PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luka Pesic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Norbury (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pesic kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is The Game- Dope Boys. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Pesic
vs
Norbury

185 cm
20
208 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Luka Pesic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mark Norbury!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Alexandre Firmino and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Norbury tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pesic swivels and escapes.
Norbury shoots in but no luck this time.

Pesic fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Norbury sprawls well initially but Pesic persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Pesic is taking a breather. Norbury says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Norbury tries to get to full guard but Pesic has control of the leg.
Pesic tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Norbury.
Norbury wants to get back to his feet.
Pesic looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Pesic trying to control the pace.
Norbury trying to hold on to Pesic's head to control him but Pesic postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Norbury actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Pesic shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Pesic was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Norbury is desperately trying to improve his position but Pesic has a good base and remains in mount.
Pesic avoids the attempt from Norbury to control.
Pesic content just to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pesic avoids the attempt from Norbury to control.
Pesic controlling the pace for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norbury tries to hold on but Pesic pushes him away.
Norbury looks gassed!
Pesic takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Pesic with the ground and pound from mount.
Norbury tries to hold on but Pesic pushes him away.
Norbury is wriggling around trying to escape.
Norbury is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Pesic controlling the position easily from mount.
Norbury is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pesic takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Pesic landing strikes from the mount.
Norbury wants to control but Pesic is having none of it.
Pesic controlling his opponent.
Norbury gets back to half guard.
Norbury tries to get to full guard but Pesic has control of the leg.
Pesic is tying to control. Norbury wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Norbury wants to get back to his feet.
Norbury wants to improve his position but Pesic is controlling well.
Norbury moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norbury seems keen to control Pesic's posture.

Norbury has his foot on Pesic's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pesic works his way back into a safe position though.
Norbury trying to control the position here.
Norbury trying to control the position.
Pesic controls from within his opponent's guard.
Pesic trying to stand up but can't free himself from Norbury's guard.
Norbury is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pesic is controlling him.
Pesic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luka Pesic 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.

Pesic tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Norbury has his takedown stuffed
and Pesic counters with a good low kick that Norbury was not able to check.
A chopping leg kick lands by Pesic.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Norbury goes for a takedown attempt but Pesic pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Luka Pesic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pesic throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Pesic decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Pesic stalling.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Norbury is trying to control but can't.
Well, if Pesic is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Norbury manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Pesic slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Norbury has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pesic can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Norbury manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Pesic manages to get himself to full guard.
Pesic wants to stand up but Norbury is controlling him.
Norbury trying to control the position from guard on top but Pesic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pesic pulls Norbury in close to prevent any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Norbury accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norbury trying to control but Pesic is working from the bottom.
Norbury thows a big elbow that misses.
Norbury wants to get up but he can't break Pesic's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Pesic connects with a solid leg kick.
Pesic with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Norbury misses with a takedown attempt
and Pesic counters with a left to the body.
Luka Pesic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Norbury.
Norbury shoots and misses

and Pesic counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Pesic prevents Norbury from improving his position.
Pesic is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Norbury!
Norbury tries to hold on but Pesic postures up.
Luka Pesic overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Norbury squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Norbury tries to lock up and control but Pesic gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pesic looking to control but Norbury is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Norbury tries to hold on but Pesic postures up.
Norbury throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Norbury really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Pesic controlling from mount.
Norbury tries to lock up and control but Pesic gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Pesic trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Norbury is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Norbury wants to hold on but Pesic pushes him away.
Pesic controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Pesic avoids the attempt from Norbury to control.
Pesic prevents Norbury from getting the reversal.
Pesic controlling from the full mount.
Norbury tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Pesic sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Norbury manages to regain half guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luka Pesic dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Norbury shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Pesic counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Norbury wants to control but Pesic is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Norbury gets full guard.
Norbury working a defensive guard here.
Norbury controlling Pesic's posture.

Despite being in the dominant position, Mark Norbury just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No luck for Pesic with that takedown attempt.
Norbury lands a nice leg kick that just misses Pesic's sensitive parts.
Norbury takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Norbury takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Pesic with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A solid leg kick lands there for Pesic.

Pesic moves into range and clinches up with Norbury.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pesic breaks the clinch.
Pesic throws a head kick that Norbury semi-blocks.

Pesic rushes Norbury and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Norbury tries to pull guard but Pesic won't allow it.
Pesic lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Mark Norbury has been cut.

Pesic has picked Norbury up - he's going for a ride! Pesic dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Norbury trying to hold on to Pesic's head to control him but Pesic postures up.
Pesic not doing much here.

Pesic escapes and gets back to his feet.
Norbury takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Pesic lands a nice leg kick that just misses Norbury's sensitive parts.
Norbury avoids a punch combination nicely.
Luka Pesic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pesic displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pesic gets a clinch.
Pesic changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Norbury fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Norbury avoids a punch combination nicely.

Pesic drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
You can see the frustration on Norbury's face as Pesic controls the position.
Norbury tries to bench press Pesic off him but Pesic keeps the position.
Norbury is not content to let Pesic control the position.
Norbury is trying to improve his position.
Norbury is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Pesic off and has taken his back!

Norbury working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Pesic is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Norbury.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Norbury's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Pesic showing good submission defense here.

Norbury has his opponent's back but Pesic is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Norbury.

Pesic instigates a clinch.
Norbury is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pesic pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Luka Pesic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Norbury.
Norbury goes for a takedown in the clinch but Pesic prevents it.
Norbury changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Pesic fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Norbury doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Pesic counters with a body kick that stops Norbury in his tracks momentarily.
Norbury doesn't manage to clinch there - Pesic circles away.
Pesic tries to land a front kick but Norbury steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Norbury feints and as Pesic raises his hands in defense, Norbury changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norbury wants to stand and escape but instead Pesic has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Pesic sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Pesic wants to control from the top but Norbury keeps moving.
Pesic has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Norbury holds on and takes a little breather.
Pesic looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Norbury wants to sweep but no luck.
Mark Norbury has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Norbury looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Pesic is defending well. Norbury quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Pesic has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Norbury celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mark Norbury!