PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gerald Norton (ranked 5154 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vicky Velu (ranked 5054 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.

Norton
vs
Velu

173 cm
24
178 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
171 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gerald Norton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vicky Velu!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Velu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Velu wants to clinch.
Velu tries to clinch up but Norton circles away and keeps his distance.
Velu darts in looking for a takedown but Norton gets double underhooks and turns Velu into the cage.
Sloppy strikes from Velu. Those never looked like landing.
Norton seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velu has his takedown stuffed
and Norton counters with a head kick. That will keep Velu thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Velu wants to clinch.
Norton lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norton is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Velu.

It looks like Gerald Norton has been cut.
Velu throws the kick towards the body but Norton avoids it.
Velu darts in trying to clinch
and Norton counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Velu throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Norton's waist but Norton gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Velu off to one side.
Gerald Norton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vicky Velu.
Norton lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Velu.
Velu just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromNorton.
Velu has his takedown stuffed
and Norton counters with a head kick. That will keep Velu thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Velu gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Norton counters with a head kick.
Velu tries to clinch there but Norton circles away.
Velu cracks Norton with a right hand to the side of the head.
Vicky Velu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Norton goes for a double leg but Velu avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Velu continues to drive forward.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Velu gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Norton pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Velu tries to clinch
and Norton counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Velu throws a sloppy head kick and Norton moves out of range easily.
As Velu backs away, Norton returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Norton dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Velu. That did some damage!
Velu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Norton avoids it really well and circles away.
Norton looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Velu fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Norton wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norton displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Velu.
Velu tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Norton swivels and escapes.
Velu looks winded!
Velu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Norton tried to counter with a leg kick but Velu avoided it.
Norton tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
No luck for Velu with that takedown attempt.

Velu clinches up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerald Norton dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gerald Norton's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Velu fails with the takedown
and Norton counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Velu fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Velu throws a wild body kick that Norton sees coming a mile off.
Velu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Norton paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Norton tries to keep at a distance but Velu has taken the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee calls for Norton to work.
Velu is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Norton is defending well.
Gerald Norton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vicky Velu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norton leaning his opponent against the cage.
Velu wants to take the fight to the mat but Norton manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Norton stalling in the clinch.

Norton's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Norton keeps the fight on the outside.
Norton has a takedown stuffed.
No luck for Norton with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velu gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Norton counters with an outside leg kick.
Velu tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Norton swivels and escapes.
Velu with a poor takedown

and Norton moves into the clinch.
Norton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Velu can do to turn this around?
Velu is breathing heavily.
Velu tries to break the clinch but Norton is controlling the position.
Norton stalls.
Velu is trying to break the clinch but Norton is controlling him.
Norton dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Norton displaying some good clinch control by pressing Velu up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norton is pushing Velu up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Norton has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Velu wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Velu trying to stall but Norton improves his position.
The referee is keeping an eye on Norton - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Norton slows down the pace here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Gerald Norton.
Velu tries to clinch but Norton moves out of range.

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.
Velu tries to clinch but Norton moves out of range.
No joy there for Velu, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Velu clinches up against the cage.

Norton breaks from the clinch.
Velu closes this distance looking for a takedown but Norton circles away.
Norton shoots in for a takedown but Velu shows good takedown defense.
Velu shoots and misses

and Norton counters by clinching up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Norton tries to circle away but Velu has him pinned against the cage.
Norton dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerald Norton dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gerald Norton's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Norton blocks a head kick by Velu.
Norton changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Velu tries to avoid it but Norton manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Velu to the ground. Velu escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Velu instigates a clinch.

Norton pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Velu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Velu fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Norton is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velu shoots for a double leg takedown but Norton sprawls well. He's pushed Velu's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Norton misses with a head kick.
Velu shoots in for a takedown but Norton shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velu with a lazy takedown attempt
and Norton counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Velu is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Gerald Norton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vicky Velu.
Velu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Velu tries for a takedown but Norton circles away easily

and Norton counters by clinching up.
Norton stalls.
Norton keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Velu's efforts to push away.
Velu jumps guard but Norton turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Velu has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Norton after a bit of a struggle.
The referee calls for Norton to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velu is trying to drag Norton to the mat but Norton just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Norton unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Norton will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Velu up against the cage.

Norton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Velu tries to clinch but Norton moves away
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Vicky Velu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Norton dives in for a single leg takedown but Velu sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Norton takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velu throws a head kick that misses

and Norton counters with a nice double leg into side control. Velu won't be happy with that.

Velu throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Velu misses with a takedown attempt - Norton sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Norton tries to counter by clinching up but Velu breaks away and moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Norton is defended easily by Velu.

Norton shoots in and gets a takedown into Velu's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Norton is looking to stand up but Velu won't let him.

Velu is looking for a triangle but Norton pushes his legs off easily.
Norton wanted to stand there but Velu had control of the position.
Norton postures up.

Norton decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Velu, up you get!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Velu darts in trying to clinch
and Norton counters with a leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gerald Norton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Norton, 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gerald Norton!