PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcin Gorzalka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Peter North (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Gorzalka
vs
North

195 cm
25
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
217 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid 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, Marcin Gorzalka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Peter North!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
North throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A combination from Gorzalka does no damage.
North lands with a nice combination. Gorzalka backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Marcin Gorzalka has been cut.
North tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Peter North seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
North stuffs the takedown.
Gorzalka misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Gorzalka clinches.
Gorzalka tries to pull guard but North holds him up against the cage and eventually Gorzalka drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcin Gorzalka. That's going to take a lot out of him.

North breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gorzalka fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gorzalka shoots in for a double leg but North sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
North swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Gorzalka counter with a right hand.
North misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gorzalka avoids a punch combination nicely.

Gorzalka clinches.
North wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Gorzalka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
North misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gorzalka misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gorzalka moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Some wild striking there from North.
North looks gassed!
North thuds his right hand into Gorzalka's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
North takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Gorzalka tries to score a power double leg takedown but North sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gorzalka somewhat.
Gorzalka looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? North is fending him off so far but Gorzalka persists. Nope, North circles away and we're back to standing.
Gorzalka has a takedown stuffed.
North throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
North tries to move into range but Gorzalka moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
North gets cracked there but stands up to it.
North pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gorzalka punishes North's body with a nice straight punch.
Gorzalka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts North as he jumps to the side.
North throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gorzalka looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? North is fending him off so far but Gorzalka persists. Nope, North circles away and we're back to standing.
Gorzalka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gorzalka shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as North sprawls well. North wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gorzalka gets slowly back to his feet.
Gorzalka tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but North swivels and escapes.
Gorzalka shoots for a double leg takedown but North sprawls well. He's pushed Gorzalka's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
North throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A combination from Gorzalka does no damage.
North pulls out of a head kick attempt.
North throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
North displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gorzalka.
Gorzalka avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gorzalka shoots in for a takedown but North shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
North swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
North misses with a wild combination.
Nice takedown defense from North. No joy for Gorzalka on that attempt.
Gorzalka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts North as he jumps to the side.
Peter North is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gorzalka throws a hook but North blocks it.
North pulls out of a head kick attempt.
North misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Gorzalka moves into the clinch.
North is trying to break the clinch but Gorzalka has him pressed against the cage.
Gorzalka jumps guard but North stands there with Gorzalka around his waist. Gorzalka gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gorzalka goes for a takedown attempt but North pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
North drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
North cracks Gorzalka with an open hand slap.
Gorzalka shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as North sprawls well. North wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gorzalka gets slowly back to his feet.
North throws a sloppy head kick and Gorzalka moves out of range easily.
North pulls out of a head kick attempt.
North tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gorzalka misses with a jab, cross combination.
North misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gorzalka shoots for a double leg takedown but North sprawls well. He's pushed Gorzalka's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gorzalka fails with the takedown.
North misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gorzalka will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
North misses with a hook. Gorzalka ducked under it nicely.
North lands a high kick!
North lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gorzalka circles away quickly and effectively.
North slaps away a takedown attempt from Gorzalka, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Peter North will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Marcin Gorzalka's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

North tries to bum rush Gorzalka with a series of wild strikes but Gorzalka uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gorzalka looks for a takedown but North sprawls well.
Gorzalka throws a jab but it's blocked by North.
North misses with a head kick.
North tries to move into range but Gorzalka moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
North throws a series of punches but Gorzalka avoids them all with ease.
North throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gorzalka throws a series of punches but North avoids them all with ease.
Gorzalka avoids the head kick by North.
Gorzalka shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with North but North pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Gorzalka!
North tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A shot to the liver by Gorzalka. Beautiful body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gorzalka lands a nice shot to the body.
Gorzalka scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gorzalka uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Gorzalka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts North as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcin Gorzalka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
North throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gorzalka lands a right hook to the body.
North throws a sloppy head kick and Gorzalka moves out of range easily.
A left and a right from Gorzalka both land. Nice combination.
Gorzalka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. North tries to avoid it but Gorzalka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag North to the ground. North escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gorzalka wants to clinch.
A punch combination from North misses.
Gorzalka scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
North throws a head kick that misses.
Marcin Gorzalka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gorzalka scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. North doesn't seem bothered though.
Gorzalka scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Gorzalka scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Gorzalka darts in and clinches North up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gorzalka wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gorzalka tries to break the clinch but North is controlling the position.
North is trying to push Gorzalka away but Gorzalka has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Gorzalka lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

