PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tanner Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Norton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tanner Stevens has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Stevens
vs
Norton

187 cm
25
235 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
26
265 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tanner Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Norton!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Stewart Dunkirk and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens throws a sloppy head kick and Norton moves out of range easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stevens.

Norton instigates a clinch.

Norton breaks the clinch.
Stevens misses with a takedown attempt

and Norton counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Norton.
Norton slowing the pace effectively.

Norton pulls guard.
Norton keeping full guard, as Stevens tries to pass.
Stevens trying to control but Norton is working from the bottom.
Norton tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Stevens has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Norton is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens stopping the sweep attempt from Norton.
Stevens pushes down on Norton's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Norton wants to get back to full guard.
Stevens moves nicely into side control.
Norton is pushing Stevens's head away, looking to escape. Stevens manages to hold on to the position though.
Stevens has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens wants to control the pace but Norton is squirming around nicely.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Norton can do anything to dispel that myth.
Stevens is really struggling to control Norton but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Stevens lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Stevens tries to control but Norton wriggling away.
Norton is in all sorts of trouble here.
Stevens lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Norton hang on?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Stevens.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Norton is squirming around, avoiding Stevens's attempts to control the action.
Norton bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Stevens looking to hit a scissor sweep but Norton is one step ahead there.
Norton really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Stevens. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens is trying to keep Norton in close.

We're going to have a standup here because Tanner Stevens wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Stevens fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stevens wants to clinch but Norton slips to the side

and Norton counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Norton.
Stevens gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Norton.

Norton's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Norton has closed the distance and engaged Stevens in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tanner Stevens dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Stevens fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Norton to the ground. Stevens is now in Norton's guard.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Norton keeps moving.
Norton trying to control the position here.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Norton keeps moving.
Stevens wants to stand but Norton is controlling his posture from full guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Stevens postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Tanner Stevens wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Norton keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Norton avoids the head kick by Stevens.

Norton forces Stevens back against the cage and clinches.
Norton has Stevens pushed against the cage.

Norton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stevens throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Norton's waist but Norton gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stevens off to one side.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stevens shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Norton counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tanner Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Norton breaks from the clinch.

Norton clinches with his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Norton breaks from the clinch.
Norton misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stevens.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stevens.
Norton misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Stevens misses with a head kick.
Norton tries to score a power double leg takedown but Stevens sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Norton somewhat.

Norton forces Stevens back against the cage and clinches.
Stevens is looking to break free of the clinch but Norton has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Norton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stevens just misses with a punch to the body.
Norton looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Horrible takedown by Norton or perhaps it was just good defense by Stevens which made him look bad.

Norton has managed to clinch.
Norton can't get the takedown.

Norton successfully pulls guard.
Norton looking to control.

Norton looking for a guillotine here but Stevens defends easily.
Norton keeping moving, preventing Stevens from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Norton had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stevens defends it easily.

Stevens gets to his feet. Norton looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stevens misses with a head kick.
Stevens just misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Norton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Norton moves into the clinch.
Norton jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Stevens walks away with a smile on his face. Norton gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Stevens looks to throw a body kick

and Norton counters by moving into the clinch.
Norton has Stevens pressed against the cage, preventing Stevens from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Stevens has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Norton is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Norton stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Stevens tries to pull guard but Norton holds him up against the cage and eventually Stevens drops back down to his feet.
Norton lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Norton works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Norton trying to control but Stevens is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stevens controls Norton momentarily but Norton frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stevens swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stevens wants to get back to his feet but Norton is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Norton stands up and waves to Stevens to follow him.

Norton takes the fight into the clinch.
Stevens throws a punch but it's blocked by Norton.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norton scores with a nice hook to the head.
A right hand to the body from Norton.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Norton.
Norton gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Norton drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Norton is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Stevens is defending well.
Tanner Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Norton.
Stevens can't break the clinch.
Stevens is trying to drag Norton to the mat but Norton just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Norton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stevens throws a right and a left that Norton avoids nicely.
Norton shoots in looking for a takedown but Stevens manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Norton's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Norton looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Norton shoots in for a takedown but Stevens shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Norton has managed to clinch.

Norton pulls guard effortlessly.
Stevens keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Norton's head.
Stevens passes Norton's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Stevens sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Norton defending well though.
Stevens missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Norton looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Stevens is trying to control. Norton wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stevens stalling away here and it's allowed Norton to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Norton being controlled here, momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Norton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Norton has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Norton!