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TWGC 40 (145lbs, D2): Finals - Round 3 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the featherweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of Sydney, with a TWGC record of 3 wins and 0 losses; Jesse-James Hopson! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Las Vegas, with a TWGC record of 3 wins and 0 losses; Mark Norman!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Colin Fotheringham and Chris Edwards.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Hopson rushes Norman and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Norman lands a takedown into guard.
Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Hopson (0) vs (2) Norman
Norman tries to free his leg and advance position but Hopson is retaining full guard.
Norman controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Hopson seems keen to control Norman's posture.
Hopson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Norman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hopson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hopson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norman trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Norman passes Hopson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Norman tries to pass to full mount but Hopson defends it.
Hopson keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Norman is working for a submission of some sort.
Norman is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Hopson! Score +3 for passing guard: Hopson (0) vs (5) Norman
Hopson is desperately trying to improve his position but Norman has a good base and remains in mount.
Hopson tries to lock up and control but Norman gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Norman controlling the position easily from mount.
Hopson is squirming around, avoiding Norman's attempts to control the action.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norman is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Hopson is surviving well by controlling Norman's body position as best he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Norman trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hopson tries to lock up and control but Norman gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hopson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hopson sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Hopson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hopson is trying to get back to full guard.
Norman is looking to advance position but Hopson won't allow it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norman keeps trying to improve his position.
Norman is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hopson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hopson is controlling Norman's trapped leg to prevent Norman from advancing to side control.
Hopson is looking to improve his position.
Hopson is doing well to control the position and prevent Norman from advancing to side control.
Norman moves nicely into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Hopson (0) vs (8) Norman
Hopson wants to control but Norman postures up.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norman tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hopson regains half guard.
Hopson preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Norman seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Hopson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hopson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Norman looking to pass the guard.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Norman forces his way into half guard.
Hopson wants to improve his position but Norman is controlling well.
Norman wants to free his trapped foot but Hopson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Hopson wants to improve his position but Norman is controlling well.
Norman tries to pass to full mount but Hopson defends it.
Hopson wants to control but Norman is keeping busy and won't allow it.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Norman prevents Hopson from improving his position.
Hopson is looking to control Norman's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hopson avoid being mounted?
Hopson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Norman tries to free his leg and advance position but Hopson is retaining full guard.
Hopson wants to sweep here but Norman controlling him for the moment.
Norman is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Norman stopping the sweep attempt from Hopson.
Hopson pulls Norman in close to prevent any damage.
Hopson continues to stall.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Norman looking to pass the guard.
Norman trying to control but Hopson is working from the bottom.
Hopson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Norman tries to free his leg and advance position but Hopson is retaining full guard.
Norman wants to control from the top but Hopson keeps moving.
Norman tries to free his leg and advance position but Hopson is retaining full guard.
Hopson looking to control.
Norman won't allow Hopson to sweep him here.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Norman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hopson is keeping the position for now.
Hopson is controlling Norman's posture.
Norman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Norman trying to control but Hopson is working from the bottom.
Hopson managing to control the position.
Norman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hopson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Norman wants to control from the top but Hopson keeps moving.
Hopson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Norman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hopson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hopson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Norman's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Hopson (2) vs (8) Norman
Norman escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hopson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hopson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Norman is trying to control the position but Hopson postures up.
Norman manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hopson manages to get himself to full guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Hopson (2) vs (10) Norman
Norman wants to pass the guard but Hopson is keeping the position.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Hopson is pulling down on Norman's head. It's preventing any offense from Norman, at least for the moment.
Hopson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Norman's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Hopson (4) vs (10) Norman
Hopson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Hopson wants to pass the guard but Norman is keeping the position.
Hopson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hopson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Norman managing to control the position.
Norman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hopson is one step ahead there.
Hopson content to stall in guard here.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Norman is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Hopson (4) vs (12) Norman
Norman is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hopson sees it coming and defends easily.
Hopson desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Hopson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Norman moves into full mount! Hopson won't be happy about that! Score +3 for passing guard: Hopson (4) vs (15) Norman
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Hopson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Norman wants to take Hopson's back but he can't do it this time.
Norman looking to control but Hopson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Norman seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Hopson is holding on tight.
Norman can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hopson is looking to escape.
Norman with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Hopson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Hopson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Norman wants to control the pace but Hopson is squirming around nicely.
Hopson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hopson is working hard here to advance position.
Hopson prevents Norman from taking his back.
Hopson is squirming around, avoiding Norman's attempts to control the action.
Norman with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hopson has given up his back here. Will Norman look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Score +3 for taking back: Hopson (4) vs (18) Norman
Our spies down at at Rollins Fitness inform us that Norman has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
I really don't envy Hopson right now.
And that's the end of the fight!
Norman wins on points by 18 to 4.
Mark Norman is the new featherweight champion!
A very excited looking Mark Norman rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.
The defeated Jesse-James Hopson had this to say: 'Ah well, I suppose it has come to this… Such is life.'. |
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