PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brian Braida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ludwig Van Normayen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Braida kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Here I am. Van Normayen comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Vader - Sword of The Witcher kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Ludwig Van Normayen is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Braida
vs
Van Normayen

178 cm
22
185 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

186 cm
23
182 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brian Braida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ludwig Van Normayen!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Dean Styles and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Van Normayen.
Braida circles away from the clinch attempt.
Braida shoots in but no luck this time.
Braida tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Van Normayen swivels and escapes.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Braida is defended easily by Van Normayen.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Braida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Normayen scores with a nice body kick.
Van Normayen lands a head kick!

It looks like Brian Braida has been cut.
Braida shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Van Normayen counters with a solid body kick.
Braida is breathing heavily.
Van Normayen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Braida throws a head kick that misses
and Van Normayen counters with a good low kick that Braida was not able to check.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Van Normayen throws a sloppy head kick and Braida moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Normayen slaps away a takedown attempt from Braida, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Van Normayen throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Braida.

Braida is rocked!
Ludwig Van Normayen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Van Normayen wants to clinch.
Van Normayen tries to clinch up.
Braida avoids the head kick by Van Normayen.
An inside leg kick lands from Van Normayen.
No luck for Braida with that takedown attempt.
Van Normayen delivers a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Normayen throws a sloppy head kick and Braida moves out of range easily.
Van Normayen throws a nice outside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice inside leg kick there by Van Normayen. That's going to slow Braida down.
Braida avoids the head kick by Van Normayen.
Van Normayen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Braida throws a head kick but Van Normayen moves out of range.
Van Normayen connects with a high kick.
Van Normayen looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Braida looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Braida takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Oh Braida is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Braida stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Braida wants it to stay on the feet.
Van Normayen moves in looking to clinch but Braida pushes him off.
Braida seems to have got his legs back now.
Van Normayen throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nice sprawl there from Van Normayen as Braida shoots in.
Braida looks for a takedown but Van Normayen sprawls well.
Braida shoots in for a takedown but Van Normayen shows good takedown defense.
Braida takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Van Normayen.
Van Normayen throws a head kick that misses
and Braida counters with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Braida avoids the head kick by Van Normayen.
Van Normayen throws the kick towards the body but Braida avoids it.
Van Normayen tried to score with a low kick but Braida checks it.
Braida scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Van Normayen tries to clinch up.
Braida misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
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!
Nice takedown defense from Van Normayen. No joy for Braida on that attempt.
Van Normayen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Braida swats him away and circles back towards the center.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Braida. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Braida blocks a head kick by Van Normayen.
Van Normayen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Van Normayen doesn't manage to clinch there - Braida circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ludwig Van Normayen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Brian Braida's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Van Normayen gets a clinch.
Braida drops down looking for an ankle pick but Van Normayen pulls his leg out and moves away.
Van Normayen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Brian Braida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Braida with a lazy takedown attempt
and Van Normayen counters with a good low kick that Braida was not able to check.
Braida shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Braida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Normayen throws a head kick that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Van Normayen throws a head kick that Braida semi-blocks.
A head kick misses from Van Normayen.
Ludwig Van Normayen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Van Normayen tries a head kick but it misses.
Van Normayen is looking to clinch but Braida is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Braida checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Braida avoids the head kick by Van Normayen.
Braida fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Van Normayen lands with a slapping head kick.

Brian Braida's cut is getting worse.
Van Normayen throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Braida's head.
Van Normayen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Van Normayen cracks the inside of Braida's front leg.
Braida fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Van Normayen throws a lazy head kick

and Braida counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Van Normayen!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Normayen blocking the ground and pound.
Braida landing punches.
Van Normayen gets back to half guard.
Braida has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Braida missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Braida working Van Normayen over with strikes.
Braida throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Braida wants to pass to mount but Van Normayen is defending the position.
Van Normayen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Braida is taking a breather. Van Normayen 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.
Van Normayen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Braida. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Braida trying to mount his opponent but Van Normayen defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Braida slips a nice elbow through Van Normayen's hands, connecting with Van Normayen's forehead.
Braida is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Van Normayen!
Braida scoring with strikes but Van Normayen is staying in there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Braida cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Braida raining down shots from the mount!
Braida lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Braida with the ground and pound from mount.
Braida breaks from Van Normayen's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Braida raining down shots from the mount!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Braida landing punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Normayen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Braida in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Braida landing strikes from the mount.
Braida with shots to the head and body - Van Normayen looks very uncomfortable down there.
Van Normayen taking shots to the head.
Braida cracks Van Normayen with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Van Normayen is rocked!
Braida landing strikes, looking to finish!
Van Normayen is still in real trouble! Can Braida finish him?
Van Normayen is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Braida lands a nice shot to the head.
Braida is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Braida connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Braida dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Brian Braida's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Braida scores with a head kick.
Brian Braida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Braida.
Van Normayen tries to clinch

and Braida counters with a shoot takedown. Van Normayen fights it but they end up in guard.
Braida throws a big right hand that misses.
Braida trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Van Normayen wants to get back to his feet but Braida is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Van Normayen seems to have recovered his senses.
Braida throws a big right hand that misses.
Braida throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Van Normayen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Van Normayen can do anything to dispel that myth.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Braida won't allow Van Normayen to get back to his feet.
Braida scoring with some ground and pound.
Braida distracts Van Normayen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Braida trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Normayen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Braida landing some decent shots from guard.
Braida is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Van Normayen wants to get back to his feet but Braida is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Braida's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Van Normayen is looking to stand up but Braida isn't so interested in that idea.

Braida is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Braida chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Braida lands a couple of digs.
Braida scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Braida accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Braida with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Braida makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Braida passes Van Normayen's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Brian Braida overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Braida working the head and body with strikes.
Braida lands with a punch from half guard.
Van Normayen has hold of Braida's hands but Braida slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Braida lands a nice short elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Braida looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Van Normayen with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ground and pound from Braida.
Braida lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Braida lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Braida working Van Normayen over with strikes.
Braida looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Van Normayen with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Braida scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Braida lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Braida looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Braida throwing shots but Van Normayen is blocking nicely.
Braida lands strikes from half guard.
Van Normayen is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Braida scores with a couple of nice shots.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Braida lands a nice short elbow.
Braida looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Van Normayen with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Braida takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Braida lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Van Normayen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Braida working the head and body with strikes.
Braida is keen to just control but Van Normayen is a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brian Braida showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Braida has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian Braida!