PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Erik Norman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dario Verovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dario Verovic will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Norman
vs
Verovic

181 cm
18
214 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

220 cm
20
270 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Erik Norman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dario Verovic!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Ben Hemmingworth and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Verovic tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Norman manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Norman keeps the fight on the outside.
Verovic tries to close the distance and clinch but Norman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Verovic instigates a clinch.
Norman blocks an uppercut.
Norman could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Stalling in the clinch from Verovic.
Verovic fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Norman is trying to pull guard but Verovic turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Verovic tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Verovic lands a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verovic jumps guard but Norman turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Norman drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Verovic is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Norman gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verovic misses with a punch on the inside.
Verovic working aggressively here.
Verovic goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Verovic lands a hook that snaps the head of Norman backwards.

It looks like Erik Norman has been cut.
Norman blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Verovic jumps guard but Norman turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Erik Norman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dario Verovic.
Verovic looks winded!
Verovic fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Verovic misses with a short punch on the inside.

Verovic pulls guard successfully.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Verovic has momentary wrist control but Norman slips an elbow through the middle.
Verovic trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Verovic wants to sweep but no luck.
Norman stays in close to Verovic's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norman working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Norman content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Verovic throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Verovic throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Norman won't allow Verovic to sweep him here.
Norman engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Norman lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norman engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Norman circles away from the clinch attempt.

Verovic gets caught napping as Norman dives in and scores a takedown. Verovic manages to retain guard.
Norman content to stall in guard here.
Norman working some strikes from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Verovic doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Verovic throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Norman escapes and throws Verovic's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Norman stands up and beckons Verovic to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Norman.
Verovic tries to buck Norman off but Norman is having none of it.
Check out the look on Norman's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Verovic throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Verovic is trying to escape the position but Norman is controlling the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Norman is trying to get an arm triangle but Verovic is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erik Norman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Erik Norman's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Verovic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Norman swivels and escapes.

Norman shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Verovic's guard.
Norman won't allow Verovic to sweep him here.

Verovic is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Norman defends well.
Norman sitting in guard here, content to control.
Norman passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Still in half guard, Norman seems content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice strikes from Norman there.
Verovic is breathing heavily.
Norman is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Verovic throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Norman manages to pass to side control.
A lull in the action here as Norman stalls from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norman landing a few strikes.
Erik Norman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Verovic throws a few strikes from the bottom but Norman takes advantage and mounts!
Norman controlling the pace for now.
Norman working Verovic over with strikes here.
Norman blocks Verovic's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Norman tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verovic working to try and regain half guard.

Norman looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Verovic tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Norman landing strikes from the mount.
Norman controlling his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Norman raining down shots from the mount!
Norman tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Norman lands with some strikes.
Verovic flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norman takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Norman here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Verovic working to try and regain half guard.
Verovic flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Verovic really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Verovic swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Norman sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Norman landing strikes from the mount and Verovic is in trouble!
Norman takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
BOOM! Norman connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norman sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Verovic is wriggling around trying to escape.
Verovic throwing hammer fists to the chest of Norman. What's that going to do exactly?
Norman tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Verovic keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Verovic swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Norman lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Verovic takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Norman controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erik Norman dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Erik Norman's cut.
That's time! Norman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Verovic tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Norman manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
As Verovic tries to get set, Norman tries to push him back and clinch up but Verovic manages to avoid the attempt.
Norman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Verovic can do to turn this around?
Verovic ducks right into an uppercut from Norman.
Verovic misses with a takedown attempt - Norman sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Norman swats away the attempt to clinch by Verovic.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Norman is defended easily by Verovic.
Verovic wants to clinch.
Norman is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Verovic.
Verovic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norman fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Verovic gets caught flat footed, as Norman shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Norman controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Verovic doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Norman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Verovic trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Norman controlling from the top position.
Verovic is striking off his back. Norman thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verovic has a hand on Norman's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Norman takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Norman working the ground and pound effectively.
Norman blocks Verovic's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Verovic swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Verovic is working to get back to half guard.
Norman blocks Verovic's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
You get the feeling that Verovic really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Norman sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Verovic swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norman controlling his opponent.
Verovic is working to get back to half guard.
Norman controlling his opponent.
Verovic is looking to improve his position but Norman isn't that keen on the idea.
Norman sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Verovic taking shots to the head.
Verovic tries to reverse the position but Norman maintains control.
Norman lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Norman lands with some strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norman scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Verovic is bucking up trying to escape but Norman cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Verovic throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Verovic is desperately trying to improve his position but Norman has a good base and remains in mount.
Norman lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Verovic is in all sorts of trouble here.

Norman has hold of Verovic's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Verovic manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Verovic throwing hammer fists to the chest of Norman. What's that going to do exactly?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Verovic is trying to escape the mount.
Dario Verovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Erik Norman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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 Chris Dean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 30:27

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