PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sterling Elliott (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Norton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Elliott
vs
Norton

172 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sterling Elliott!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Norton!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Winston Howard and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Elliott pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Elliott shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Norton as he avoids it easily.

Elliott has taken the fight to the clinch.
Norton presses Elliott against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Norton throws a knee to the head but misses.
Norton changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Elliott fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Norton is defended easily by Elliott.
Elliott moves in looking to clinch but Norton pushes him off.
Elliott changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Norton tries to avoid it but Elliott manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Norton to the ground. Norton escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Norton circles away from the clinch attempt.
Elliott tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Norton paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Elliott could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norton is trying hard to land a takedown here. Elliott sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sterling Elliott has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Norton.
Norton wants to clinch.

Elliott clinches with his opponent.
Norton is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Elliott to keep the fight standing.

Elliott breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Norton lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Sterling Elliott has been cut.
Elliott goes for a double leg but Norton avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Norton continues to drive forward.
Elliott goes for a takedown attempt but Norton pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Norton dives in for a single leg takedown but Elliott sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norton is looking to control Elliott's arms but Elliott gets an underhook and turns him. Now Norton has his back to the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Norton is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Elliott is defending well for now.
Elliott has Norton pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Norton manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Elliott gets control of Norton's arms and successfully pulls guard. Elliott will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Elliott keeping moving, preventing Norton from controlling successfully.
Elliott keeping full guard, as Norton tries to pass.
Elliott looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Norton puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Elliott wants to control but Norton is keeping busy.
Elliott keeping control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elliott trying to hold on to Norton's head to control him but Norton postures up.
Elliott is looking to improve his position.

Elliott is defending against the submission attempts here by Norton.

Norton is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Elliott might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elliott trying to control here.

Norton decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Elliott closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Norton tries to break the clinch but Elliott is controlling the position.
Elliott dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Michael Norton will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sterling Elliott's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Norton shoots for a takedown but Elliott saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Norton clinches up with Elliott and pushes him back against the cage.
Norton is pressed up against the cage. Elliott has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Norton down to the mat. Norton avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A nice combination there by Norton.
Norton moves in looking to clinch but Elliott pushes him off.
Norton keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Elliott tries to clinch up but Norton circles away and keeps his distance.
Norton tries a head kick but it misses.

Elliott darts in and clinches Norton up against the cage.
Norton with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Elliott wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sterling Elliott. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Elliott manages to break the clinch.
Elliott swats away the attempt to clinch by Norton.
Elliott keeps Norton at a distance using the push kick.
Elliott tries to close the distance and clinch up but Norton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Norton shoots in looking for a takedown. Elliott tries to sprawl out of it but Norton keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Elliott manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Norton fails with the takedown.
Norton is breathing heavily.
Elliott misses with a head kick.
A jab lands there for Norton.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norton closes this distance looking for a takedown but Elliott circles away.
Norton throws a sloppy head kick
and Elliott counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Norton thinking.
Elliott fails with an attempt to clinch.

Elliott instigates a clinch.

Elliott manages to pull guard.
Elliott looking for a sweep. Not yet Elliott, not yet.
Elliott is trying to control the position but Norton postures up.
Norton trying to control the position from guard on top but Elliott is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Norton stopping the sweep attempt from Elliott.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Elliott is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Elliott looking to control but Norton passes into half guard.
Norton is keen to just control but Elliott is a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Norton wants to stand but Elliott has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Elliott is trying to maintain the position but Norton is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Norton escapes and gets back to his feet.
Elliott moves forwards but Norton connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Norton blocks a head kick by Elliott.

Norton moves into the clinch successfully.
Elliott has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Norton avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Elliott tries to pull guard but Norton won't allow it.
Elliott is defending well against a takedown attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Elliott wants a takedown but no success here.
Norton tries to pull guard but Elliott won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Michael Norton will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Sterling Elliott's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Norton closes the distance and clinches.
Elliott 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.
Elliott is trying to pull guard but Norton has him pressed against the cage.

Elliott escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Norton tries to land a body kick
and Elliott counters with a nice kick to the body.
Elliott throws a series of punches but Norton moves out of range.
Elliott scores with a kick to the body.
Norton ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Elliott keeps the fight on the outside.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Norton gets a takedown into half guard.
Elliott is looking to get back to is feet but Norton passes into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norton taking a breather here.
Elliott tries to escape but Norton is in control.
Norton tries to advance to mount but Elliott denies him.
Elliott is trying to escape the position but Norton is controlling the position.
Elliott managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Norton.

Norton decides to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Norton closes the distance and pushes Elliott back into the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Norton drags the fight down to the ground.
Elliott would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Norton is trying to keep Elliott in close.
Elliott looking to sit in guard and control but Norton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Norton gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Norton pushes Elliott up against the cage in a clinch.
Elliott keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Norton's efforts to push away.

Norton turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Norton has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Norton will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Elliott leaning against his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Norton's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Elliott manages to pull guard.
Norton throws a strike but Elliott rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Norton has his hands on Elliott's head, controlling the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sterling Elliott has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Norton is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Norton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Norton has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Norton!
Michael Norton thanked the fans post fight for their support.