PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Art Espinoza (ranked 4711 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chak Norkjis (ranked 6279 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Espinoza
vs
Norkjis

161 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Art Espinoza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chak Norkjis!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Roger Salmon and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Norkjis instigates a clinch.

Espinoza pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Norkjis drops Espinoza with a beautiful combination! Espinoza stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Norkjis is looking for the KO!

It looks like Art Espinoza has been cut.
Chak Norkjis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Norkjis pushes Espinoza up against the cage in a clinch.
Espinoza is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Norkjis is defending well.
Espinoza could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Norkjis gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Espinoza regains guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Norkjis throwing strikes from guard but Espinoza blocks nicely.

Espinoza had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Norkjis defends it easily.
Norkjis tries to free his leg and advance position but Espinoza is retaining full 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.

Espinoza is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Espinoza is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Norkjis drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Norkjis jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Espinoza keeping full guard, as Norkjis tries to pass.
Norkjis wants to control from the top but Espinoza keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Norkjis swats away the attempt to clinch by Espinoza.
A chopping leg kick lands by Norkjis.

Norkjis shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Espinoza has his hands clasped together around Norkjis's back. He's all about the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norkjis wants to control but Espinoza is keeping him busy.
Espinoza trying to control from the bottom.
Norkjis not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Espinoza is trying to stand.

Espinoza looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Espinoza tries to kick Norkjis off but Norkjis keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

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

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.
Norkjis keeps the fight on the outside.

Norkjis shoots in and gets a takedown into Espinoza's guard.
Espinoza wants to hit a switch here but Norkjis passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Espinoza there!
Norkjis is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Espinoza is looking to improve his position but Norkjis isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Norkjis controlling from the full mount.
Norkjis won't let Espinoza get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chak Norkjis dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Art Espinoza'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.

Norkjis drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Norkjis trying to control but Espinoza is working from the bottom.
Norkjis lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Norkjis throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Espinoza can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Norkjis controls the pace.
Espinoza might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Espinoza looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norkjis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Espinoza is keeping the position for now.
Espinoza keeping moving, preventing Norkjis from controlling successfully.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Norkjis pushing down on Espinoza's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Norkjis trying to control the action but Espinoza is working from the bottom.
Norkjis not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Espinoza wants to get back to his feet.

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

Norkjis looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Espinoza!
Espinoza prevents Norkjis from improving position.
Espinoza pushes Norkjis away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Norkjis gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza is trying to control Norkjis's posture but Norkjis avoids it.
Espinoza is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Norkjis trying to control the position but Espinoza is working away.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Espinoza chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Norkjis can pounce on him.
Art Espinoza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Norkjis scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

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

Norkjis lands a takedown into guard.
Norkjis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Espinoza working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Norkjis.
Espinoza is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Norkjis throws a strike but Espinoza rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

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

Chak Norkjis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Art Espinoza's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Norkjis cracks Espinoza with a good jab.
Norkjis throws a series of punches but Espinoza avoids them all with ease.

Norkjis shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Norkjis seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Espinoza does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Espinoza wants to control but Norkjis is keeping busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Espinoza keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norkjis trying to control the action but Espinoza is working from the bottom.

Espinoza is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Norkjis pulls his head out easily.

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

Norkjis looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norkjis looking to pass the guard.
Espinoza is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Espinoza had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Norkjis defends it easily.

Norkjis decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza tries to clinch up.
Norkjis is looking to clinch but Espinoza is avoiding it.

Norkjis shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Espinoza is looking to stand up but Norkjis isn't so interested in that idea.
Norkjis wants to pass the guard but Espinoza is keeping the position.
Norkjis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Norkjis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza wants to stand up but Norkjis is controlling him.
Norkjis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Espinoza is keeping the position for now.

Espinoza working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Norkjis has passed into half guard!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Norkjis is trying to control. Espinoza wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chak Norkjis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Norkjis 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chak Norkjis!
Chak Norkjis decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.