PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gil Norman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gaius Octavius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Octavius is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Capital Steez-Shooting Stars. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Norman
vs
Octavius

198 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gil Norman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gaius Octavius!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Alexandre Firmino and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Octavius closes the distance and clinches.
Norman is stalling here.
Octavius is trying to break the clinch but Norman is controlling him.
Norman trying to stall but Octavius improves his position.
Octavius working hard to break the clinch.

Octavius manages to break the clinch.
Octavius shoots in but no luck this time.
Octavius doesn't manage to clinch there - Norman circles away.
Norman is looking to clinch but Octavius is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Octavius pushes Norman away with a front kick.
Norman is looking to clinch.
Octavius shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Norman as he jumps to the side.

Octavius looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Norman!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Octavius is looking to take a break and control but Norman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Octavius wants to stand but Norman is controlling his arm.
Norman is trying to control Octavius's posture but Octavius avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Octavius trying to control the action but Norman is working from the bottom.
Norman is looking for a sweep.
Octavius is looking to take a break and control but Norman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Octavius throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Norman stops Octavius from passing to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Octavius is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Norman is letting Octavius control him for a moment.
Norman tries to buck Octavius off but Octavius is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norman keeps Octavius under control for a moment.
Octavius grinds an elbow into Norman's temple.
Norman is trying to control Octavius's posture but Octavius avoids it.
Norman takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
You can see the frustration on Norman's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Octavius decides to stand up, so the ref orders Norman to his feet.
Octavius shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Norman defends it nicely.
Gil Norman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gaius Octavius.
Octavius looks winded!
Norman misses with a takedown attempt - Octavius sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Octavius throws a lazy head kick
and Norman makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Norman. No joy for Octavius on that attempt.
Octavius tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Octavius feints and as Norman raises his hands in defense, Octavius changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Norman wants to sweep here but Octavius controlling him for the moment.
Norman controlling Octavius's posture.
Norman bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Octavius's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gaius Octavius dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Octavius shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Norman pinned against the cage. Norman gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Octavius shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Norman is trying to defend but Octavius finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Norman trying to control here.
Octavius looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norman slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Octavius stopping the sweep attempt from Norman.
Norman controls Octavius momentarily but Octavius frees himself.
Norman wants to sweep but no luck.

Octavius stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Octavius is breathing heavily.
Octavius misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Octavius looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Octavius.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Octavius wants to lay and pray for a moment but Norman keeps working.
Norman is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Octavius's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Norman controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Norman tries to get to full guard but Octavius has control of the leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Norman manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Norman trying to keep a closed guard but Octavius is proving a slippery customer.
Norman is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

We're going to have a standup here because Gil Norman wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Norman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Octavius looking to score a takedown here. Norman is defending well but Octavius drives through and ends up in Norman's guard.
Norman is controlling Octavius's posture.
Norman looking to control.
Norman keeping moving, preventing Octavius from controlling successfully.
Octavius cracks Norman with a solid left hand.
Norman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Octavius wants to control from the top but Norman keeps moving.
Norman is trying to keep Octavius in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Norman shoots in looking for a takedown but Octavius manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Norman's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Octavius keeps the fight on the outside.
Octavius shoots in but Norman avoids the takedown attempt easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Norman tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Octavius manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Gaius Octavius will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Octavius shoots in and gets a takedown into Norman's guard.
Norman managing to control the position.
Octavius throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Norman not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Norman doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Octavius wants to control from the top but Norman keeps moving.
Norman pulls Octavius in to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Gil Norman just wasn't active enough.
Nice takedown defense from Octavius. No joy for Norman on that attempt.
Octavius shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Norman counters with a nice kick to the body.
Octavius takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norman defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Octavius.
Octavius shoots in but no luck this time.
Gil Norman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gaius Octavius.
Octavius throws a sloppy head kick and Norman moves out of range easily.
Octavius swats away the attempt to clinch by Norman.
Norman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Octavius but Octavius pushes him off and we're back to square one.
No luck for Octavius with that takedown attempt.
Gaius Octavius is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norman tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Octavius swivels and escapes.
Octavius wants to clinch

and Norman counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Norman gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Norman moves in looking to clinch but Octavius pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Octavius changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Norman tries to avoid it but Octavius manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Norman to the ground. Norman escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Norman dives in and grabs Octavius's left leg, looking for a takedown. Octavius pushes down on Norman's head and hops out.
Norman keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Norman stuffs the takedown attempt from Octavius. Octavius gets slowly back to his feet.
Norman fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norman leaves Octavius with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Norman tries to clinch there but Octavius circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gil Norman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Octavius 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gaius Octavius!
A victorious Gaius Octavius thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.