PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Manny Kumsaloti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charlie Norris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kumsaloti
vs
Norris

194 cm
35
220 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

185 cm
21
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Manny Kumsaloti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Charlie Norris!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Paul Gruel and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kumsaloti takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kumsaloti takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Manny Kumsaloti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kumsaloti.
Norris uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kumsaloti.
Norris throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kumsaloti sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kumsaloti scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Charlie Norris has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Norris keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kumsaloti.
Kumsaloti takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Norris's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Kumsaloti connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Norris scrambles back to his feet.
Kumsaloti throws a poor cross that misses
and Norris counters with a left to the body.
Norris moves in looking to clinch but Kumsaloti pushes him off.
Kumsaloti on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kumsaloti misses with a hook. Norris ducked under it nicely.
Norris throws the left hand but Kumsaloti avoids the punch easily.
Norris wants to clinch.
Kumsaloti fails to land with a series of punches.
A swing and a miss from Norris.
Kumsaloti fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Norris has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kumsaloti lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Norris circles away quickly and effectively.
Norris avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Norris looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Norris misses with a looping right.
Norris lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kumsaloti backs up against the cage.

It looks like Manny Kumsaloti has been cut.
Norris dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Norris throws a shot from downtown. Kumsaloti moves away and avoids it.

Kumsaloti fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Norris, pushing him back against the cage.

Kumsaloti's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Norris thuds a left hand into Kumsaloti's body.
Kumsaloti misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Norris.
Norris doesn't manage to clinch there - Kumsaloti circles away.

Kumsaloti gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Norris is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Kumsaloti's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kumsaloti throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kumsaloti misses with an uppercut. Norris saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kumsaloti ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Norris moves away.
Kumsaloti throws a leg kick which misses Norris's front leg but catches the back leg as Norris tries to avoid it.
Kumsaloti swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kumsaloti throws a right hand that Norris ducks under and follows up with a left that Norris also avoids with ease.
Kumsaloti falls off balance throwing a combination
and Norris connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Norris throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Kumsaloti misses with a wild combination.
Kumsaloti getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Norris waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kumsaloti.
Kumsaloti is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Kumsaloti throws a right and a left that both miss.
Charlie Norris is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kumsaloti misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kumsaloti throws a nice outside leg kick.
Norris throws an overhand right that lands on Kumsaloti's shoulder, as Kumsaloti tries to avoid the shot.
Kumsaloti throws a combination. Norris tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Kumsaloti checks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norris throws an overhand right that lands on Kumsaloti's shoulder, as Kumsaloti tries to avoid the shot.
Kumsaloti throws a looping overhand right but Norris ducks down to avoid it.
Kumsaloti lands a really nice looking cross but Norris seems unphased.
Norris ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kumsaloti moves away.
Kumsaloti misses with a few strikes there.
Norris throws out a powerful jab.

Kumsaloti closes the distance and clinches.
Norris has had enough of the clinch but Kumsaloti keeps him there for the moment.

Kumsaloti breaks the clinch.
Kumsaloti takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kumsaloti throws a one two combo.
Kumsaloti swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Norris ducks under a wild hook from Kumsaloti.
Kumsaloti swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Norris counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kumsaloti shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Norris as he jumps to the side.
Kumsaloti throws a jab but it's blocked by Norris.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norris missing with a left hand there. Kumsaloti was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Norris tries to clinch up.
Norris misses with a looping right.
Norris misses with a looping left.
Kumsaloti takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kumsaloti circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kumsaloti lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Norris circles away quickly and effectively.
Kumsaloti on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Kumsaloti pushes Norris up against the cage in a clinch.

Kumsaloti escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Norris ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Norris misses the shot to the body.
Norris is looking to clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Norris lands with an overhand left.
Norris is looking to clinch but Kumsaloti is avoiding it.
Kumsaloti swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kumsaloti bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Norris looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Manny Kumsaloti will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kumsaloti fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Norris has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kumsaloti misses with a few strikes there.
Kumsaloti throws a lazy right hand but Norris sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Norris misses with an uppercut
and Kumsaloti counters with a left to the body.
Norris fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Kumsaloti has Norris up against the cage in a clinch.

