PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Travis Mitchell (ranked 2060 p4p, 257 weight class) and Mason Norris (ranked 1822 p4p, 235 weight class). Mason Norris acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Mitchell
vs
Norris

187 cm
27
190 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

185 cm
29
191 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sportivité

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Travis Mitchell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mason Norris!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, William Peck and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Norris is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mitchell.
Jab by Mitchell.
Good standup being displayed there by Norris as he connects with a hook.
Norris throws a low kick but Mitchell avoids it.
Mitchell looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
We've been hearing reports that Mitchell has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Norris punishes Mitchell's body with a nice straight punch.
Mitchell ducks under a wild hook from Norris.

Norris clinches with his opponent.
Mitchell takes a shot to the head.
Mitchell misses with a hook from the clinch.
Norris throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mitchells head.

It looks like Travis Mitchell has been cut.
Mitchell is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Mitchell tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mitchell wants a takedown but no success here.
Mitchell misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mitchell blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Norris as Mitchell tries to tie him up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Norris.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Mitchell.
Norris can't find room to land a body shot as Mitchell controls the action.
Mitchell misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nice elbow from Norris.
Norris wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Norris creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Mitchell's defenses.
Mitchell misses with a punch on the inside.
Norris wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Mitchell throws a head punch that misses.
Norris misses with a body punch.
Norris lands a shoulder strike.
Norris blocks an uppercut.
Mitchell tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mitchell has Norris pressed against the cage, preventing Norris from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Mitchell throws a punch but it's blocked by Norris.
Mitchell blocking some punches.
Mitchell blocks a body shot from Norris.

Norris breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mitchell cracks Norris with a good jab.
Mitchell misses with a few strikes there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good standup being displayed there by Mitchell as he connects with a hook.
Norris swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mitchell uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Norris.
Mitchell throws a body punch but Norris moves out of range.
Mitchell moves away from the strike by Norris.

Norris clinches up against the cage.
Norris is looking to control Mitchell's arms but Mitchell gets an underhook and turns him. Now Norris has his back to the cage.
Norris fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Norris.
Norris misses with a punch to the body.
Norris has Mitchell pressed against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Mitchell fails to land.
Still in the clinch, Norris scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norris misses with a punch on the inside.
Mitchell lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Norris backwards.
Mitchell tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Norris.
Norris blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Mitchell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mitchell slips a straight right by Norris.
An attempted straight right counter from Mitchell misses the target.
Norris fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mitchell manages to avoid it.
Norris ducks under a wild hook from Mitchell.
Norris waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mitchell.
A swing and a miss from Mitchell.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mitchell. Norris does a little dance to reset his feet.
Norris looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
A telegraphed right hand from Mitchell misses the target.
Mitchell blocks a leg kick.
Norris tries to close the distance and clinch but Mitchell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mitchell cracks a nice hook into Norris's ribs.
Mitchell scores with a decent looking hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mitchell checks a leg kick.
Norris pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice leg kick lands there from Norris.
Mitchell connects with the punch.
Norris tries to move into range but Mitchell moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Mitchell throws a body shot but no joy.
Norris misses with a looping left.
Mitchell pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Norris ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Norris misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mitchell.
Norris checks a leg kick.
Norris looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Norris scores with a head kick.

Travis Mitchell's cut is getting worse.
Norris digs a good hook to Mitchell's body.
Mitchell shoots in but Norris avoids the takedown attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mason Norris will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Travis Mitchell's cut.
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.

Norris fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mitchell manages to avoid it.
Norris scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Mitchell bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Norris's head backwards.
Good standup being displayed there by Norris as he connects with a hook.
Norris comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Norris misses with a looping left.
Norris throws a lazy right hand but Mitchell sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Norris stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Mitchell.
Norris throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Norris tries to keep at a distance but Mitchell has taken the fight into the clinch.
A short right from Norris.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Norris lands a nice uppercut.
Mitchell misses with the head strike.
Mitchell misses with the head strike.
Norris comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Norris throws an elbow but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norris can't find room to land a body shot as Mitchell controls the action.
Norris is looking to break free of the clinch but Mitchell has double underhooks.
Norris looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Norris lands with a right to the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Norris throws an elbow but misses.
A short right from Mitchell on the inside.
Mitchell prevents a body shot from Norris.

