PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Donald Duff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan Norman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Duff comes to the cage accompanied by Carmina Burana. Norman comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Freaks kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! This should be a great matchup!

Duff
vs
Norman

178 cm
28
180 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

181 cm
18
180 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

One stop Shop $30 and below

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Donald Duff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nathan Norman!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Norman scores with a jab to the head.

Norman shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Duff manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Norman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Duff working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Norman doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Norman manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Duff escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Norman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Duff looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Duff working for a triangle but Norman defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Duff looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Duff looking for subs off his back but Norman has passed one foot through into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Norman is trying to control. Duff wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Norman has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Duff tries to reverse the position but Norman maintains control.
We've been hearing good reports from Duff's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duff gets back to half guard.
Norman thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Duff's head.

Duff looking for submissions off his back.

Norman moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Duff.
Duff tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Norman presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Duff is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duff regains half guard.

Duff looking for submissions off his back.
Duff is pressing down on Norman's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Duff working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Norman has passed into half guard!

Duff actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Duff looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Duff looking for submissions off his back.
Norman thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Duff's head.

Duff is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Norman pulls his head out easily.

Duff looking for submissions off his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Norman sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Duff defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Norman shoots in and gets a takedown into Duff's guard.

Norman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Duff escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Norman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Duff throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Duff looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Norman wants to stand but Duff is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Duff looking for a guillotine here but Norman defends easily.

Duff had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Norman defends it easily.

Duff working for a triangle but Norman defends it easily.
Duff keeping moving, preventing Norman from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Norman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Duff swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nathan Norman has got the better of the ground game so far.

Duff working for a triangle but Norman defends it easily.

Duff looking for a guillotine here but Norman defends easily.

Duff is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Duff working for a triangle but Norman defends it easily.
Duff keeping moving, preventing Norman from controlling successfully.
Norman looking to pass the guard.

Duff working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Norman has passed into half guard!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Duff actively working from the bottom here.
Norman seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Duff does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've been informed that Norman has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Duff with the active half guard here but Norman passes nicely into side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Duff is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Norman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Norman tries to land a leg kick but Duff saw it coming and moves away.

Norman closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Duff looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Norman wants to take a breather but Duff is having none of it.
Norman tries to pass to full mount but Duff defends it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Duff manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Norman with a nice head shot there.

Norman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norman has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Duff is proving hard to escape from.

Duff throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Norman escapes and throws Duff's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Duff is looking for a sweep.
Duff manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

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

Duff looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Duff is looking for a kimura here.
Norman won't allow Duff to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duff passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Norman!

Duff moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Norman has worked his arm free - good work by Norman!
Norman is trying to get back to half guard.

Duff goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Norman rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Duff's guard! Nice work there by Norman!
Duff keeping full guard, as Norman tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Duff working for submissions but it's allowed Norman to get to half guard.
Nathan Norman is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Duff looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Donald Duff has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Duff looking for submissions off his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Duff flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nathan Norman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Norman 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathan Norman!
After winning the bout, Nathan Norman thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.