PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Valdemar Friman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Santeri Norzu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Friman comes to the cage accompanied by Metallica - Damage Inc.. Norzu has chosen Cult of Luna - Back To Chapel Town as his entrance music. Valdemar Friman has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Friman
vs
Norzu

168 cm
33
160 lbs
19 - 16 - 0

185 cm
29
163 lbs
23 - 14 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
World class MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Valdemar Friman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Santeri Norzu!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Friman goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Santeri Norzu has been cut.
Friman takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Norzu moves out of range of the strikes.
Friman throws a hook but Norzu avoids it easily.
Nice body punch from Norzu.
Norzu throws a wild body kick that Friman sees coming a mile off.
Friman closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Norzu tests Friman's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Friman tries a head kick but it misses.
Norzu avoids a punch combination nicely.
Friman misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Friman misses with a double jab.
Friman thuds a left hand into Norzu's body.
Norzu fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Friman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Friman misses with a series of wild punches.
Friman paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Valdemar Friman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Friman has taken the fight to the clinch.
Norzu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Norzu has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Friman uses from the top position.
Friman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Norzu works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Norzu is pulling down on Friman's head to control his posture.

Norzu had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Friman defends it easily.
Friman passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Friman wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Norzu, who protects the arm well.
Friman lands some shots froms side control.
Friman connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Norzu some visible discomfort.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Friman is putting a hurting on Norzu here, landing some big shots from side control.

Friman is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Norzu knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Friman tries to score with some ground and pound. Norzu controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Friman is trying to ground and pound but Norzu uses the momentary lack of control by Friman to regain half guard.
Norzu is trying to get back to full guard.
Friman has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Friman looking to finish with strikes here!
Friman sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norzu is working to get back to half guard.
Norzu in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Friman scoring with strikes but Norzu is staying in there.
Friman avoids the attempt from Norzu to control.
Norzu is working to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Norzu is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Friman can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Norzu is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valdemar Friman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Santeri Norzu's cut.
That's time! Friman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Friman moves into the clinch.
Norzu misses with a hook to the ribs.
Norzu gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Friman.

Norzu manages to break the clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Friman misses the target.
Norzu moves out of range as Friman strikes.
Norzu bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
That kick from Norzu tenderised Friman's leg. Friman is trying to keep his angry face on.
A slapping leg kick lands for Norzu.
Friman misses with a series of wild punches.
Norzu looks to land a body kick but Friman moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norzu lets loose with a powerful body kick. Friman will feel that in the morning.
Friman misses with a double jab
and Norzu counters with a three punch combo that has Friman backing up. Friman nods at Norzu to acknowledge the strikes.
Friman throws a head kick but Norzu moves out of range.
Norzu avoids a punch combination nicely.
Friman swinging wildly here.
Norzu tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Friman is able to avoid easily.
Norzu explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Santeri Norzu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Norzu looks to land a body kick but Friman moved away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Friman misses with a right hand
and Norzu cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Decent striking displayed by Norzu there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Friman will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Friman changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Norzu tries to avoid it but Friman manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Norzu to the ground. Norzu escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Friman gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Norzu cracks Friman with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Norzu has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Friman to stand back up!

Friman is rocked!
Friman is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Norzu's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Friman fails in his attempt to clinch.
Oh Friman is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Friman looks up at the clock. Bad move! Norzu lands a right hand from hell, dropping Friman. Norzu pounces and finishes the fight with a flurry of punches and elbows.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Santeri Norzu!
Santeri Norzu managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Perkele!, into his post fight interview.