PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Malako Norris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Vargas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vargas is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by O ultimo dos moicanos. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Norris
vs
Vargas

193 cm
25
203 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
203 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 Rio de Janeiro, Malako Norris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Vargas!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Seu Braga and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vargas misses with a leg kick.
Norris lands with a shot to the body.
Norris swats away the attempt to clinch by Vargas.
Vargas takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Vargas with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Norris to score with a decent uppercut.
Norris scores with a jab to the head.
Vargas throws a nice inside leg kick.
Norris keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Vargas throws a chopping leg kick but Norris manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Norris scores with a body shot.
Vargas closes the distance and clinches up with Norris, looking for a takedown. Vargas pushes Norris against the cage but Norris circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Vargas moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice cross by Norris.
Norris scores with a jab to the jaw.
Vargas throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Rafael Vargas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vargas staying out of range there.
Vargas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Norris pinned against the cage. Norris gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Malako Norris has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Vargas.
Vargas tries to clinch up.

Vargas moves into the clinch.
Norris lands a right hand.
Norris is leaning against Vargas and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Vargas manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vargas tries to score a body lock takedown but Norris shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Norris gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Vargas.
Norris scores with a nice hook to the head.
Norris is trying to break the clinch but Vargas is controlling him.
Norris softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Vargas breaks from the clinch.
Vargas takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Vargas takes one on the button.
Vargas moves in looking to clinch but Norris pushes him off.
Norris throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Norris scores with a decent looking hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norris connects with a good right hand that stumbles Vargas. Vargas circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Vargas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Vargas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Norris lands a jab.
Norris changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Norris lands an overhand right.
Vargas throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Norris is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Vargas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vargas wants to 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.
Norris lands an overhand right.
Vargas moves forwards but Norris connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Norris moves out of range of the leg kick from Vargas.
Vargas takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Vargas with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Vargas tries to clinch but Norris moves out of range.
Vargas has a takedown stuffed.
Vargas looks gassed!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Vargas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rafael Vargas will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Norris lands a jab to the head.

Norris gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Norris prevents the takedown attempt.
Vargas is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Norris pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Vargas goes for a takedown in the clinch but Norris prevents it.
Malako Norris has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Vargas.
Vargas keeps control of Norris as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Vargas stalling the fight.
Norris wants to break the clinch but can't.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Norris creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Vargas misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Norris.
Norris is trying to break the clinch but Vargas has him pressed against the cage.
Vargas keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Norris's efforts to push away.
Vargas is breathing heavily.
Norris lands a shot to the body.
Vargas looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norris scores with a hook to the body.
Norris manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Norris lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Vargas or not.
Norris has had enough of the clinch but Vargas keeps him there for the moment.
Norris softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Norris's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Vargas looking to throw knees to the head but Norris is blocking nicely.
Norris digs a right hand underneath Vargas's ribcage. Vargas let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Norris gets underhooks to prevent Vargas's takedown attempt.
Vargas keeps control of Norris as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Norris digs a right hand into Vargas's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Vargas's gas tank.
Norris wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Good body shot from Norris.
Norris works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Norris lands a body punch in the clinch.
Norris slowing the pace effectively.
Norris lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

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.
Still in the clinch, Norris scores with a nice short uppercut.
Vargas keeps control of Norris as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A body shot lands from Norris.
Norris wants to break the clinch but can't.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Norris.
Norris digs a right hand underneath Vargas's ribcage. Vargas let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Good body shot from Norris.
Vargas tries to break the clinch but Norris is controlling the position.
A hook to the body from Norris.
A hook to the body from Norris.
Norris lands a shot to the body.
Norris is looking to break free of the clinch but Vargas has double underhooks.
Norris lands a nice shot to the body.
Norris wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Norris wants to break free but Vargas has control.
Norris manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Norris wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vargas with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Norris gets underhooks to prevent Vargas's takedown attempt.
Norris tries to circle away but Vargas has him pinned against the cage.
Norris has Vargas pushed against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Norris creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Norris is looking to break free of the clinch but Vargas has double underhooks.
Norris lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Vargas backwards.
Norris is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Norris wants to break the clinch but can't.
A body shot lands from Norris.
Norris softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Vargas has Norris pressed against the cage, preventing Norris from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Vargas goes for a takedown in the clinch but Norris prevents it.
Norris throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

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.
Vargas tries to throw a body punch but Norris avoids it by throwing Vargas back against the cage.
Nice body punch from Norris - that landed with a thud.
Norris works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Norris throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Norris lands a body shot.
Norris lands a nice shot to the body.
Vargas keeps control of Norris as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Norris digs a right hand underneath Vargas's ribcage. Vargas let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Norris wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Norris lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Vargas.
Vargas keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Norris's efforts to push away.
A nice right hand lands inside from Norris.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Norris wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Vargas has him pressed against the cage.
Norris wants to get back to striking at distance but Vargas won't allow it.
Norris will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Vargas up against the cage.
Norris lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malako Norris dominated that second round.
That's time! Norris's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Vargas drops his hands momentarily and Norris takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Norris pushes Vargas up against the cage in a clinch.
Norris works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Vargas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Vargas slips under a jab from Norris.
Norris is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Norris stuffs the takedown attempt from Vargas. Vargas gets slowly back to his feet.
Norris scores with a jab. Vargas acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vargas blocks a jab.
Vargas tries to clinch up

and Norris counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Vargas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vargas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Norris moves out of range of the leg kick from Vargas.
Malako Norris is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Norris ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Vargas tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Norris holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Vargas goes for a takedown attempt but Norris pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Vargas has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Norris finds it's way round the side to connect with Vargas's head.
Vargas gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Norris.

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.
Norris dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Vargas gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Norris.
Norris is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Rafael Vargas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vargas needs to keep his hands up - Norris had a free shot at his head there.
Norris defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Vargas.
Malako Norris has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Vargas.
Norris lands with a straight right. Vargas didn't see that one coming.
Vargas takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Norris bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Vargas's head backwards.
A right-left combo lands from Norris.
Norris is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Norris lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norris scores with a jab to the jaw.
Norris lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Vargas on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Vargas has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Norris lands with an overhand left.
Norris takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Vargas takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Norris lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Norris with a hook.
Nice shot by Norris.
Norris with a hook.
Norris fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Vargas looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vargas on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Vargas has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Norris finds it's way round the side to connect with Vargas's head.
Norris dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Norris gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nice body punch from Norris.
Norris scores with a hook to the body.
Norris scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Vargas has Norris pressed against the cage, preventing Norris from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Norris tries to circle away but Vargas has him pinned against the cage.
Norris wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Norris tries to break the clinch but Vargas is controlling the position.
Norris stalling in the clinch.
Norris lands a body punch in the clinch.
Vargas tries to break the clinch but Norris is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malako Norris showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Norris has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malako Norris!