PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Greg Norman (ranked 1851 p4p, 278 weight class) and Todd Packer (ranked 2099 p4p, 306 weight class). Norman comes into the arena with Blac Youngsta - Birthday blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Norman
vs
Packer

190 cm
34
210 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

177 cm
28
190 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Greg Norman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Todd Packer!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Roger Salmon and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
That kick from Norman tenderised Packer's leg. Packer is trying to keep his angry face on.
Packer swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Packer tries to land a front kick but Norman steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sloppy strikes from Packer. Those never looked like landing.
A cross from Norman lands.
Packer misses with a series of wild punches.
Packer takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Norman feints and then cracks Packer's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Packer down.
Packer has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Norman.
Norman is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Packer.
Packer changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Packer throws a head kick that misses
and Norman counters with a left and a right that stings Packer.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Packer throws a sloppy body shot
and Norman counters with a nice body kick.
Norman dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Packer. That did some damage!
Norman lands a jab to the head.
Norman moves out of range of the body kick from Packer.
Packer misses with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Packer throws a half hearted mid kick.
Packer missing with a left hand there. Norman was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Packer fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Norman walks into a straight right hand from Packer.
Norman throws a nice inside leg kick.
Packer chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Norman can pounce on him.
Norman lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Norman takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Norman looks to land a right hand but Packer moved out of range.
Packer looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Norman misses with an uppercut.
A big left from Norman misses.
Greg Norman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Packer on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Packer rushes Norman and presses him up against the cage.
Our sources have told us that Norman has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Packer struggles to land a body shot inside as Norman controls his hands.
Norman misses with an elbow over the top.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Packer lands a left hand that snaps the head of Norman backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Packer - that landed with a thud.
A short right from Norman.
Packer cracks Norman with a nice body shot.
Packer pushes off an throws an elbow but Norman leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Packer misses with a punch on the inside.
Packer cracks Norman with a nice body shot.
Packer blocks an uppercut.
A short left from Norman.
A head punch on the inside from Norman fails to land.
Norman working aggressively here.
Norman tries to throw a body punch but Packer avoids it by throwing Norman back against the cage.
Packer lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Norman misses with a punch on the inside.
Packer wants a takedown.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Norman just misses with a elbow thrown towards Packer's brow.
Packer throws a punch but it's blocked by Norman.
Packer crunches a lovely knee into Norman's ribcage.
Packer lands a nice elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Packer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Packer lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Norman backwards.
Norman tries to land knees in the clinch but Packer avoids the damage to the body.
A short right from Packer.
A head punch on the inside from Packer fails to land.
Norman doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Packer lands a right hand that snaps the head of Norman backwards.
Norman blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Packer scores with a nice hook to the head.
Packer throws an elbow that misses.
Norman blocks an elbow strike from Packer.
Norman misses with an elbow strike.
Norman lands with a light punch inside.
Norman lands with a light punch inside.
Packer lands a knee to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Packer using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Norman has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Packer with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Packer misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Packer struggles to land a body shot inside as Norman controls his hands.
Packer throws a punch but it's blocked by Norman.
Packer misses with the head strike.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Norman obliges.
Packer throws a punch but it's blocked by Norman.
Norman throws a knee to the head but misses.
Packer throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Packer misses with a hook to the ribs.
Norman throws an elbow but it misses.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Norman.
Norman blocking some punches.
Norman throws a punch but it's blocked by Packer.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Norman misses with some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Norman.
Norman blocks a body shot from Packer.
Norman working aggressively here.
Norman throws a head punch that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Greg Norman will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A looping hook to the body misses from Packer. Norman does a little dance to reset his feet.
Norman throws a right and a left that both miss.

