PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nils Norling (ranked 1099 p4p, 891 weight class) and Roberto Karokaro (ranked 159 p4p, 123 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Norling
vs
Karokaro

185 cm
36
175
28 - 21 - 0

173 cm
32
170
14 - 10 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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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 28 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nils Norling!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Roberto Karokaro!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, James Ackerman and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karokaro checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Karokaro looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Karokaro checks a leg kick nicely.
Norling connects with a leg kick.
Norling avoids a punch combination nicely.
Karokaro looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Norling ducks right into an uppercut from Karokaro.
Karokaro takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Norling has been working on his boxing with his coaches at London MMA Club in the buildup to the fight.
Norling wants to land a leg kick but Karokaro is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norling blocks a low kick nicely.
Norling was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Norling is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Nils Norling seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big right from Norling misses.
A little jabbing left from Karokaro on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Karokaro lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norling blocks a jab.
Karokaro defending well as Norling loads up on a big left hand.
Norling scores with a body shot.
Norling misses with a hook. Karokaro ducked under it nicely.
Karokaro goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Karokaro with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Norling to score with a decent uppercut.
Karokaro misses with a low kick.
Karokaro buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Karokaro throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Norling punishes Karokaro's body with a nice straight punch.
Karokaro cracks a nice hook into Norling's ribs.
Karokaro bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Norling checks a low kick from Karokaro.
Norling with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Karokaro on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

Karokaro clinches up with Norling and pushes him back against the cage.
Norling presses Karokaro against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Norling digs a right hand into Karokaro's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Karokaro's gas tank.
Karokaro is trying to push Norling away but Norling has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Norling struggles to land a body shot inside as Karokaro controls his hands.
A short left from Norling.
Norling tries to work over Karokaro's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Karokaro blocks a body shot from Norling.
A short left from Norling.
Norling tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Karokaro's elbow.
Norling struggles to land a body shot inside as Karokaro controls his hands.

Norling pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Karokaro avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karokaro throws a right and a left that Norling avoids nicely.
A little feinted left hand from Norling on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Karokaro throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Norling comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Karokaro walks into a left hand.
Karokaro checks the leg kick nicely there.

Karokaro gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Norling misses with the head strike.
Norling can't find room to land a body shot as Karokaro controls the action.
Norling has a couple of punches blocked by Karokaro.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Norling as Karokaro tries to tie him up.
Norling tries to work over Karokaro's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Karokaro is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Karokaro is trying to force a seperation but Norling has the dominant position.

Karokaro's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norling moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Karokaro's jab looks to have found its range, popping Norling under the eye.
Karokaro throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like Nils Norling has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Karokaro clinches with his opponent.