Mitchell has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Norris regains guard immediately.
Mitchell missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mitchell throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Norris works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mitchell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Norris is keeping the position for now.
Mitchell 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mitchell accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mitchell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norris wants to stand but Mitchell is controlling the position.
Norris preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mitchell scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Norris wants to get back to his feet but Mitchell is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mitchell throws a big elbow that misses.
Mitchell looking to sit in guard and control but Norris gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mitchell is controlling Norris's posture.
Mitchell controls Norris momentarily but Norris frees himself.
Norris must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mitchell wants to sweep here but Norris controlling him for the moment.
Norris is looking to stand up but Mitchell won't let him.
Norris stopping the sweep attempt from Mitchell.
Norris has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mitchell is proving hard to escape from.
Mitchell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Mason Norris seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Norris dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Norris throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Mitchell throws a body punch but Norris moves out of range.
Norris throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norris pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A nice leg kick lands there from Mitchell.
Norris throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Mitchell misses with a body shot.
Norris needs to keep his hands up - Mitchell had a free shot at his head there.
Mitchell uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Norris.
Mitchell misses with a takedown attempt - Norris sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Norris blocks the body kick.
Mason Norris is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mitchell throws a hook but Norris avoids it easily.
Norris fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Mitchell looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Norris displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mitchell throws out the jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Norris misses with a low kick.
Mitchell lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Norris scores with a jab to the body.
Norris throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Norris misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mitchell.
Mitchell tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Norris was well out of range. Poor timing from Mitchell.
Norris is trying to counter with his kicks.
Mason Norris seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mitchell ducks under a wild hook from Norris.
Norris takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Norris fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Mitchell is out of range.
Mitchell throws a hook but Norris blocks it.
Mitchell misses with a body shot.
A punch lands to the side of Mitchell 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Norris leaves Mitchell with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Norris connects with an inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norris tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mitchell was well out of range. Poor timing from Norris.
Norris wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A telegraphed right hand from Mitchell misses the target.
Norris throws a big shot that misses.
Mitchell drops down looking for a counter takedown but Norris sprawls and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norris throws out a loose jab but Mitchell uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mitchell scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Norris misses with an uppercut.
Mitchell misses with an uppercut. Norris saw that one coming.
Norris tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mitchell uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Norris.
Norris throws a right and a left that both miss.
Good exchange - Mitchell coming out on top.
Mitchell keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A shot to the liver by Mitchell. Beautiful body shot.
Nice shot lands for Mitchell.
Norris throws a leg kick but Mitchell checks it.
Mitchell takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Mitchell throws a hook but Norris blocks it.
Mitchell connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Norris momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Norris throws out a loose jab but Mitchell uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mitchell avoids the body shot from Norris.
Mitchell attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Mitchell staying out of range there.
Norris connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Norris scores with a shot to the body.
Mitchell uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Norris.
Norris wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Norris takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mitchell ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nice body kick from Mitchell.
Mitchell doesn't manage to clinch there - Norris circles away.
Norris throws a sloppy body shot
and Mitchell counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mitchell shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Norris defends it nicely.
Travis Mitchell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mitchell gets tackled into the cage by Norris. Norris maintains the clinch.

Norris breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mitchell gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Norris cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mitchell stuns Norris with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Norris throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mitchell chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Norris can pounce on him.
Mitchell fails in his attempt to clinch.

Mitchell pushes Norris up against the cage in a clinch.
Mitchell swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mitchell lands a nice uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Mitchell scores with a nice short uppercut.
Mitchell misses with a hook from the clinch.
Norris misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mitchell has picked Norris up - he's going for a ride! Mitchell dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
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!
Norris wants to get back to his feet.
Mitchell wants to pass the guard but Norris is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mitchell not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mitchell missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mitchell thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Norris's head.
Mitchell sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Norris defending well though.

Mitchell seems to be working for a kimura but Norris defends the submission attempt.
Mitchell missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Travis Mitchell.
I think Norris 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mason Norris!
A very excited looking Mason Norris made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.