PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Norris Horne (ranked 6282 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alireza Alireza (ranked 3612 p4p, 84 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Horne
vs
Alireza

167 cm
18
140 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Norris Horne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Alireza Alireza!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Phil Schofield and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Alireza shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Horne napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Horne explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Horne fails with the takedown

and Alireza counters by moving into the clinch.

Horne has hold of one of Alireza's legs. Alireza is fighting the takedown attempt but Horne gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Alireza is wriggling around but Horne manages to pass to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Horne working the head and body with strikes.

Horne is working for a submission of some sort.
Alireza is looking for a sweep. Horne is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Alireza has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Horne is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horne is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Horne thows a huge punch but Alireza dodges it nicely.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Horne is working for a kimura but Alireza is defending it quite comfortably.
Horne prevents Alireza from improving his position.
Horne controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Alireza wants to get back to full guard.
Horne is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Alireza wants to control but Horne is keeping busy.
Alireza tries to get to full guard but Horne has control of the leg.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Horne throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Alireza tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Horne is in Alireza's guard.
Alireza utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Horne sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Alireza wants to get back to his feet but Horne is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Horne is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Horne preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Horne controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Horne wants to sweep but no luck.
Alireza trying to control but Horne is working from the bottom.
Alireza looks winded!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Horne trying to keep a closed guard but Alireza is proving a slippery customer.
Alireza with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Norris Horne dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Alireza throws a sloppy head kick and Horne moves out of range easily.
A little feinted left hand from Horne on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Alireza feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Horne looking to hit a scissor sweep but Alireza is one step ahead there.
Horne pulls Alireza in close to prevent any damage.
Alireza wants to control from the top but Horne keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alireza stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Horne swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Horne thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Alireza wanted to stand there but Horne had control of the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horne keeping moving, preventing Alireza from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Alireza is breathing heavily.

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

Horne pushes Alireza off and gets back to his feet.

Horne feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Horne is stalling in the full guard.

Alireza is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horne controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Alireza is trying to control the position but Horne postures up.
Horne engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Horne has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Horne drops back looking for a leg! Alireza is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Alireza manages to kick Horne off! Horne jumps back into Alireza's guard.
Norris Horne overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Horne is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Alireza goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Horne is looking to counter punch.

Horne looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Horne is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alireza tries to get to full guard but Horne has control of the leg.
Alireza trying to hold on to Horne's head to control him but Horne postures up.
Horne sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Horne is trying to work for a kimura but Alireza is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Norris Horne dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Alireza lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Horne avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Alireza uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Horne.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alireza looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A little feinted left hand from Horne on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alireza misses with a jab, cross combination.
Horne wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Horne is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Alireza can do to turn this around?

Alireza gets the takedown into side control.

Horne throws Alireza to one side and escapes!
Alireza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Alireza closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Horne to the mat! Horne manages to get full guard.

Horne kicks Alireza off and gets to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horne misses with a takedown attempt - Alireza sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Horne shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Alireza tries to counter with a clinch but Horne shakes him off and moves away.
Horne fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Norris Horne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alireza tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Horne dives in and scores a takedown into Alireza's guard.
Horne is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Horne is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horne distracts Alireza with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Horne content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Horne gets to his feet. Alireza looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Horne.
Alireza moves in looking to clinch but Horne pushes him off.
Horne shoots for a double leg takedown but Alireza sprawls well. He's pushed Horne's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Horne gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horne throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Horne is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Alireza preventing the sweep.
Horne wants to improve his position but instead Alireza has moved into half guard.
Horne wants to get back to full guard but Alireza has passed into side control.
Horne tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Alireza wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Alireza trying to control the position but Horne is working away.
Horne is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Norris Horne.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Horne, 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:28

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