PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jakub Norka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Katzer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Norka
vs
Katzer

165 cm
24
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jakub Norka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jim Katzer!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Norka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Katzer slips a jab and a cross from Norka.
Katzer is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Norka dives in and grabs Katzer's left leg, looking for a takedown. Katzer pushes down on Norka's head and hops out.
Norka tries for a takedown but Katzer sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Norka looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Norka fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jakub Norka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Katzer wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Katzer uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Norka.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norka misses with a head kick.

Norka gets caught flat footed, as Katzer shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Norka scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Norka has closed the distance and engaged Katzer in a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Norka creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Norka breaks the clinch.
Jakub Norka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Norka gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Katzer counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Katzer shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Norka wants to get back to full guard.
Norka is breathing heavily.
Katzer trying to control from Norka's half guard. Norka has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Katzer wants to pass the guard but Norka is keeping the position.

Katzer got a little sloppy there for a moment and Norka has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Katzer has managed to get both his arms back between Norka's legs - danger averted.
Katzer 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katzer tries to stand but Norka is controlling from the bottom.
Norka looking to control.

Norka has his foot on Katzer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Katzer works his way back into a safe position though.
Katzer wants to control from the top but Norka keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Norka with a poor takedown
and Katzer counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Norka fails with a takedown attempt.
Katzer appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norka is looking to clinch but Katzer is avoiding it.
Katzer is looking for the big counter here.
Norka circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Katzer as Norka shoots in.
Katzer is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Katzer scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Norka parries the strikes from Katzer easily there. Katzer is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Norka to escape.
Norka tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The strikes coming from Katzer are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Katzer misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Katzer throwing strikes but Norka manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Katzer can do anything to dispel that myth.

Norka wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Katzer, who protects the arm well.
Norka working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katzer tries to improve position but can't.
Norka trying to control the action but Katzer is working from the bottom.

Norka is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Katzer knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Norka trying to control the action but Katzer is working from the bottom.
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 Jakub Norka will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Katzer shoots in and bounces Norka off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Norka is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Katzer presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Katzer tries to circle away but Norka has him pinned against the cage.

Norka gets control of Katzer's arms and successfully pulls guard. Norka will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Katzer tries to free his leg and advance position but Norka is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norka looking to control.
Katzer really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Norka. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Norka has his foot on Katzer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Katzer works his way back into a safe position though.
Katzer must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

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

Norka working for a triangle but Katzer defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katzer looking to pass the guard.
Katzer engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

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

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

That's two 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.
Katzer tries to clinch up but Norka circles away and keeps his distance.

Katzer shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Norka has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Katzer is on him like a limpet, forcing Norka back against the cage.
Katzer is breathing heavily.
Katzer tries to work over Norka's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Norka tries to land knees in the clinch but Katzer avoids the damage to the body.
Katzer wants to break free but Norka has control.

Katzer pulls Norka into guard.
Jakub Norka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Katzer is working an open guard so Norka takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Katzer keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Norka shoots in for a takedown but Katzer shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Norka gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Katzer is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Norka ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Norka no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Norka working a defensive guard here.

Norka looking for a guillotine here but Katzer defends easily.

Norka is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Katzer wants to control from the top but Norka keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Norka looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Katzer is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Norka looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Norka looking for a guillotine here but Katzer defends easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Norka is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jakub Norka dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Norka shoots in looking for a takedown. Katzer tries to sprawl out of it but Norka keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Katzer manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Jakub Norka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Norka shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Katzer pinned against the cage. Katzer gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Norka clinches up against the cage.

Katzer lands a takedown into guard.

Norka manages to escape and get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norka shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jakub Norka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Katzer throws a head kick that Norka semi-blocks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

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

Norka scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Jim Katzer seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Norka takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Norka dives in and grabs Katzer's left leg, looking for a takedown. Katzer pushes down on Norka's head and hops out.
Katzer doesn't manage to clinch there - Norka circles away.

Katzer feints and as Norka raises his hands in defense, Katzer changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Norka is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Katzer presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Norka jumps into guard, dragging Katzer to the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Katzer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Katzer postures up.

Norka is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Norka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Norka looking for a guillotine here but Katzer defends easily.
Norka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Katzer can do to turn this around?
Norka working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Katzer.
Norka throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

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

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Norka misses with a takedown attempt - Katzer sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norka has his takedown stuffed
and Katzer counters with a big head kick but Norka shrugs it off.
Norka shoots for a takedown but Katzer saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Norka sets himself, and Katzer steps forward looking for the clinch! Norka avoids it this time.

Katzer 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.

Norka has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Katzer off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Katzer shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Katzer showed some decent athleticism there.

Norka kicks off Katzer and gets to his feet.
Jakub Norka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A slapping body kick lands there for Katzer.
Norka shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Katzer as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Katzer shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Norka is trying to defend but Katzer finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Norka kicks Katzer off and gets back to his feet.

Norka gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Katzer to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Norka has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Katzer has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Norka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jim Katzer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Norka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jakub Norka showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Norka, 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jakub Norka!