PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Colton Wilder (ranked 1225 p4p, 854 weight class) and Buster Norberg (ranked 152 p4p, 109 weight class). Wilder comes to the cage accompanied by Tombstone - Avatar Darko. Norberg has chosen Real American - Rick Derringer as his entrance music. Colton Wilder had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Wilder
vs
Norberg

199 cm
30
275
18 - 9 - 0

192 cm
26
240
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

30th Century Beer Store

Conviction
Wrestler Wayfare

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Colton Wilder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Buster Norberg!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Wesley Smith and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wilder slips under a jab.
A jab from Norberg misses.
Colton Wilder seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed right hand from Wilder misses the target.
We've been hearing reports that Wilder has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Wilder tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wilder tries to close the distance and clinch but Norberg swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Wilder avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

Norberg shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Norberg pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wilder is keeping the position for now.
Norberg is stalling in the full guard.
Wilder has control of Norberg's left arm, preventing Norberg from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norberg trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Norberg working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Norberg being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilder 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.
Norberg trying to control the position from guard on top but Wilder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wilder seems keen to control Norberg's posture.
Norberg throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Norberg trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Wilder avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Norberg has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Wilder wants to sweep here but Norberg controlling him for the moment.
Wilder is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Norberg taking some punishment here, with Wilder in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilder is trying to control. Norberg wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Norberg is concentrating on defense, preventing Wilder from advancing position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Norberg actively working from the bottom here.
Norberg keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Wilder seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Wilder throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Wilder looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Norberg with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Wilder misses with a head shot. Norberg uses the momentum to regain guard.

Norberg has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Wilder can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Wilder lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Norberg is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Wilder defends well.
Wilder throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Wilder trying to control but Norberg is working from the bottom.
Wilder lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Wilder working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Norberg has his foot on Wilder's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Wilder works his way back into a safe position though.
Wilder scoring with some ground and pound.
Wilder distracts Norberg with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

It looks like Buster Norberg has been cut.
Wilder trying to control but Norberg is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Norberg working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Wilder doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Wilder manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Wilder distracts Norberg with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Norberg had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Wilder defends it easily.
Wilder stands up over Norberg, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Norberg had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Wilder defends it easily.
Wilder controlling from the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wilder is looking to work some ground and pound but Norberg has wrist control.
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 Colton Wilder will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Buster Norberg's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Norberg lands a body shot.
Wilder is looking to clinch.
Norberg avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Wilder slips under a jab.
Wilder tries to clinch up.
Norberg pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Norberg throws a shot from downtown. Wilder moves away and avoids it.
Wilder is looking to clinch.
Wilder looks to land a left hand but Norberg moved out of range nicely.
Norberg avoids the body shot from Wilder.
Wilder tries to clinch but Norberg moves out of range.
Norberg avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wilder takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Wilder tries to close the distance and clinch up but Norberg swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Wilder tries to close the distance and clinch but Norberg swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Norberg follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Norberg has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Wilder is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Norberg avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Norberg throws a shot to the body.
Wilder tries to clinch there but Norberg circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norberg circles away from the clinch attempt.
Norberg misses the shot to the body.
Norberg connects with a looping right hand.
Wilder goes for a double leg but Norberg avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Norberg continues to drive forward.
Norberg swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Wilder with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Wilder prevents a body shot from Norberg.
Norberg digs a right hand into Wilder's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Wilder's gas tank.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Norberg. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Norberg swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Norberg lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Norberg escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Norberg keeps the fight on the outside.
Wilder misses with an uppercut.
Wilder tries to clinch
and Norberg counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Norberg scores with a sloppy right hand. Wilder should have avoided that one.
The fight stays on the outside here - Wilder looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Wilder closes the distance looking to clinch
and Norberg cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilder fails in his attempt to clinch.
Wilder misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Norberg.
Wilder takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Wilder gets a clinch.
Wilder misses with a hook from the clinch.
Norberg tries a body shot but Wilder blocks it.
Good body shot from Norberg.
Norberg doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Norberg.
Wilder tries a knee to the head but Norberg blocks it.
Wilder has a couple of punches blocked by Norberg.
Norberg has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wilder tries to pull guard but Norberg forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Norberg misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Wilder tries to pull guard but Norberg won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Colton Wilder. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Norberg tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Wilder's elbow.
Norberg lands a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilder misses with the head strike.

Norberg manages to break the clinch.
Wilder is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Norberg gets a double leg takedown into Wilder's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Norberg accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Norberg postures up in Wilder's guard and throws a big left but Wilder blocks it.
Norberg tries to free his leg and advance position but Wilder is retaining full guard.
Norberg trying to control but Wilder is working from the bottom.
Wilder looking for a sweep. Not yet Wilder, not yet.
Wilder is working hard here to advance position.
Wilder controls Norberg momentarily but Norberg frees himself.
Wilder is really struggling to control Norberg but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norberg throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wilder works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Wilder is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Norberg tries to roll over but Wilder keeps him under control.
Norberg keeps trying to improve his position.
Wilder is looking to take a break and control but Norberg is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Norberg has his hands clasped together around Wilder's back. He's all about the action.
Wilder is nestled in close to Norberg, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Buster Norberg showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Buster Norberg's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Norberg dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A shot to the liver by Norberg. Beautiful body shot.
Wilder throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Norberg fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Wilder is looking to clinch.
Norberg chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Wilder tries to clinch but Norberg moves out of range.
Wilder tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Norberg paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Wilder tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Norberg paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A nice side step and Norberg releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Wilder doesn't manage to clinch there - Norberg circles away.
Wilder tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Norberg to counter with a crisp jab.
Norberg lands a glancing blow to the side of Wilder's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wilder is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wilder closes the distance but Norberg moves to the side
and Norberg makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Wilder looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilder tries to close the distance and clinch up but Norberg swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A looping hook to the body misses from Wilder. Norberg does a little dance to reset his feet.
Norberg keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Wilder.
Wilder dives in for a single leg takedown but Norberg sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Norberg gets through Wilder's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Norberg blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Norberg lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Wilder.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wilder misses with some punches.
Norberg misses with a punch on the inside.
Wilder blocks a body shot from Norberg.
Norberg takes a shot to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Wilder fails to land.
Norberg wants a takedown.
Wilder blocks a body shot from Norberg.
Norberg tries a body shot but Wilder blocks it.
Wilder prevents a body shot from Norberg.
Norberg tries to throw a body punch but Wilder avoids it by throwing Norberg back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilder takes a shot to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Wilder.
Wilder misses with a short punch on the inside.
Wilder tries a knee to the head but Norberg blocks it.
Norberg lands a body punch in the clinch.
Norberg tries to work over Wilder's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Norberg works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Wilder tries to land a knee to the head but Norberg blocks with his arms.
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!

Norberg turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Norberg working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Norberg is looking to take a break and control but Wilder is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Norberg is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Wilder knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilder avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Norberg.
Norberg throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Norberg throws a strike aimed at the side of Wilder's head but Wilder avoids it well.
Wilder tries to improve position but can't.
Norberg controls the position.
Wilder is not content to let Norberg control the position.
Wilder is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Norberg is looking to take a break and control but Wilder is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wilder keeping his opponent close.
Norberg throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Norberg throws an elbow but Wilder slips to the side and avoids it well.
Wilder stuck in half guard on the bottom here.

Norberg looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Norberg in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Buster Norberg comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Norberg 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Buster Norberg!
Our winner, Buster Norberg, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.