PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Clayton Norcross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tino Joze (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Joze's choice of entrance music: Linkin Park - In The End . Tino Joze is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Norcross
vs
Joze

197 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
204 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Clayton Norcross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tino Joze!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Norcross moves in looking to clinch but Joze pushes him off.
Joze circles away from the clinch attempt.
Norcross keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Norcross tries to clinch up.
Norcross keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Norcross wants to clinch.

Joze shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Norcross is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Joze unloading with bombs!
Norcross wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norcross in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Norcross wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Joze.
Joze throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Norcross knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Joze on the ground.
Joze thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Norcross holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Joze tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Joze has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Joze throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Joze thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Norcross blocking the ground and pound.
Joze throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Norcross because Joze loaded up on that one.
Joze punching from mount but Norcross doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Norcross is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Joze lands with some strikes.
Norcross is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Norcross trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Joze misses with a head shot.
Joze looking to finish with strikes here!
Joze thowing shots but they're missing.
Joze is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norcross is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Joze sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Joze looks gassed!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Norcross is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Joze looking to finish with strikes here!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joze throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Norcross in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Joze trying to control but Norcross is having none of it.
Joze thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's four 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.
Norcross avoids a series of strikes thrown by Joze.
Norcross's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Joze throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Joze won't let Norcross get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Joze throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Joze throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Norcross really wants to buck Joze off and get back to his feet.
Joze landing punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tino Joze dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Norcross tries to clinch up.
Joze throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Norcross's waist but Norcross gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Joze off to one side.

Norcross closes the distance and clinches.
Norcross is looking to break free of the clinch but Joze has double underhooks.
Norcross wants to break the clinch but can't.
Joze tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Norcross just stands there and leans against the cage.
Norcross wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Norcross fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Norcross is looking to break free of the clinch but Joze has double underhooks.
Joze jumps guard but Norcross stands there with Joze around his waist. Joze gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Clayton Norcross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tino Joze.

Joze jumps into guard, dragging Norcross to the mat.
Joze looking to control.
Joze is breathing heavily.
Norcross would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joze looking to hit a scissor sweep but Norcross is one step ahead there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Norcross fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two 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.
Joze tries to move into range but Norcross moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Norcross throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Joze's head.
Clayton Norcross is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Norcross moves in looking to clinch but Joze pushes him off.

Norcross moves into the clinch.
Joze is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Norcross is keeping busy.
Norcross gets underhooks to prevent Joze's takedown attempt.
Norcross wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Norcross has had enough of the clinch but Joze keeps him there for the moment.
Norcross has a couple of punches blocked by Joze.
Norcross tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Joze's elbow.
Joze jumps guard but Norcross stands there with Joze around his waist. Joze gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Norcross misses with a punch to the body.
Norcross wants to get back to striking at distance but Joze won't allow it.
Joze tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Norcross wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Joze has him pressed against the cage.
Norcross misses with some punches.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Joze is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Norcross working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norcross slows down the pace here.
Norcross looking to slow down the pace here.
Norcross is trying to break the clinch but Joze is controlling him.
Joze fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Norcross pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Joze keeps the fight on the outside.
Norcross goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Norcross tries to clinch up.
Joze circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Norcross looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Norcross dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Joze swats away the attempt to clinch by Norcross.
Joze takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norcross is looking to clinch but Joze is avoiding it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Norcross looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A good leg kick by Norcross.
Joze throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Norcross's waist but Norcross gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Joze off to one side.
Clayton Norcross is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Norcross fails in his attempt to clinch.
Norcross tries to clinch up but Joze circles away and keeps his distance.
Norcross fails in his attempt to clinch.
Joze swats away the attempt to clinch by Norcross.
Norcross doesn't manage to clinch there - Joze circles away.
Norcross scores with a three punch combo!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clayton Norcross 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!

Norcross doesn't manage to clinch there - Joze circles away.

It looks like Tino Joze has been cut.
Norcross fails with an attempt to clinch.
Joze takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Joze misses with an attempted mid kick.
Clayton Norcross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Norcross tries to clinch but Joze is having none of it.
Norcross tries to clinch up but Joze circles away and keeps his distance.
Norcross lands a nice shot to the body.
Joze fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Norcross moves in looking to clinch but Joze pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norcross tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Joze paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Joze takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Norcross is looking to clinch.
Joze shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Norcross as he avoids it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Norcross looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norcross connects with a high kick.
Norcross tries to clinch up.
Norcross wants to clinch.
A decent looking cross lands there for Norcross.
Norcross tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Joze paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Joze circles away from the clinch attempt.
Norcross wants to clinch.
Norcross is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Joze swats away the attempt to clinch by Norcross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Norcross rushes Joze and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Joze goes for a takedown attempt but Norcross pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Clayton Norcross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tino Joze.
Norcross goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Norcross fails in his attempt to clinch.
Norcross throws a nice head kick!
Norcross tries to close the distance and clinch up but Joze swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Norcross fails in his attempt to clinch.
Norcross throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Norcross lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Joze backs up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Norcross looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Norcross fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norcross tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A solid leg kick lands there for Norcross.
Norcross fails with an attempt to clinch.
Norcross tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Joze paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Norcross has managed to clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Norcross.
Norcross has had enough of the clinch but Joze keeps him there for the moment.
Norcross tries to throw a body punch but Joze avoids it by throwing Norcross back against the cage.

Norcross manages to break the clinch.
Norcross throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Norcross is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Norcross throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Joze misses with a low kick as Norcross jumps back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norcross tries to clinch but Joze is having none of it.
Norcross tries to clinch but Joze moves out of range.
Norcross wants to clinch.
Norcross tries to close the distance and clinch up but Joze swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Norcross tries to clinch but Joze moves out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Joze.
Norcross tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Joze paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Norcross throws a front kick that sends Joze stumbling back into the cage.
Norcross tries to clinch but Joze moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Clayton Norcross showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Norcross has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Clayton Norcross!