PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mark Spencer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Santeri Norzu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Spencer might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Ride Of The Valkyries - Richard Wagner. Norzu is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Cult of Luna - Back To Chapel Town. This should be fireworks!

Spencer
vs
Norzu

170 cm
23
157 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

185 cm
24
163 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Bushido Clothing
Gilop®

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mark Spencer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Santeri Norzu!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spencer fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Norzu avoids it really well and circles away.
Norzu jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Spencer has a takedown stuffed.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Spencer misses with a hook to the body
letting Norzu counter with a right hand.
Spencer takes a swing at Norzu's ribcage but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norzu throws a looping overhand right but Spencer ducks down to avoid it.
Norzu throws a jab when Spencer was well out of range.
Norzu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Spencer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norzu throws a right hand that misses
and Spencer counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Spencer shoots in and gets a takedown into Norzu's guard.
Spencer trying to control but Norzu is working from the bottom.
Norzu utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Spencer sitting in guard here, content to control.
Spencer lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spencer wants to pass the guard but Norzu is keeping the position.
Spencer trying to control but Norzu is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spencer won't allow Norzu to get back to his feet.
Norzu keeping full guard, as Spencer tries to pass.
Spencer might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Norzu working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Spencer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spencer is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Spencer working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Norzu keeping moving, preventing Spencer from controlling successfully.
Spencer working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Spencer postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Spencer postures up.
Spencer advances position into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Norzu is not content to let Spencer control the position.
Norzu is letting Spencer control him for a moment.
Spencer misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Spencer has knee on belly momentarily but Norzu bucks him off and regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Spencer dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Norzu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Spencer misses the body punch
and Norzu counters with a stiff right hand.
Spencer throws a sloppy body shot
letting Norzu counter with a right hand.
Spencer looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Norzu is fending him off so far but Spencer persists. Nope, Norzu circles away and we're back to standing.
Norzu fakes the leg kick and cracks Spencer in the body.
Spencer is looking to wear down Norzu with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Spencer takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spencer swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Norzu counters with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Mark Spencer has been cut.
Spencer misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Norzu counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Norzu has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A punch lands to the side of Spencer 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Norzu might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Norzu leaves Spencer with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Spencer misses with a right hand
and Norzu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Spencer gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Norzu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Spencer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Norzu misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Norzu is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Spencer, as that shot connected.
Spencer shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Norzu pinned against the cage. Norzu gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Norzu fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Spencer.

Spencer fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Norzu to the ground. Spencer is now in Norzu's guard.
Norzu is pulling down on Spencer's head. It's preventing any offense from Spencer, at least for the moment.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norzu can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Spencer controls the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Norzu keeping full guard, as Spencer tries to pass.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Santeri Norzu was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Norzu missing with a left hand there. Spencer was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Mark Spencer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Norzu misses with a jab, cross combination.
Spencer takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Norzu moves out of range as Spencer strikes.
Spencer misses the body punch
and Spencer takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Norzu.
Norzu stuffs the takedown attempt from Spencer. Spencer gets slowly back to his feet.
Norzu lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santeri Norzu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mark Spencer's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Spencer shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Norzu pinned against the cage. Norzu gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Spencer misses with a hook
and Norzu counters with a straight right hand.
Norzu throws a head kick that misses.
Spencer misses with a shot to the body
and Norzu counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A solid leg kick lands there for Norzu.
Spencer throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Norzu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Spencer misses the body punch
and Norzu counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Spencer misses with a body shot
and Norzu counters with a leg kick.
Santeri Norzu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norzu slaps away a takedown attempt from Spencer, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Norzu lets loose with a powerful body kick. Spencer will feel that in the morning.
Norzu thuds his right hand into Spencer's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Norzu pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Spencer misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Norzu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Spencer misses with a shot to the body
and Norzu counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Spencer swings away with a body shot that misses
and Norzu counters with a left to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spencer fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Spencer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Spencer is trying hard to land a takedown here. Norzu sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Norzu missing with a left hand there. Spencer was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Spencer shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Norzu defends it nicely.
Norzu throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norzu misses with a series of wild punches.
Spencer scores with a nice strike.
Spencer stuns Norzu with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Norzu lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Norzu lands with a thumping leg kick.
A shot to the body from Spencer misses
and Norzu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norzu scores with a nice strike.
Norzu throws a low kick but Spencer avoids it.
Norzu throws a low kick but it's checked well by Spencer.
Norzu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Spencer.
Spencer is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Spencer misses the body punch
and Norzu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Norzu throws a half hearted mid kick.
Norzu pulls out of a head kick attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Santeri Norzu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Norzu has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Santeri Norzu!