Karokaro breaks from the clinch.
Karokaro fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Norling manages to avoid it.
Norling jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Norling wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Karokaro blocks a jab.
Karokaro looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Norling misses with a straight right.
A jab from Norling does it's job there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nils Norling will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Nils Norling's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Norling pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Norling throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Roberto Karokaro is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Karokaro misses with a body shot.
Karokaro keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Norling lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Norling staying out of range there.
Karokaro takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Karokaro closes the distance looking to clinch
and Norling counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norling misses with an uppercut
and Karokaro counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nice jab there from Norling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norling scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A good leg kick by Karokaro.
Karokaro throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Norling swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Karokaro lands with an uppercut that bounces Norling off the cage and back into range.
Karokaro takes one to the side of the head.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Karokaro in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Norling keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Norling misses with a right hand
and Karokaro counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Norling scores with a jab to the head.
Karokaro swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling Norling to counter with a crisp jab.
Norling misses with a body kick.
A left lands for Norling.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Norling scores with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norling scores with a jab to the body.
Norling throws a predictable looking body shot
and Karokaro counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A slow jab from Norling misses its intended target.
A slow jab from Karokaro misses its intended target.
Norling lands a lovely overhand right.
Norling is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Karokaro throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Norling.
Karokaro misses with an uppercut. Norling saw that one coming.
A little feinted left hand from Norling on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Karokaro lands a nice shot that snaps Norling's head back.
Nils Norling is winning the standup battle so far.
Norling throws out a loose jab but Karokaro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Norling chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Karokaro can pounce on him.
Norling throws a sloppy head kick and Karokaro moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Norling.
Karokaro looks to land a combination but Norling avoids it well.
Karokaro blocks a jab.
Karokaro throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Karokaro gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Norling misses with a short punch on the inside.
Norling misses with some punches.
Norling struggles to land a body shot inside as Karokaro controls his hands.
Karokaro has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Karokaro blocks an uppercut.
Karokaro takes a shot to the head.
Karokaro throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Norling blocks it with crossed arms.
Karokaro is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Karokaro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Karokaro throws a nice looking combination but Norling bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norling throws a body shot but no joy.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Karokaro lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Norling has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Norling and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Norling lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A looping hook to the body misses from Karokaro. Norling does a little dance to reset his feet.
A little feinted left hand from Norling on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Karokaro avoids the body shot from Norling.
Karokaro throws a low kick, looking for Norling's leg but Norling calmly moves out of range.
Norling jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Norling looks for the body kick but Karokaro saw that one coming.
Norling jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Norling is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Norling throws a looping overhand right but Karokaro ducks down to avoid it.
Karokaro misses with a wild body shot.
Karokaro fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Norling looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Karokaro throws a jab but it's blocked by Norling.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nils Norling will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Nils Norling's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Karokaro throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Karokaro closes the distance and pushes Norling back into the cage.
Norling misses with some punches.
Karokaro is trying to break the clinch but Norling is controlling him.
Karokaro tries to land knees in the clinch but Norling avoids the damage to the body.
Norling fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Karokaro blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Norling swings wildly with an uppercut but Karokaro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Norling throws a head punch that misses.

Karokaro's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Karokaro.
Karokaro throws a looping overhand right but Norling ducks down to avoid it.
Norling throws a body punch but Karokaro moves out of range.
Norling misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norling fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Norling throws a right and a left that both miss.
Norling has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Norling there as he acknowledges the shot.
Karokaro lands with an uppercut that bounces Norling off the cage and back into range.
Norling uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Karokaro.
Karokaro misses with a double jab.
Norling thows a left - swing and a miss!
Norling looks to land a body kick but Karokaro moved away.
Karokaro tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Norling was well out of range. Poor timing from Karokaro.
As Karokaro looks to move away, Norling throws a big counter combo but Karokaro just gets out of the way.
Norling goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Norling misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Karokaro.
Norling misses with a left hand
and Karokaro cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nils Norling is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norling moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Karokaro lands a slapping body shot.
Karokaro moves away from the strike by Norling.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Karokaro tries to land a leg kick but Norling saw it coming and moves away.
Norling thinks about countering with a body kick.
Norling thuds a left hand into Karokaro's body.
Norling fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Karokaro manages to break the clinch.
Karokaro on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norling listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Norling keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Karokaro.
Karokaro misses with a straight right.
Karokaro throws a head kick but Norling moves out of range.
Karokaro checks a leg kick.
Norling lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Karokaro uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Norling.
Norling throws a body shot but no joy.
Karokaro will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Norling appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Norling lands a high kick!
Roberto Karokaro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karokaro keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Karokaro is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Norling misses with an uppercut. Karokaro saw that one coming.
Karokaro doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Karokaro looks for the body kick but Norling saw that one coming.
Norling defending well as Karokaro loads up on a big left hand.
Norling is looking to score with low kicks.
Norling cracks a nice hook into Karokaro's ribs.
Norling wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Norling throws a looping overhand right but Karokaro ducks down to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Norling uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Karokaro has time to react.
Norling walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
An inside leg kick lands from Norling.

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 Nils Norling.
Well Norling 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nils Norling!
In his post fight interview, Nils Norling started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.