PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ezekiel Norris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Martin Klank (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Norris
vs
Klank

182 cm
25
215 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

190 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ezekiel 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, Martin Klank!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Topper Green and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Klank throws a leg kick
and Norris counters with a low kick, right behind Klank 's knee.
Klank throws a combination that misses
and Norris counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Klank lands a head kick. Norris smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Ezekiel Norris has been cut.
Klank getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Norris gets caught napping as Klank dives in and scores a takedown. Norris manages to retain guard.

Norris pushes Klank off and scrambles back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Klank misses with a double jab
and Norris counters with a nice uppercut.

Klank darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Norris pushes Klank off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Klank shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Klank was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Norris is looking for a sweep.
Klank is looking to take a break and control but Norris is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Norris is looking to reverse the position.
Norris manages to work his way to half guard, despite Klank's best efforts.
Klank not doing much here.
Norris moves into full guard.
Klank would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Norris could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norris bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Klank's guard.

Klank utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Klank is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Klank looks winded!
Norris keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Klank's head.

Norris stands and steps away. Klank gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Klank gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Klank shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Klank seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Norris does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norris is trying to maintain the position but Klank is very close to passing his half guard.
Norris looks like he's trying to stand up.
Norris tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Klank has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

Klank is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Norris has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Norris!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Norris accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Norris drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Norris jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Klank utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Norris tries for a takedown but Klank manages to get underhooks.

Klank has Norris pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Klank pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Norris tumbling to the mat - Klank dives into Norris's guard.
Norris throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Klank trying to control but Norris is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Norris moves into the clinch.
Norris goes for a takedown in the clinch but Klank prevents it.

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

Klank has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Norris can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Norris wants to control from the top but Klank keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norris landing some decent shots from guard.
Klank wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Norris is now in half guard.
Ezekiel Norris overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Klank looking for submissions off his back.
Klank is breathing heavily.
Klank is looking to control Norris's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Klank avoid being mounted?
Norris landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Klank has hold of Norris's hands but Norris slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Norris slips a nice elbow through Klank's hands, connecting with Klank's forehead.
Norris with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Norris scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Norris controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norris scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Norris seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Klank is trying to control but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ground and pound from Norris.
Norris seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Norris postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Klank to stand up.
Klank needs to keep his hands up - Norris had a free shot at his head there.
Norris takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Klank gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Norris counters with a left and a right that stings Klank.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Klank looks to clinch
enabling Norris to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Norris has Klank up against the cage in a clinch.

Klank jumps guard.
Norris scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Norris keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Klank's head.
Norris working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

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

Norris closes the distance and clinches.
Norris has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Klank avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Norris wants to take the fight to the mat but Klank manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ezekiel Norris. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Norris pulls guard effortlessly.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Norris is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norris postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Norris makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Klank is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Norris works over Klank with some ground and pound from guard.

Klank is looking for a triangle but Norris pushes his legs off easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Klank has momentary wrist control but Norris slips an elbow through the middle.

Norris stands up and waves to Klank to follow him.
Norris cracks Klank with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ezekiel Norris dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ezekiel Norris's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Norris scores with a push kick.
Klank bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Klank swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Norris counters with a low kick, right behind Klank 's knee.
Klank closes the distance but Norris moves to the side
and Norris cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Klank tries to clinch
enabling Norris to counter with a crisp jab.
Klank takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Norris manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Klank keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Klank takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Klank tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Norris is working for takedown but Klank is calmly controlling the position for now.

Norris gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Norris with a nice head shot there.
Norris content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Norris gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Norris has closed the distance and engaged Klank in a clinch.
Klank trying to control the position but instead, Norris has worked for underhooks and has pushed Klank into the cage.
Norris tries for a takedown but Klank manages to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Norris breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Klank tries a head kick but it misses.
Norris lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Norris circles away from the clinch attempt.

Klank changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Norris looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Norris explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Norris fakes the leg kick and cracks Klank in the body.
Ezekiel Norris is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Klank drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Norris explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Norris cracks the inside of Klank's front leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Klank manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Norris on his heels. He'll look to pass Norris's guard now, I'm sure.

Norris has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Klank is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Norris is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Klank pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ezekiel Norris. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Norris is trying to drag Klank to the mat but Klank just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Klank working hard to break the clinch.

Norris is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Klank can't fight it off and eventually Norris manages to take the fight to the floor. Klank looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Klank pushes Norris off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Klank throws a sloppy head kick
and Norris counters with a stiff right hand.
Klank takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Klank throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Norris was covering up waiting for the punch and Klank finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Norris is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Norris scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Norris is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Klank is just riding it out for now. Norris eventually gives up the hold.
Martin Klank has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ezekiel Norris is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Klank looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ezekiel Norris showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Norris has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Francis DeMontford scores the fight 30:27
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ezekiel Norris!