PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pavlo Esca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dave Norton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Esca
vs
Norton

189 cm
22
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

191 cm
22
151 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Infliction Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Pavlo Esca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dave Norton!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Hugh Johnson and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esca keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Esca scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Norton keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Norton tries to get to full guard but Esca has control of the leg.
Esca blocks the strikes from Norton.
Esca landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Norton blocking the ground and pound attempt from Esca.
Norton flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Esca lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Esca throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Esca works his way into side control.
Norton has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Norton gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Esca missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Norton keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Norton moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Esca postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esca throwing strikes from guard but Norton blocks nicely.
Norton trying to keep a closed guard but Esca is proving a slippery customer.
Esca slips nicely into half guard.
Esca has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Esca breaks from Norton's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Esca lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Norton hang on?
Norton working to try and regain half guard.
Norton in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Esca really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Norton tries to lock up and control but Esca gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Norton manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Esca thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Esca thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Norton's head.
Norton regains full guard. Nicely done.

Norton is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Norton looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esca scoring with punches to the head and body.
Esca throwing strikes but missing.

Norton has his foot on Esca's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Esca works his way back into a safe position though.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Esca accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Esca landing some decent shots from guard.
Esca stands and throws Norton's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Norton gets back to half guard.
Esca passes the guard and advances to mount!
Norton is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Norton throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Norton bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Norton drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Norton jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Esca looking to hit a scissor sweep but Norton is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norton passes Esca's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Norton working the head and body with strikes.
Esca is staying active underneath Norton, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Esca is looking for a sweep. Norton is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Still in half guard, Norton seems content to control.
Esca works his way to full guard. Good work.
Norton working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Norton is in close to Esca's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Esca keeping moving, preventing Norton from controlling successfully.
Esca wants to sweep here but Norton controlling him for the moment.
Norton passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Esca tries to buck Norton off but Norton is having none of it.

Norton decides to stand back up.
Norton shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Esca as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norton shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pavlo Esca has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dave Norton.
Esca gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Norton counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Norton will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Esca fails with the takedown

and Norton counters with a takedown into side control.
Esca prevents Norton from moving into mount.
Esca manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Norton is looking to advance position but Esca won't allow it.
Esca is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Norton is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Esca gets full guard.
Norton forces his way into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Esca throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Norton seems to be working for a kimura but Esca defends the submission attempt.
Norton lands strikes from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dave Norton will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Esca misses with a takedown attempt - Norton sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Norton shoots for a takedown but Esca saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Esca doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Norton counters with a head kick.
Dave Norton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Norton closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Norton trying to control the position but Esca is working away.
Esca is looking for a sweep.

Norton working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Esca is looking for a sweep.

Norton wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Esca, who protects the arm well.
Norton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Esca keeps working.

Norton has hold of Esca's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Esca seems comfortable defending it but Norton has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Esca is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Esca is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Norton couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Dave Norton!