PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Les Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ted Norman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Norman has chosen Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? as his entrance music. Norman has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Ted Norman has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Richards
vs
Norman

195 cm
21
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 London, Les Richards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ted Norman!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Richard Clark and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richards tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Norman defends well and Richards ends up having to push Norman into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Les Richards seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Norman looks winded!
Richards closes this distance looking for a takedown but Norman circles away.
Norman jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Richards 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 Richards off to one side.
Norman follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Les Richards. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Norman stuffs the takedown.
Norman unleashes a big counter combination but Richards bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Richards dives in and grabs Norman's left leg, looking for a takedown. Norman pushes down on Richards's head and hops out.
Richards shoots in but no luck this time.
Norman raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richards lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Norman circles away quickly and effectively.
Norman is trying to counter with his kicks.
Norman shoots in but Richards avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Richards shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Norman defends it nicely.
Norman tries to counter by closing the distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards shoots and misses
and Norman counters with a series of strikes. Richards will be more careful next time no doubt.
Richards darts in looking for a takedown but Norman gets double underhooks and turns Richards into the cage.
Norman swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Richards misses with a takedown
and Norman counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Richards looks to land a combination but Norman avoids it well.
Richards is trying hard to land a takedown here. Norman sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Richards shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Norman sprawls well. Norman wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Richards gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards goes for a double leg but Norman avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Norman continues to drive forward.
Richards fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown attempt by Norman or perhaps it was just good defense by Richards, which made it look bad.
Norman leaves Richards with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Norman tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards tries for a takedown but Norman sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Richards is defended easily by Norman.

Norman has closed the distance and engaged Richards in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Richards goes for a takedown in the clinch but Norman prevents it.
Norman is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Richards tries to score a body lock takedown but Norman shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
The referee is keeping an eye on Norman - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Richards tries for a takedown but Norman manages to get underhooks.
Richards tries to pull guard but Norman forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Richards has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Norman avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Norman wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Richards tries for a takedown but Norman manages to get underhooks.
Norman stops a takedown attempt from Richards.
Richards goes for a takedown in the clinch but Norman prevents it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ted Norman dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Norman gets a double leg takedown into Richards's guard.

Richards had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Norman defends it easily.

Richards is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Norman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Richards works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Richards working for a triangle but Norman defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Norman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Norman 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.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Let's hope that Norman has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two 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 stuffs the takedown attempt from Richards. Richards gets slowly back to his feet.
Richards fails with the takedown
and Norman counters with a stiff right hand.
Norman misses with a takedown attempt - Richards sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Richards fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Les Richards. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards with a lazy takedown attempt
and Norman counters with a straight right hand.
Richards shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Norman defends it nicely.
Despite the aggression on Norman's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Richards gets a takedown into half guard.

Norman kicks Richards off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ted Norman seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Richards fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Richards is defended easily by Norman.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Norman gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ted Norman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Norman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Norman wants it to stay on the feet.
Richards throws a body kick that misses
and Norman cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Richards shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Richards staying out of range there.
Richards seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Richards tries to clinch but Norman moves out of range.
Richards feints and then cracks Norman's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Norman down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richards shoots in for a takedown but Norman shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Les Richards. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Richards fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norman displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Richards.
Richards dodges the punch combination from Norman.
Horrible takedown attempt by Richards or perhaps it was just good defense by Norman, which made it look bad.
Norman shoots in for a takedown but Richards shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Richards tries for a takedown but Norman circles away easily
and Norman counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Richards thinking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards shoots in for a takedown but Norman shows good takedown defense.

Norman moves into the clinch successfully.
Richards tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Norman smiles and moves away.
Richards fails to land the takedown.
Norman let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Richards misses with a combination
letting Norman counter with a right hand.
Richards shoots in looking for a takedown but Norman manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Richards's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards misses with a takedown attempt
and Norman counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Richards throws a leg kick that is checked
and Norman counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Richards thinking.
Richards will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Norman looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Norman clinches.
Norman is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Richards is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Richards wants a takedown but no success here.
Norman is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Richards jumps guard but Norman turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Richards is trying to drag Norman to the mat but Norman just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards takes a shot to the head.
Richards drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Norman gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Norman is trying to push Richards away but Richards has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Norman gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Richards.
Richards jumps guard but Norman turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Ted Norman is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Richards tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Norman just stands there and leans against the cage.
Les Richards has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Norman blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ted Norman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Norman has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 26:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30

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