North breaks the clinch.
North avoids the body shot from Gorzalka.
Marcin Gorzalka is winning the standup battle so far.
North scores with a head kick. Gorzalka tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Gorzalka moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
North displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gorzalka.
North fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sloppy strikes from North. Those never looked like landing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gorzalka is defended easily by North.
North rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gorzalka moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gorzalka clinches up with North and pushes him back against the cage.
Gorzalka tries to score a body lock takedown but North shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Gorzalka tries to pull guard but North holds him up against the cage and eventually Gorzalka drops back down to his feet.

Gorzalka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
North stalks Gorzalka and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Gorzalka's face. Gorzalka staggers backwards, shaken.
North misses with the combination.

Gorzalka rushes North and presses him up against the cage.
North tries to break free but Gorzalka pushes him back against the cage.

Gorzalka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
North throws a nice looking combination but Gorzalka bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gorzalka lands with an overhand left.

Gorzalka instigates a clinch.
North prevents the takedown attempt.
North is trying to break the clinch but Gorzalka is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gorzalka drops to a knee looking for a takedown but North gets the underhooks and prevents it.

North's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gorzalka shoots in looking for a takedown but North manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gorzalka's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A head kick misses from Gorzalka.
North misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
North throws a sloppy head kick and Gorzalka moves out of range easily.

Gorzalka fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with North, pushing him back against the cage.
Gorzalka looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Gorzalka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gorzalka avoids the head kick by North.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
North misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gorzalka shoots in and drives through. North sprawls well.
Gorzalka shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says North as he avoids it easily.
North throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcin Gorzalka dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Marcin Gorzalka's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Gorzalka wants to land a leg kick but North is out of range.
Gorzalka shoots in for a takedown but North shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
North misses with a wild combination.
Gorzalka looks to score with a jab to the body but North is just out of range.
North tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
North misses with a head kick.

Gorzalka moves into range and clinches up with North.
Gorzalka tries to pull guard but North won't allow it.

Gorzalka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A right-left combo lands from Gorzalka.
North throws a head kick but Gorzalka moves out of range.
Gorzalka uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before North has time to react.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
North drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
North tries to bum rush Gorzalka with a series of wild strikes but Gorzalka uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gorzalka.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcin Gorzalka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
North scores with a head kick. Gorzalka tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
North displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gorzalka.
North throws a sloppy head kick and Gorzalka moves out of range easily.
Gorzalka tries to clinch up.
Gorzalka shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. North defends it nicely.
North throws a right hand that Gorzalka ducks under and follows up with a left that Gorzalka also avoids with ease.
Gorzalka shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
North misses with a few strikes there.
North avoids the head kick by Gorzalka.
A combination from North does no damage.
North takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Nice takedown defense from North. No joy for Gorzalka on that attempt.
Gorzalka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
North looks to land a combination but Gorzalka avoids it well.
Gorzalka connects with a body shot that sends North's belly button to the back.

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.
North throws a head kick that misses.
Gorzalka fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but North avoids it really well and circles away.
North pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from North.
Gorzalka shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says North as he avoids it easily.
North scores with a head kick.
Nice shot lands for Gorzalka.
Gorzalka avoids the head kick by North.
Gorzalka fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and North has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Gorzalka fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
North lands a jab to the head.
Gorzalka showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from North.
Gorzalka fails with the takedown.
A combination from Gorzalka does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
North throws a leg kick but Gorzalka sees it coming and moves out of range.
Gorzalka throws a body punch but North moves out of range.
Gorzalka takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Gorzalka gets the takedown into side control.
North wants to get back to his feet.
North tries to buck Gorzalka off but Gorzalka is having none of it.
North is being controlled here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gorzalka working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gorzalka decides to take the fight back to the feet.
North throws a leg kick but Gorzalka checks it.
Gorzalka moves out of range as North strikes.
North dodges the punch combination from Gorzalka.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcin Gorzalka showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gorzalka 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcin Gorzalka!