PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alec Norris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vicktor Rusev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Norris
vs
Rusev

150 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alec Norris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Vicktor Rusev!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Donatello Bradman and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Norris dodges the punch combination from Rusev.

Norris pushes Rusev up against the cage in a clinch.

Norris is fighting off a takedown attempt but Rusev is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Norris to the mat. Norris regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Norris is looking to stand back up but Rusev counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Norris.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Norris is trying to stand back up but Rusev is controlling him
Rusev trying to advance position but Norris counters by regaining guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rusev stays in close to Norris's body and controls the position.
Rusev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Norris swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Norris is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rusev defends well.
Rusev is stalling in the full guard.

Rusev drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Norris manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rusev has Norris in his guard.

Norris preventing the sweep.

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.
Rusev is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Norris is controlling him.

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

Norris closes the distance and clinches.

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

Norris clinches up against the cage.
Norris wants to get back to striking at distance but Rusev won't allow it.
Norris stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusev missing with knees to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Rusev.

Norris's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Norris moves in looking to clinch but Rusev pushes him off.
Rusev wants to counter with a clinch but Norris pushes him away.
Norris is looking to clinch but Rusev is avoiding it.
Rusev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Norris doesn't manage to clinch there - Rusev circles away.

Rusev closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Norris quickly recovers to half guard.
Rusev content to control rather than advance.
Norris is trying to stand up here but Rusev is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rusev thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rusev wants to stand up but Norris is controlling the position.
Rusev perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Norris actively working from the bottom here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rusev is thwarting Norris's attempts to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rusev fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Norris to the ground. Rusev is now in Norris's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vicktor Rusev will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Norris rushes Rusev and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Norris slows down the pace here.

Rusev works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Norris pushes Rusev off and gets back to his feet.
Rusev swats away the attempt to clinch by Norris.
Rusev goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norris tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rusev tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Norris has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Norris there as he acknowledges the shot.

Rusev rushes Norris and presses him up against the cage.
Norris is stalling here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norris looking to stall.
Rusev taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Norris jumps into guard, dragging Rusev to the mat.
Norris might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rusev sitting in guard here, content to control.

Norris has his foot on Rusev's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rusev works his way back into a safe position though.
Rusev slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rusev's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Norris really is a fat lump.

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.
Rusev has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Norris is proving hard to escape from.
Rusev controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Norris is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rusev wants to control from the top but Norris keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rusev darts in and clinches Norris up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Norris's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Norris pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rusev closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Norris is trying to control Rusev's posture but Rusev avoids it.
Norris tries to bench press Rusev off him but Rusev keeps the position.
Rusev tries to advance to mount but Norris denies him.
Rusev working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norris gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Rusev is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Rusev trying to mount his opponent but Norris defends it.
Norris regains full guard. Nicely done.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rusev passes Norris's left leg - he's now in half guard.
It looks like Rusev is going to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Vicktor Rusev will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Rusev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rusev.
You can see the frustration on Norris's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Norris is being controlled here.
Rusev grinds an elbow into Norris's temple.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rusev is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Norris's shoulder. That is not cool.

Rusev thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Norris sneaks back into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusev stalling.
Vicktor Rusev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rusev trying to mount his opponent but Norris defends it.
Rusev performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Norris trying to control from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rusev controlling the action here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Norris tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rusev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Alec Norris is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Norris wants to clinch
and Rusev counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Alec Norris has been cut.
Norris tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rusev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Rusev gets a double leg takedown into Norris's guard.
Norris is looking to stand up but Rusev isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norris can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rusev controls the pace.
Norris working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rusev.
Rusev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Norris's head.
Rusev controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rusev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rusev trying to control but Norris is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Rusev's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Rusev duly obliges.
Rusev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rusev has taken the fight to the clinch.

Rusev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rusev misses with a wild combination.
Rusev throws a head kick but Norris moves out of range.
Norris tries to clinch but Rusev moves out of range.

Rusev closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Norris's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Norris has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rusev can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Alec Norris has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vicktor Rusev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rusev tries to free his leg and advance position but Norris is retaining full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vicktor Rusev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rusev winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vicktor Rusev!