PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Antony Norris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Herbert Heeta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Norris
vs
Heeta

216 cm
24
194 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

184 cm
25
184 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antony Norris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Herbert Heeta!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Heeta looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Norris can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Heeta controls the pace.

Heeta drops back looking for a leg! Norris is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Norris manages to kick Heeta off! Heeta jumps back into Norris's guard.
Heeta trying to control the position from guard on top but Norris is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Norris really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heeta passes into half guard.
Heeta thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heeta throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Heeta not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Heeta is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Norris has managed to free his arm - good work.
Heeta looks to land a strike but Norris avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Norris preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Norris keeping moving, preventing Heeta from controlling successfully.
Heeta throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two 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.
Norris tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Heeta is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Antony Norris seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Norris looking to score a takedown here. Heeta is defending well but Norris drives through and ends up in Heeta's guard.
Heeta pulls Norris in close to his closed guard and prevents Norris from doing any damage or advancing position.
Heeta is continuing to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norris won't allow Heeta to get back to his feet.
Norris would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Heeta is looking for a triangle but Norris pushes his legs off easily.
Norris wants to stand but Heeta is controlling his posture from full guard.
Norris has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Norris bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Heeta being controlled for a moment.
Norris's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
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 Antony Norris will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Norris shoots in and gets a takedown into Heeta's guard.
Norris stops Heeta from standing up.
Heeta pulls Norris in to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heeta looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Norris is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norris preventing the sweep.
Heeta controls Norris momentarily but Norris frees himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Norris gets caught napping as Heeta dives in and scores a takedown. Norris manages to retain guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Heeta wants to control from the top but Norris keeps moving.
Heeta preventing the sweep.

Heeta postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Norris is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Heeta, into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norris is looking to stand up but Heeta won't let him.
Heeta controlling Norris's posture.
Antony Norris overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Norris is looking to stand up but Heeta won't let him.
Norris will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norris throws a big right hand that misses.
Heeta is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Heeta wants to sweep here but Norris controlling him for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Heeta gets caught napping as Norris dives in and scores a takedown. Heeta manages to retain guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Norris gets to his feet - Heeta follows without any prompting.

Norris is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Heeta's half guard.
Heeta trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norris is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Heeta manages to get to full guard.
Heeta has a closed guard, preventing Norris from standing up.
Norris trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Norris preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antony Norris dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Norris throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Heeta tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Norris is in Heeta's guard.
Norris is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Heeta working a defensive guard here.
Norris wants to stand and escape but instead Heeta has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heeta throws a big elbow that misses.
Heeta wants to control from the top but Norris keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heeta seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Norris throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Heeta stopping the sweep attempt from Norris.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Heeta is looking to stand up but Norris won't let him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Heeta shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Norris's guard.
Heeta wants to get up but he can't break Norris's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Heeta trying to control the position from guard on top but Norris is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Heeta throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Heeta trying to control the position from guard on top but Norris is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Norris throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heeta landing with the ground and pound.
Heeta slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Herbert Heeta has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Heeta fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Heeta cracks Norris with a big elbow.

Heeta working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Heeta is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Norris has escaped the position, nice work there.
Norris is not content to let Heeta control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Heeta postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

And that's the end of the fight!
Herbert Heeta comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Norris 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Antony Norris!