PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between James Normandy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronaldo Cristiano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ronaldo Cristiano is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Normandy
vs
Cristiano

157 cm
25
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

162 cm
26
137 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Normandy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ronaldo Cristiano!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Chris Downing and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cristiano shoots in looking for a takedown but Normandy manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cristiano's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cristiano stuffs the takedown.

Normandy throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Cristiano tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Normandy is in Cristiano's guard.
Normandy wants to control from the top but Cristiano keeps moving.

Normandy drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Normandy jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Normandy trying to control but Cristiano is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Normandy drops back, looking for a kneebar! Cristiano looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Cristiano looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Cristiano!
Normandy is trying to buck Cristiano off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Normandy struggling a bit here.

Cristiano decides to stand back up. Cristiano steps back and let's Normandy get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Normandy shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Cristiano napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Cristiano throws Normandy to one side and escapes!
Normandy scores with a crisp jab that stopped Cristiano in his tracks.
Normandy takes a swing at Cristiano's ribcage but misses.
Cristiano slaps away a takedown attempt from Normandy, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Normandy.
Normandy looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Normandy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Normandy misses with a head kick.
Cristiano tries to counter with a clinch but Normandy shakes him off and moves away.
Normandy looks to throw the jab but Cristiano is out of range.
Normandy stuffs the takedown.
Normandy is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Normandy lands a jab.
Cristiano shoots in but no luck this time.
Cristiano looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Normandy misses with a body kick.
Normandy has a takedown stuffed.
Cristiano dives in and grabs Normandy's left leg, looking for a takedown. Normandy pushes down on Cristiano's head and hops out.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Normandy - that will leave a mark!
Cristiano throws a front kick that sends Normandy stumbling back into the cage.
Normandy swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Normandy throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Cristiano on the side of the head.
Normandy tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cristiano misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Normandy delivers a nice body kick.
James Normandy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cristiano shoots in but Normandy avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cristiano takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Normandy!
Normandy connects with a body shot that sends Cristiano's belly button to the back.
Normandy shoots in for a takedown but Cristiano shows good takedown defense.
Normandy explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Cristiano tries for a takedown but Normandy circles away easily
and Normandy makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Normandy lands a nice shot that snaps Cristiano's head back.
Cristiano shoots in for a takedown but Normandy shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Normandy feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Normandy drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Normandy jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Cristiano wants to stand and escape but Normandy is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Normandy is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
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!

Normandy is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Normandy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cristiano is keeping the position for now.
Cristiano is trying to control the position but Normandy postures up.
Normandy pushing down on Cristiano's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Normandy content to control rather than advance.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Normandy.
Cristiano takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Normandy could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Normandy scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Cristiano shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Normandy defends it nicely.
Normandy is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cristiano can do to turn this around?
Normandy scores with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Normandy changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Normandy throws a head kick that misses.
Ronaldo Cristiano is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cristiano uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Normandy.
Normandy tests Cristiano's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Normandy goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Normandy scores with a body shot.
Cristiano has a takedown stuffed.
Cristiano is breathing heavily.
Cristiano looks to land a body kick but Normandy moved away.
Normandy drops down looking for a counter takedown but Cristiano sprawls and moves away.
James Normandy is winning the standup battle so far.
Normandy fails with a takedown attempt.
Normandy stuffs the takedown attempt from Cristiano. Cristiano gets slowly back to his feet.
James Normandy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronaldo Cristiano.
Normandy thumps Cristiano with a low kick.
Normandy has a takedown stuffed.
Cristiano dodges the punch combination from Normandy.
Cristiano tries to counter by closing the distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Normandy throws a right and a left that Cristiano avoids nicely.
Normandy scores with a body shot.
Normandy throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Cristiano blocks a head kick by Normandy.
Cristiano fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cristiano takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Cristiano has managed to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cristiano makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A short uppercut from Cristiano.
Cristiano putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Normandy in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Cristiano scores a nice knee to the body.
Cristiano landing knees to the head.
Cristiano lands a right hand.
Normandy tries to stall but Cristiano uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Cristiano lands a left hand that snaps the head of Normandy backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Normandy is trying to maintain a safe position but Cristiano gets an underhook and turns Normandy into the cage.
Cristiano lands a knee to the body.
Good body shot from Cristiano.
Cristiano scores a nice knee to the body.
Cristiano landing knees to the body.
Normandy blocks an uppercut.
Normandy doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Normandy gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
We've been informed that Cristiano has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Cristiano lands with a short shot to the head.
Normandy swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ronaldo Cristiano seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Cristiano putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Normandy in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Cristiano throws a knee to the head but misses.
Normandy misses with a punch to the body.
Cristiano tries to work over Normandy's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Normandy is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Cristiano to keep the fight standing.
Cristiano tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Normandy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cristiano fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Normandy scores with a nice head shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice body punch from Normandy.
Normandy goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Normandy sets himself, and Cristiano steps forward looking for the clinch! Normandy avoids it this time.

