PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Norman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maximus Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Norman comes to the cage accompanied by Freaks. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Norman
vs
Payne

181 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
23
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

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 Helsinki, Nathan Norman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maximus Payne!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Payne closes the distance looking to clinch

and Norman counters with a nice double leg into side control. Payne won't be happy with that.
Norman in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Payne tries to bench press Norman off him but Norman keeps the position.
Norman lands some shots froms side control.
Payne takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

Norman working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Payne pushes Norman away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Norman gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne manages to get back to half guard.
Payne trying to hold on to Norman's head to control him but Norman postures up.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Norman connects with a nice short shot to Payne's temple.
Norman trying to control from half guard but Payne is working away.
Norman scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Payne looking for submissions off his back.
Norman is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne is squirming around, avoiding Norman's attempts to control the action.
Norman raining down hammerfists from mount.
Norman connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Norman fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Norman jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Payne manages to avoid the submission attempt.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Payne manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne is trying to stand up here but Norman is controlling him well.

Payne actively working from the bottom here.
Norman is trying to control. Payne wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Payne wants to improve his position but Norman is controlling well.
Norman content to control rather than advance.
Norman landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Norman thows a huge punch but Payne dodges it nicely.

Payne actively working from the bottom here.
Norman prevents Payne from standing back up.
Norman seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Payne pushes Norman off looking to stand but Norman dives back in and keeps control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Norman drops an elbow to the side of Payne's head.

Norman decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Norman slips a jab and a cross from Payne.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Norman dominated that round.
That's time! Norman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Payne tries to clinch up.
Payne tries to clinch but Norman moves out of range.
Maximus Payne is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Payne fails with an attempt to clinch.
Norman attempts a counter takedown but Payne avoids it well and moves away.
Norman circles away from the clinch attempt

so Norman counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Norman wants to control from the top but Payne keeps moving.
Payne keeping full guard, as Norman tries to pass.
Norman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Payne can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Payne looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Payne has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Norman can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Norman stops Payne from standing up.
Norman postures up.

Payne looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Norman has picked Payne up and slammed him! Payne can't keep hold of the triangle and Norman manages to pass to side control!

Norman is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Payne has escaped the position, nice work there.
Payne is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Norman has just dragged him back down to the mat.

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.
Payne is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Norman moves into full mount!
Payne really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Norman landing strikes, looking to finish!
Norman putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Payne is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norman in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Payne is still in real trouble! Can Norman finish him?
Payne tries to hold on but Norman postures up.
Norman loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Payne scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Norman land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Norman stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nathan Norman!
A victorious Nathan Norman thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.