PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alec Norris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jurij Velikanskovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Norris
vs
Velikanskovic

150 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

201 cm
23
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 - 2 - 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, Jurij Velikanskovic!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Ben Hemmingworth and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Velikanskovic gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Velikanskovic throws an elbow that misses.

Velikanskovic lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Norris is trying to stand back up but Velikanskovic is controlling him
Norris keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Velikanskovic is looking to advance position but Norris won't allow it.
Velikanskovic wants to control but Norris is keeping him busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norris wants to get back to full guard.

Velikanskovic is trying to work for a kimura but Norris is defending well.
Velikanskovic throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velikanskovic sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Norris defending well though.

Velikanskovic is working for a submission of some sort.

Velikanskovic is working for a kimura but Norris is defending it quite comfortably.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Velikanskovic tries to keep at a distance but Norris has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Norris controlling the action here for a moment.
Norris throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Norris effectively controlling the action here.
Norris looking to stall.
Velikanskovic has Norris pressed against the cage.

Norris breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Norris really is a fat lump.

Velikanskovic 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velikanskovic showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Velikanskovic stands and steps away. Norris gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Velikanskovic drives through with a takedown into Norris's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Norris wants to stand and escape but Velikanskovic is having none of it.
Velikanskovic must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Norris has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Velikanskovic can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Velikanskovic gets to his feet. Norris looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Norris fails in his attempt to clinch.
Velikanskovic fails with an attempt to clinch.
Norris went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Alec Norris is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Velikanskovic shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Velikanskovic showed some decent athleticism there.
Velikanskovic sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Norris defending well though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Velikanskovic is trying to control the action in half guard but Norris is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Norris tries to close the distance and clinch up but Velikanskovic swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Velikanskovic closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Velikanskovic working away.
Velikanskovic taking a break here but Norris is having none of it and regains half guard.
Velikanskovic wants to pass the guard but Norris is defending well.
Norris might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velikanskovic wants to control but Norris is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Velikanskovic controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norris is concentrating on defense, preventing Velikanskovic from advancing position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Norris regains full guard. Nicely done.
Velikanskovic throws a strike but Norris rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Velikanskovic is trying to keep Norris in close.
Velikanskovic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Norris is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Velikanskovic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norris with a flurry of punches that miss.
Norris won't allow Velikanskovic to sweep him here.

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

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

Velikanskovic 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.
Norris wants to get back to his feet but Velikanskovic is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Velikanskovic wants to control from the top but Norris keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norris is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Velikanskovic 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.
Norris trying to keep a closed guard but Velikanskovic is proving a slippery customer.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Velikanskovic throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Norris works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four 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.

Norris closes the distance and clinches.
Norris lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Jurij Velikanskovic has been cut.

Velikanskovic has hold of one of Norris's legs. Norris is fighting the takedown attempt but Velikanskovic gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Velikanskovic looking to pass the guard.
Norris controlling Velikanskovic's posture.
Velikanskovic wants to control from the top but Norris keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jurij Velikanskovic will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jurij Velikanskovic's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Velikanskovic misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Norris throws a counter high kick but Velikanskovic was just alert enough to avoid it.

Norris has managed to clinch.

Norris pulls guard.
Velikanskovic looking to sit in guard and control but Norris gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Norris wants to control from the top but Velikanskovic keeps moving.
Jurij Velikanskovic has got the better of the ground game so far.
Velikanskovic working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velikanskovic being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norris postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Velikanskovic keeping moving, preventing Norris from controlling successfully.
Velikanskovic tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Velikanskovic lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Velikanskovic looking to sit in guard and control but Norris gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norris postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Velikanskovic utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Velikanskovic doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Norris 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.
Velikanskovic keeping moving, preventing Norris from controlling successfully.

Norris stands up and waves to Velikanskovic to follow him.
Jurij Velikanskovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Velikanskovic scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norris is not content to let Velikanskovic control the position.
Velikanskovic is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Norris tries to improve position but can't.
Norris struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Velikanskovic trying to control the action but Norris is working from the bottom.
Norris is trying to control Velikanskovic's posture but Velikanskovic avoids it.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Norris being controlled for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Norris tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Alec Norris has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jurij Velikanskovic is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Velikanskovic misses with a two punch combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Alec Norris.
I think Velikanskovic has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jurij Velikanskovic!