PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Erik Norman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roy Erling (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roy Erling will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Norman
vs
Erling

181 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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, Erik Norman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Roy Erling!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Steve Erwin and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Norman throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Erling was covering up waiting for the punch and Norman finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Norman got a little sloppy there for a moment and Erling has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Norman has managed to get both his arms back between Erling's legs - danger averted.
Norman is stalling in the full guard.
Norman could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Erling 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.
Erling controls Norman momentarily but Norman frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norman engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Erling trying to keep a closed guard but Norman is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Norman is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Norman throws a lazy right hand but Erling sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Erling throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Norman's waist but Norman gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Erling off to one side.
Norman feinted with a counter takedown.
Erling is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Norman half committed to a counter leg kick.
Norman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Norman wants it to stay on the feet.
Erling with a poor takedown

and Norman holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Erik Norman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roy Erling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Erling.
Erling is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Norman is defending well for now.

Norman has Erling pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Norman pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Erling tumbling to the mat - Norman dives into Erling's guard.
Erling being controlled here, momentarily.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norman controlling from the top position.

Erling working for a triangle but Norman defends it easily.

Norman drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Erling dives on top into guard.

Erling trying to control but Norman is working from the bottom.
Erling controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Norman is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Erling makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Erling tries to score a power double leg takedown but Norman sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Erling somewhat.
It looked like Norman wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Erling shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Norman defends it nicely.
Erling looks winded!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Erling tries for a takedown but Norman circles away easily
and Norman cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erik Norman dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Norman throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Erling tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Norman is in Erling's guard.
Erling is trying to control the position but Norman postures up.

Norman got a little sloppy there for a moment and Erling has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Norman has managed to get both his arms back between Erling's legs - danger averted.
Norman sitting in guard here, content to control.
Norman is in close to Erling's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Norman not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Erling not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Norman is working Erling over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Erling is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Norman might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Erling is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norman is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Erling has a closed guard, preventing Norman from standing up.

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

Norman shoots in and gets a takedown into Erling's guard.
Norman cracks Erling with a solid left hand.
Norman slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Norman lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Erling being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norman wants to get up but he can't break Erling's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Norman content to stall in guard here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Norman wants to stand but Erling is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Erling tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Erling looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erling fails with a takedown attempt.
Norman fails to land the takedown.
Norman shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Erling counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Erling shoots in for a takedown but Norman shows good takedown defense.
Erling throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Norman decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erling is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Norman scores with a couple of nice shots.
Norman controlling the pace.
Erling wants to get back to full guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Erling missing with punches from the bottom.
Norman wants to get back to his feet.
Norman stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erik Norman dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Erling shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Norman as he jumps to the side.

Norman manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Erling on his heels. He'll look to pass Erling's guard now, I'm sure.
Norman engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Norman wants to get up but he can't break Erling's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Erling is working an open guard so Norman takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Erling is looking to clinch but Norman is avoiding it.

Erling closes the distance and clinches.

Erling breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erling looks for a takedown but Norman sprawls well.
Norman is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Erling.
Erling takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Erling throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Erling fails with the takedown.
Erik Norman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roy Erling.
Erling closes the distance and clinches up with Norman, looking for a takedown. Erling pushes Norman against the cage but Norman circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Norman closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Erling's guard.
Norman is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norman is standing up over Erling. Erling looks to escape but Norman dives into side control.
Norman is chipping away with strikes.
Norman is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Erling on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Norman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Erling can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erling being controlled for a moment.
Norman working the body and head with strikes.
Norman slows the pace down.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Norman seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Erling for as long as he can get away with.
Erling can't do much from the bottom here.
Erik Norman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

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.
Norman scoring with punches from side control.
Norman lands a few punches from side control.
Erling is looking to regain half guard here but Norman keeps moving and retains side control.
Erling struggling a bit here.

Norman decides to stand up, so the ref orders Erling to his feet.

Norman drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Norman with a nice head shot there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erik Norman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Norman, 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 John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erik Norman!