PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James McFist (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Norbury (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Norbury has chosen critical mass - nuclear assault as his entrance music. Mark Norbury will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

McFist
vs
Norbury

195 cm
20
215 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

184 cm
19
200 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, James McFist!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mark Norbury!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Mauricio Rocha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McFist misses with a two punch combination.
James McFist seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Norbury misses with a head kick.
Norbury dodges the punch combination from McFist.
Norbury shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McFist throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Mark Norbury has been cut.
Norbury fails with an attempt to clinch.
Norbury shoots in looking for a takedown. McFist tries to sprawl out of it but Norbury keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. McFist manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

McFist looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
McFist prevents Norbury from improving his position.
McFist lands strikes from half guard.
McFist will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
McFist seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norbury works his way to full guard. Good work.
Norbury trying to keep a closed guard but McFist is proving a slippery customer.
McFist trying to stand up but can't free himself from Norbury's guard.
McFist lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
McFist is breathing heavily.
McFist wants to stand but Norbury is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Norbury shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and McFist counters with a two punch combo.
James McFist has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Norbury.
Norbury with a poor takedown
and McFist counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Norbury tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McFist swivels and escapes.
McFist will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McFist keeps the fight on the outside.

Norbury shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Norbury showed some decent athleticism there.

McFist kicks off Norbury and gets to his feet.

McFist closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - McFist lands in his opponent's guard.
Norbury trying to control the position.
Norbury is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
McFist is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Norbury wants to stand up but McFist has a hold of him and won't allow it.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Norbury stops McFist from getting back to his feet.
McFist wants to control but Norbury is keeping busy.
McFist is looking for a sweep. Norbury is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Norbury stops McFist from getting back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
McFist throws a right and a left that Norbury avoids nicely.
McFist misses with a two punch combination.
Norbury moves forwards but McFist connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Norbury scores with a takedown into McFist's guard.
McFist keeping full guard, as Norbury tries to pass.
Norbury trying to control the position from guard on top but McFist is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

McFist pushes Norbury off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
McFist tries to land a front kick but Norbury steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Horrible takedown by McFist or perhaps it was just good defense by Norbury which made him look bad.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Norbury is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McFist throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Norbury.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James McFist dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mark Norbury's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Norbury misses with a takedown attempt
and McFist counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A combination from McFist does no damage.
Decent striking displayed by McFist there.
McFist comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Norbury tries to clinch but fails miserably
and McFist counters with a one-two to the body.
Norbury tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and McFist counters with a left and a right that stings Norbury.

That has opened up Mark Norbury's cut even more.
Norbury tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McFist throws a nice looking combination but Norbury bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McFist misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norbury fails with a takedown attempt.
McFist looks to land a combination. Norbury sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Norbury is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McFist scores with the left hand. Norbury knows he should have avoided that one.
Norbury tries to clinch
and McFist counters with a straight right hand.
Norbury slips a jab and a cross from McFist.
Norbury showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McFist.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Norbury tries to clinch but McFist moves away
and McFist cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Norbury wants to clinch but McFist slips to the side
and McFist counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
James McFist is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McFist throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
McFist throws a right and a left that Norbury avoids nicely.
McFist misses with a jab, cross combination.
Norbury tries to clinch up but McFist circles away and keeps his distance.
McFist misses with a wild body shot.
Norbury tries to clinch but fails miserably
and McFist connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McFist avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Norbury wants to clinch
and McFist counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norbury shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and McFist counters with a two punch combo.
James McFist has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Norbury.
McFist throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Norbury.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by McFist!
McFist rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Norbury moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
McFist misses with a takedown
and Norbury counters with a big head kick but McFist shrugs it off.
A jab from McFist finds it's way through Norbury's defenses.
McFist throws a left and a right that both miss

and Norbury counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for McFist!
Norbury won't let McFist get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

Norbury is working for a guillotine from mount but McFist frees his head quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McFist is squirming around, avoiding Norbury's attempts to control the action.
Norbury won't let McFist get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

Norbury is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. McFist can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
McFist regains half guard.
Norbury stops McFist from getting back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McFist misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Mark Norbury has got the better of the ground game so far.
McFist wants to get back to his feet.
McFist is refusing to be controlled, as Norbury sits in half guard.

Norbury is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mark Norbury will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Mark Norbury's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Norbury tries for a takedown but McFist sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Norbury tries to clinch but McFist is having none of it.
McFist scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Norbury shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and McFist counters with a three punch combo that has Norbury backing up. Norbury nods at McFist to acknowledge the strikes.

The cut above Mark Norbury's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
McFist misses with a double jab

and Norbury counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

McFist pushes Norbury off and scrambles back to his feet.
McFist just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Norbury fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with McFist, pushing him back against the ropes.
McFist wants to break free but Norbury has control.
Norbury looking to stall.
Norbury lands a body punch.
McFist wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Norbury has him pressed against the ropes.
McFist is trying to break the clinch but Norbury has him pressed against the ropes.
McFist is trying to break free.
McFist is trying to break the clinch but Norbury has him pressed against the ropes.
McFist is trying to break the clinch but Norbury has him pressed against the ropes.

McFist breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Norbury tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and McFist connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Norbury shoots and misses
letting McFist counter with a right hand.
James McFist has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Norbury.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McFist looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McFist throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Norbury counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
McFist wants to get back to striking at distance but Norbury won't allow it.
Norbury is trying to stall.
Norbury connects with a nasty looking knee right to McFist's face.
Norbury is looking to control McFist's arms but McFist gets an underhook and turns him. Now Norbury has his back to the ropes.
McFist wants to break the clinch but can't.
McFist has had enough of the clinch but Norbury keeps him there for the moment.
McFist wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Norbury has him pressed against the ropes.
McFist drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Norbury gets the underhooks and prevents it.
McFist prevents a takedown attempt there.
McFist wants to get back to striking at distance but Norbury won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McFist wants to break the clinch but can't.
McFist wants to get back to striking at distance but Norbury won't allow it.
Norbury misses with a knee to the head.
Norbury tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. McFist just stands there and leans against the ropes.

McFist manages to break the clinch.
Norbury wants to clinch
and McFist counters with a straight right hand.
A big right from McFist misses.

Norbury drives through with a takedown into guard.
McFist wants to stand but Norbury is controlling the position.
Norbury must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Norbury wants to control from the top but McFist keeps moving.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Norbury might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control McFist kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McFist is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Norbury is controlling him.

McFist manages to escape and get back to his feet.
McFist throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Norbury counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Norbury.

McFist kicks Norbury off and gets to his feet.
McFist swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Norbury counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Norbury is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and McFist defends it well.

McFist kicks off Norbury and gets to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Norbury has his takedown stuffed
and McFist counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Norbury thinking.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Norbury comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Norbury 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Norbury!