PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gerald Norton (ranked 6536 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harald Hexum (ranked 4940 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Norton
vs
Hexum

173 cm
24
178 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 3 - 1 - 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, Harald Hexum!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hexum throws a poor cross that misses
and Norton counters with a three punch combo that has Hexum backing up. Hexum nods at Norton to acknowledge the strikes.
Hexum misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hexum keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hexum tries for a takedown but Norton circles away easily
and Norton counters with a two punch combo.
Hexum tries to clinch there but Norton circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norton has a takedown stuffed.
Hexum has his takedown stuffed
and Norton counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hexum tries to clinch there but Norton circles away.
A head kick misses from Hexum.
Norton seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Hexum tries to close the distance and clinch but Norton swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Harald Hexum seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hexum tries to clinch up but Norton circles away and keeps his distance.
Norton stuffs the takedown attempt from Hexum. Hexum gets slowly back to his feet.
Norton lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Gerald Norton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harald Hexum.
Hexum throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Hexum has taken the fight to the clinch.
Norton slowing the pace effectively.
Norton is looking to break free of the clinch but Hexum has double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hexum wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Norton manages to break the clinch.
Hexum tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Norton swivels and escapes.
Norton seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Norton shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hexum as he avoids it easily.
Hexum tries to clinch up.
Norton seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Hexum takes the fight into the clinch.
Norton slowing the pace effectively.
Norton is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Norton is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Norton stops a takedown attempt from Hexum.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Norton stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Norton holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Norton gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Gerald Norton.

Norton tries to keep at a distance but Hexum has taken the fight into the clinch.
Norton slowing the pace effectively.

That's four 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.
Hexum tries to throw a body punch but Norton avoids it by throwing Hexum back against the cage.
Hexum tries to pull guard but Norton holds him up against the cage and eventually Hexum drops back down to his feet.
Hexum is trying to pull guard but Norton has him pressed against the cage.
Hexum tries to circle away but Norton has him pinned against the cage.
Hexum drops down looking for an ankle pick but Norton pulls his leg out and moves away.
Hexum looks winded!
Norton leaves Hexum with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Norton seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Hexum misses with a two punch combination.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hexum tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Norton displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hexum.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerald Norton dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Hexum looks to throw a body kick

and Norton counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Hexum makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
A head kick by Hexum misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Hexum tries to clinch up

and Norton counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Norton stands up and waves to Hexum to follow him.
Hexum shoots and misses
and Norton counters with a head kick.
Hexum is breathing heavily.

Norton drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Hexum has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Norton off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Norton shoots in and gets a takedown into Hexum's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Norton gets to his feet. Hexum looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Harald Hexum is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hexum shoots in but no luck this time.
Norton fails to land the takedown.

Norton fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hexum, pushing him back against the cage.

Norton manages to break the clinch.
Norton lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Norton shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hexum's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hexum trying to control the position.

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

Hexum gets the takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Norton gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Norton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hexum can do to turn this around?

Norton has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Hexum is on him like a limpet, forcing Norton back against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Norton.
Norton is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Norton stalling the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hexum is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Gerald Norton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harald Hexum.
Norton stalling.
Norton effectively controlling the action here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Gerald Norton.

Norton shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Norton was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hexum is letting Norton control him for a moment.

Norton decides to stand up, so the ref orders Hexum to his feet.

Norton bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hexum keeps working.
Gerald Norton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Norton takes a little break here. Hexum wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Norton is looking to take a break and control but Hexum is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Norton decides to stand back up. Norton steps back and let's Hexum get back to his feet.
Hexum tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Norton manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Norton looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerald Norton dominated that second round.
That's time! Norton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hexum wants to clinch up but Norton keeps it at a distance.
Norton fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Norton will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hexum wants to counter with a clinch but Norton pushes him away.
Norton circles away from the clinch attempt
and Norton counters with a thumping low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hexum gets the takedown into side control.
Norton is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norton wants to control but Hexum postures up.

Hexum decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Hexum takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Norton cracks Hexum with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Hexum tries for a takedown but Norton circles away easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Hexum shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Hexum was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Norton is trying to control Hexum's posture but Hexum avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Who's going to make the next move?
Norton is trying to improve his position.
Norton is trying to control Hexum's posture but Hexum avoids it.
Norton is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hexum's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Norton looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hexum is controlling the pace.
Norton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norton is refusing to be controlled, as Hexum sits in half guard.
Norton trying to control here.
Norton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hexum tries to pass to full mount but Norton defends it.
Hexum sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Norton defending well though.
Norton tries to kick Hexum off but Hexum keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hexum wants to control but Norton is keeping him busy.
Norton is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hexum's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hexum's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Will Norton go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Hexum trying to control the action but Norton just sinks the hooks in.
You can see the frustration on Hexum's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Norton looking for the RNC.

Norton is looking for the choke from the back position but Hexum is controlling his hands well.
Norton has the hooks in. Hexum is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Norton is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
I really don't envy Hexum right now.
Harald Hexum has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gerald Norton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
What can Hexum do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

And that's the end of the fight!
Gerald Norton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Norton 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

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