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Salvatore Assante comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Assante 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Salvatore Assante!