PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Norris Flores (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roberts Dzerkalis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Norris Flores has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Flores
vs
Dzerkalis

198 cm
18
278 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Experienced

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Norris Flores!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Roberts Dzerkalis!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Steve Smith and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Flores throws a sloppy head kick and Dzerkalis moves out of range easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Dzerkalis has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Flores avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Dzerkalis changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Flores fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Flores rushes Dzerkalis and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dzerkalis drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Norris Flores has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roberts Dzerkalis.

Dzerkalis pulls Flores into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flores controlling from the top position.

Dzerkalis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Flores gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Dzerkalis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Flores content to stall in guard here.
Flores knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Dzerkalis on the ground.
Dzerkalis looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Flores puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Dzerkalis looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Flores missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flores trying to control the pace.
Dzerkalis is looking for a sweep. Flores is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Flores controlling the pace.

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.

Flores seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Dzerkalis has recovered full guard.
Flores not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Flores throws a strike but Dzerkalis rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Dzerkalis trying to control but Flores 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 Norris Flores will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Flores forces Dzerkalis back against the cage and clinches.
Dzerkalis is trying to pull guard but Flores has him pressed against the cage.
Dzerkalis has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Flores is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Flores manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Dzerkalis drops back looking for a leg! Flores is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Flores manages to kick Dzerkalis off! Dzerkalis jumps back into Flores's guard.
Dzerkalis is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flores has control of Dzerkalis's left arm, preventing Dzerkalis from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flores trying to keep a closed guard but Dzerkalis is proving a slippery customer.
Dzerkalis trying to control the position from guard on top but Flores is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dzerkalis postures up in Flores's guard and throws a big left but Flores blocks it.
Flores wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Flores keeping moving, preventing Dzerkalis from controlling successfully.
Dzerkalis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Flores swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Flores wants to stand and escape but Dzerkalis is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Flores looking for a guillotine here but Dzerkalis defends easily.
Dzerkalis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dzerkalis trying to control the position from guard on top but Flores is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Flores could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Dzerkalis misses with a takedown attempt - Flores sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Norris Flores has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roberts Dzerkalis.

Flores takes the fight into the clinch.
Flores stops a takedown attempt from Dzerkalis.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flores tries to circle away but Dzerkalis has him pinned against the cage.

Flores pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dzerkalis avoids a punch combination nicely.
Dzerkalis fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Flores avoids it really well and circles away.
Dzerkalis shoots in for a takedown but Flores shows good takedown defense.
Flores is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dzerkalis can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dzerkalis wants to clinch

and Flores decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Dzerkalis's guard.
Flores trying to control but Dzerkalis is working from the bottom.
Flores looking to sit in guard and control but Dzerkalis gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Dzerkalis wants to pass the guard but Flores is keeping the position.
Flores will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Flores working a defensive guard here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dzerkalis throws an elbow that misses. Flores uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Dzerkalis's guard. Nice move by Flores!

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

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

Dzerkalis looking for a guillotine here but Flores defends easily.
Dzerkalis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flores controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Flores trying to control the position from guard on top but Dzerkalis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flores stays in close to Dzerkalis's body and controls the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Norris Flores is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dzerkalis closes the distance and clinches up with Flores, looking for a takedown. Dzerkalis pushes Flores against the cage but Flores circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

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.
Flores tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Dzerkalis counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Dzerkalis wants to control but Flores is keeping him busy.
Flores is trying to control but can't.
Dzerkalis works his way into side control.
Flores is not content to let Dzerkalis control the position.
Flores manages to get back to half guard.
Flores trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flores keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dzerkalis looking to control but Flores is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Roberts Dzerkalis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dzerkalis cracks Flores with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Flores is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Flores is looking to get to half guard.
Dzerkalis working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flores is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Flores is squirming around, avoiding Dzerkalis's attempts to control the action.

Dzerkalis quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Dzerkalis but it's paid off an Flores is forced to tap! Nice work by Dzerkalis.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Roberts Dzerkalis!