PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paul Normandale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cadoc Calzaghe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Normandale
vs
Calzaghe

175 cm
24
185 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

182 cm
24
178 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid 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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Normandale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Cadoc Calzaghe!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Glass and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Calzaghe stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Normandale.
Calzaghe throws a jab when Normandale was well out of range.
Normandale keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Calzaghe.
Calzaghe will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Normandale ducks under a wild hook from Calzaghe.
Nice uppercut there from Calzaghe.
Calzaghe throws a jab but it's blocked by Normandale.
Normandale tries a head kick but it misses.
Calzaghe connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Normandale momentarily.
Normandale avoids a punch combination nicely.
Normandale fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Normandale moves into the clinch.
Calzaghe is trying to break free.
Calzaghe lands an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Calzaghe.
Normandale prevents Calzaghe from breaking the clinch.

Calzaghe's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Calzaghe misses with a double jab.
Calzaghe looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Normandale.
Normandale shoots for a takedown but Calzaghe saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Calzaghe dodges the punch combination from Normandale.
Normandale misses with an uppercut.
Calzaghe digs a good body shot into Normandale's ribs.
Calzaghe just misses with a punch to the body.
Horrible takedown by Normandale or perhaps it was just good defense by Calzaghe which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Normandale. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Calzaghe thows a body shot but no joy.
Normandale fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Normandale throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Calzaghe takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Calzaghe misses with a jab, cross combination.
Calzaghe looks to land a combination but Normandale avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Normandale counters with a shoot takedown. Calzaghe fights it but they end up in guard.
Normandale thows a big elbow that misses.
Calzaghe keeping full guard, as Normandale tries to pass.
Normandale scoring with punches to the head and body.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Normandale prevents Calzaghe from getting back to his feet.
Normandale working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Calzaghe wants to stand and escape but Normandale is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A nice leg kick lands there from Normandale.
Calzaghe throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Normandale.
Normandale tries to close the distance and clinch up but Calzaghe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Normandale avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Normandale uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Calzaghe.
A slow jab from Normandale misses its intended target.

Normandale looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Normandale trying to control the position from guard on top but Calzaghe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Normandale 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.
Normandale stops Calzaghe from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Normandale dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Calzaghe misses with a series of wild punches.
Calzaghe takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Calzaghe looks to land a left hand but Normandale moved out of range nicely.
Calzaghe throws a right hand that Normandale ducks under and follows up with a left that Normandale also avoids with ease.
Normandale looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Calzaghe keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Normandale fails with an attempt to clinch.
Calzaghe waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Normandale.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Calzaghe misses with a straight left.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Calzaghe with a nice cross.
Calzaghe throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Normandale sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Calzaghe thows a left - swing and a miss!
Normandale lands a head kick. Calzaghe smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calzaghe throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Calzaghe looks to land a combination but Normandale avoids it well.
Horrible takedown by Normandale or perhaps it was just good defense by Calzaghe which made him look bad.
Normandale avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Normandale fails to land with a series of punches.
Normandale ducks under a wild hook from Calzaghe.
Calzaghe will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Calzaghe stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Normandale. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Normandale walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Calzaghe misses with a double jab.
Normandale looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Calzaghe throws a looping overhand right but Normandale ducks down to avoid it.
Calzaghe jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

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.
Calzaghe throws a jab when Normandale was well out of range.
Normandale looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Calzaghe connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Calzaghe throws a hook but Normandale avoids it easily.
Nice defenses there by Normandale.
Normandale lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Normandale throws a series of punches but Calzaghe moves out of range.
Normandale walks into a jab.
Normandale shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Paul Normandale is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Normandale misses with a jab, cross combination.
Calzaghe throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Normandale.
Calzaghe throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Good exchange - Calzaghe coming out on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe thows a left - swing and a miss!
A cross from Calzaghe lands.
A head kick from Normandale lands but Calzaghe takes it in his stride.
Calzaghe looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Calzaghe misses with a hook. Normandale ducked under it nicely.
Normandale drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Calzaghe checks a leg kick nicely.
Calzaghe lands a two punch combo.
A big left from Calzaghe misses.
Calzaghe throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Calzaghe lands a right hook to the body.
Calzaghe might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Normandale dodges the punch combination from Calzaghe.
Normandale has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

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.
Calzaghe scores with a nice strike.
Calzaghe looks to land a right hand but Normandale moved out of range.
Normandale displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Calzaghe throws out the jab.
Cadoc Calzaghe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No joy there for Calzaghe, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Calzaghe throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Normandale.
Calzaghe looks to throw the jab but Normandale is out of range.
Normandale slips a jab and a cross from Calzaghe.
Normandale wants to clinch.
Calzaghe throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Normandale counters with a two punch combo.
Calzaghe moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Normandale takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Calzaghe thows a body shot but no joy.
Normandale slips under a jab.
Normandale avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cadoc Calzaghe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Calzaghe scores with a nice strike.
Calzaghe bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Normandale ducks under a wild hook from Calzaghe.
Calzaghe misses with a body shot.
Normandale shoots in but no luck this time.
Calzaghe misses with a jab, cross combination.
A left lands for Calzaghe.
Normandale shoots for a takedown but Calzaghe saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Calzaghe throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Normandale looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Calzaghe lands a really nice looking cross but Normandale seems unphased.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Calzaghe throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Normandale misses with a jab, cross combination.
Calzaghe lands with an uppercut that bounces Normandale off the cage and back into rage.
Calzaghe misses with a hook.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Calzaghe bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Normandale scores with a body shot.
Normandale takes one to the side of the head.
Normandale blocks a jab.
Calzaghe misses the jab.
Calzaghe throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Calzaghe cracks Normandale with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Normandale displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Calzaghe throws out the jab.
Calzaghe lands a glancing blow to the side of Normandale's head.
Calzaghe throws a series of punches but Normandale avoids them all with ease.
Calzaghe throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Normandale on the side of the head.
Cadoc Calzaghe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Calzaghe looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Normandale has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Calzaghe finds it's way round the side to connect with Normandale's head.
Calzaghe misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Calzaghe throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Normandale walks into a jab.
Normandale takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A combination from Calzaghe does no damage.
Calzaghe throws a jab when Normandale was well out of range.
Normandale looks to score with a jab to the body but Calzaghe is just out of range.
Calzaghe scores with the left hand. Normandale knows he should have avoided that one.
Calzaghe scores with a sloppy right hand. Normandale should have avoided that one.
Calzaghe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice jab there from Calzaghe.
Calzaghe circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice cross by Calzaghe.
Calzaghe takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Jab by Calzaghe.
A punch combination from Calzaghe misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Normandale has time to react.
Calzaghe lands a with a good body shot.
Normandale with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Calzaghe to score with a decent uppercut.

Normandale shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Normandale not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Calzaghe wants to get back to his feet.
Normandale wants to lay and pray for a moment but Calzaghe keeps working.
Calzaghe wants to stand back up but Normandale manages to pass into side control.
Calzaghe really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Normandale. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe is trying to buck Normandale off.

Normandale tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Normandale trying to control the action but Calzaghe is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Cadoc Calzaghe.
I think Calzaghe 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Cadoc Calzaghe!