Packer drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Norman managing to control the position.
Packer missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Packer lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Packer makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Packer throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Norman works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Packer working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Norman avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Norman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Packer throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Norman works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Packer wants to control from the top but Norman keeps moving.
Norman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Packer.
Packer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Packer fails to land with a series of punches.
Norman staying out of range there.
Packer avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Packer tries to counter by closing the distance.
Norman waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Packer.
Norman avoids a kick to the body.
Packer uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Norman has time to react.
Norman throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Packer stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Norman with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Packer to score with a decent uppercut.
Packer tests Norman's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Packer works Norman's body with a nice hook.
A jab from Norman finds it's way through Packer's defenses.
Packer throws a body punch but Norman moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from Packer.
Norman tried to counter with a leg kick but Packer avoided it.
Norman staying out of range there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Packer misses with a takedown attempt - Norman sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Packer takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Norman scores with the left hand. Packer knows he should have avoided that one.
Norman lands with a right hand.
Packer throws the kick towards the body but Norman avoids it.
Norman appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Norman throws a solid leg kick but Packer takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Norman.
Norman tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norman looks to land a right hand but Packer moved out of range.
Todd Packer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Packer moves out of range of the body kick from Norman.
Packer throws a looping overhand right but Norman ducks down to avoid it.
Packer throws a wild body kick that Norman sees coming a mile off.
Packer fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Packer tries to land a front kick but Norman steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Norman looks to throw the jab but Packer is out of range.
Packer misses with a kick to the body.
Packer tries to land a front kick but Norman steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Norman fires out a quick counter leg kick but Packer just manages to avoid it.
Norman looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
No joy there for Packer, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Norman swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Packer lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Norman backs up against the cage.
Packer's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Norman checks a leg kick.
Packer throws an overhand right that lands on Norman's shoulder, as Norman tries to avoid the shot.
Greg Norman is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Packer takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
And Packer responds with a good body kick, but Norman manages to step out the way in time.
Packer dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Packer lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Todd Packer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Norman blocks a head kick by Packer.
Packer moves out of range as Norman strikes.
Nice jab there from Norman.
Packer misses with a body kick.
Norman scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Packer has taken the fight to the clinch.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Packer. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Norman misses with a hook to the ribs.
Packer pushes Norman back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Packer goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Todd Packer seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Packer can't find room to land a body shot as Norman controls the action.
Norman misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Norman blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Packer struggles to land a body shot inside as Norman controls his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Todd Packer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Norman's corner calls for a 1-2. Norman obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Packer waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Norman.
Norman swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Norman pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Packer moves out of range of the leg kick from Norman.
Packer ducks under a wild hook from Norman.
Norman takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Norman misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Norman misses the target.
Packer throws a body kick that misses.
Norman is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Norman throws a series of strikes that have Packer backpedaling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Packer throws a lazy right hand but Norman sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Packer's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Packer duly obliges.
Packer is looking to slow Norman down with leg kicks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Norman looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Norman is looking to score with low kicks.
Packer lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Packer tries to close the distance and clinch but Norman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Norman throwing a counter right hand but Packer manages to avoid it.
Packer chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Norman can pounce on him.
Packer shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Norman but Norman pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Packer ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Norman moves out of range of the body kick from Packer.
Packer scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Packer lands a leg kick that knocks Norman off balance momentarily.
Norman connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Norman misses with an attempted mid kick.
Packer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Packer throws a lazy head kick
and Norman counters with a slapping leg kick.
Norman looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Norman does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Packer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Norman.
Norman throws a leg kick but Packer moved away.
Packer throws a fast counter high kick but Norman manages to duck under it in time.
Norman loads up on a big right hand but Packer slips the punch.
Norman throws a lazy uppercut
and Packer counters with a good, hard body kick but Norman shrugs it off.
Norman throws a jab but it's blocked by Packer.
Packer throws out a counter right but Norman avoids it with no problem.

Packer shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Norman is trying to defend but Packer finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Packer is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Packer thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Norman keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Packer thows a huge punch but Norman dodges it nicely.
Packer thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Packer thows a huge punch but Norman dodges it nicely.
Norman works his way to full guard. Good work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Packer trying to control the position from guard on top but Norman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Packer is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Packer throws a hook but Norman avoids it easily.
Norman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Norman lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Packer walks into a left hand.
Norman lands a nice shot to the body.
Norman misses with a jab, cross combination.

Packer rushes Norman and presses him up against the cage.
Norman avoids the elbow strike from Packer, against the cage.
Norman landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Packer misses with a punch to the body.
Packer blocks a body shot from Norman.
Packer misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Norman digs a right hand into Packer's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Packer's gas tank.
Norman working aggressively here.
With the fighters up against the cage, Norman throws an elbow but misses.
Norman avoids the elbow strike from Packer, against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Packer.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Todd Packer.
I think Packer 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Todd Packer!