Normandy closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Normandy lands in his opponent's guard.

Cristiano scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Normandy gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Cristiano counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cristiano.
Cristiano connects with a knee to the head.
Cristiano tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Normandy avoids it.
Nice body punch from Normandy.
Nice body punch from Normandy - that landed with a thud.
Normandy with an attempt at a knee that misses.
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 James Normandy will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Cristiano defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Normandy.
Cristiano tries to clinch up.
Normandy was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Normandy misses with a takedown attempt - Cristiano sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
No joy there for Normandy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cristiano doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Cristiano dives in for a single leg takedown but Normandy sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Normandy throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cristiano looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Cristiano walks into a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Normandy bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Normandy throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Normandy lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Cristiano lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Normandy circles away quickly and effectively.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cristiano tries to close the distance and clinch but Normandy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Normandy digs a good hook to Cristiano's body.
A punch lands to the side of Cristiano 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Cristiano gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A head punch on the inside from Normandy fails to land.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Cristiano.
Normandy lands a hook to the side of the head.
Normandy tries to pull guard but Cristiano forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Normandy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cristiano unloads a knee to the mid-section. Normandy lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Cristiano with a knee to the head.
Normandy misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cristiano misses with a body punch.
Normandy swings wildly with an uppercut but Cristiano uses good head movement to avoid it.
Still in the clinch, Cristiano scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ronaldo Cristiano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Cristiano.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cristiano works on Normandy's body with a couple of short punches.
Normandy misses with the head strike.
Cristiano lands a body punch in the clinch.
Normandy misses with some punches.
Normandy lands a left hand.
Normandy takes a knee right on the jaw!
Cristiano lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Cristiano throws an elbow that misses.
Normandy has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cristiano misses with a punch on the inside.
Cristiano tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Normandy avoids it.

Normandy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cristiano takes a shot right to the bread basket.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Normandy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Normandy misses with a kick to the body.
Cristiano steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Normandy.
Normandy lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Normandy pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Cristiano back to the cage. Normandy follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Cristiano is looking to clinch but Normandy is avoiding it.
Normandy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cristiano looks for a takedown but Normandy sprawls well.
Normandy throws a head kick that misses.
Cristiano goes for a double leg but Normandy avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Normandy continues to drive forward.

Normandy throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Cristiano tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Normandy is in Cristiano's guard.

Cristiano pushes Normandy off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cristiano tries to clinch but Normandy is having none of it.
Normandy lands a nice looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cristiano has a takedown stuffed.
Normandy lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Normandy wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A solid leg kick lands there for Normandy.

Cristiano closes the distance and clinches.
Cristiano lands an elbow that stopped Normandy in his tracks for a moment.
Cristiano presses Normandy against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Cristiano scores with a nice hook to the head.
Still in the clinch, Normandy scores with a nice short uppercut.
Normandy is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cristiano lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Normandy swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cristiano lands a body punch.
Cristiano lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

And that's the end of the fight!
James Normandy showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Normandy, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Normandy!