Kumsaloti breaks the clinch.
Kumsaloti lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Norris tries to score with a low kick but Kumsaloti moves his leg out of the way.
Kumsaloti on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Kumsaloti ducks under a wild hook from Norris.
Norris throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Norris blocks the body kick.
Norris throws a body punch but Kumsaloti moves out of range.
Norris changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice jab there from Kumsaloti.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norris swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kumsaloti.
Norris scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Kumsaloti throws a right hand that Norris ducks under and follows up with a left that Norris also avoids with ease.
Norris tries to clinch up but Kumsaloti circles away and keeps his distance.
Kumsaloti takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kumsaloti blocks a jab.
Charlie Norris seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kumsaloti moves out of range of the strikes.
Norris throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kumsaloti lands a right hook to the body.
Manny Kumsaloti is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kumsaloti slips a jab from Norris.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kumsaloti misses with a series of wild punches.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kumsaloti or perhaps it was just good defense by Norris, which made it look bad.
Norris misses with a looping left.
A left lands for Norris.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norris showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kumsaloti.
Kumsaloti feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Norris's calf.
Norris throws a hook to the side of Kumsaloti's head but Kumsaloti sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Norris throws a body punch but Kumsaloti moves out of range.
Norris misses with a straight left.
Norris is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Norris jabs Kumsaloti right on the nose. Kumsaloti blinks but takes it well.
Norris tries to clinch there but Kumsaloti circles away.

Kumsaloti closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kumsaloti lands in his opponent's guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Kumsaloti stands up and waves to Norris to follow him.
Kumsaloti throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norris lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Norris moves out of range of the strikes.
Kumsaloti scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Kumsaloti takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Norris throws a leg kick that misses.
Kumsaloti throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kumsaloti swings for the body but Norris moves out of range.
Kumsaloti swings for the body but Norris moves out of range.
Norris moves out of range of the strikes.
Norris scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Kumsaloti looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Kumsaloti stands up from Norris's guard - Kumsaloti perhaps looking for a knockout.
A telegraphed right hand from Norris misses the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norris throws an overhand right that lands on Kumsaloti's shoulder, as Kumsaloti tries to avoid the shot.
Norris avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kumsaloti throws out a loose jab but Norris uses good head movement to avoid it.

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

Kumsaloti stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Norris to get to his feet.
Norris fails with an attempt to clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kumsaloti misses with a combination
and Norris counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Norris connects with a body shot.
Kumsaloti ducks under a wild hook from Norris.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Manny Kumsaloti will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kumsaloti steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Norris.
Norris is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Norris uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kumsaloti.
Kumsaloti throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kumsaloti tries to move into range but Norris moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Norris misses with a body shot.
Norris throws a lazy uppercut
and Kumsaloti counters with a slapping leg kick.
Norris keeps the fight on the outside.
Norris throws a jab when Kumsaloti was well out of range.
Kumsaloti fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kumsaloti goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Kumsaloti throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Norris throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sloppy strikes from Kumsaloti. Those never looked like landing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kumsaloti walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Norris throws a lazy right hand but Kumsaloti sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norris tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kumsaloti manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kumsaloti walks into a straight right hand from Norris.

Kumsaloti bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kumsaloti prevents Norris from escaping the position.

Kumsaloti decides to stand back up. Kumsaloti steps back and let's Norris get back to his feet.
Kumsaloti misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Norris lands a jab.
Kumsaloti takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Kumsaloti gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Norris slips under a jab.
Kumsaloti moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Norris pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kumsaloti slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kumsaloti misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Kumsaloti.
Norris throws a body shot but no joy.
Good exchange - Norris coming out on top.
Norris thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kumsaloti ducks under a wild hook from Norris.
Kumsaloti throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Norris.
Kumsaloti avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Norris throws a jab when Kumsaloti was well out of range.
Norris uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kumsaloti.
Norris scores with a sloppy right hand. Kumsaloti should have avoided that one.
A combination from Kumsaloti does no damage.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Norris lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Kumsaloti has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Kumsaloti and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Kumsaloti checks a low kick from Norris.
Norris tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kumsaloti swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norris scores with a shot to the body.
Norris throws an off balance right hand
and Kumsaloti counters with a one-two to the body.
Kumsaloti throws a series of punches but Norris avoids them all with ease.
Kumsaloti ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Norris misses with a looping left.
Kumsaloti looks to score with a jab to the body but Norris is just out of range.
Kumsaloti throws a series of punches but Norris moves out of range.
Norris throws a looping overhand right but Kumsaloti ducks down to avoid it.
Norris scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Good shot there by Norris.
Norris swinging wildly here.
Kumsaloti jabs Norris right on the nose. Norris blinks but takes it well.
Norris tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kumsaloti manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Charlie Norris has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kumsaloti gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Norris.
Manny Kumsaloti is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norris takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kumsaloti blocks a jab.
Kumsaloti circles away from the clinch attempt.

Kumsaloti has Norris up against the cage in a clinch.
Norris is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Norris is trying to force a seperation but Kumsaloti has the dominant position.
Norris tries to work over Kumsaloti's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Norris wants to get back to striking at distance but Kumsaloti won't allow it.

Kumsaloti breaks from the clinch.
Norris lands with a right hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nice jab there from Kumsaloti.
Kumsaloti looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Kumsaloti keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kumsaloti scores with a three punch combo!
Kumsaloti lands a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Charlie Norris comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kumsaloti has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manny Kumsaloti!
During a confident post fight interview, Manny Kumsaloti thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.