PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Christopher Norman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryan Zane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zane has chosen Notorious B.I.G. ft. Bone Thugs N Harmony - Notorious Thugz as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Norman
vs
Zane

175 cm
24
171 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

185 cm
23
170 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Christopher Norman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bryan Zane!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, David Schapiro and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Norman dives in and grabs Zane's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zane pushes down on Norman's head and hops out.
Zane misses with a series of wild punches.
Zane looks to score with a jab to the body but Norman is just out of range.
Some wild striking there from Zane.
Zane tries to clinch up.

Norman moves into the clinch.
Zane is working for takedown but Norman is calmly controlling the position for now.
Norman stops a takedown attempt from Zane.
Norman lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norman lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Bryan Zane has been cut.
Norman comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nice elbow from Norman.
Zane drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Norman gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Christopher Norman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bryan Zane.
Norman connects with a knee to the head.
Norman with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Norman lands an elbow inside.
Norman landing knees to the head.
Zane looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norman lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Zane is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Norman can't fight it off and eventually Zane manages to take the fight to the floor. Norman looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Zane won't allow Norman to get back to his feet.
Zane looking to sit in guard and control but Norman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Norman postures up in Zane's guard and throws a big left but Zane blocks it.
Zane is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Zane pulls Norman in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zane wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Norman manages to pass to side control.
Norman working over Zane with some ground and pound. Zane looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Zane blocking the ground and pound attempt from Norman.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zane is looking for a sweep. Norman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Norman missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Norman is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Zane doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Norman.
Zane wants to control but Norman is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Norman wants to control but Zane is keeping him busy.

Norman is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Zane defends it well.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Zane wants to clinch

and Norman holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Norman throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Zane blocks it with crossed arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christopher Norman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bryan Zane's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Zane moves into range and clinches up with Norman.
Zane is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Norman pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Zane takes an elbow to the forehead.
Norman goes for a takedown attempt but Zane pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Norman closes the distance looking to clinch
and Zane counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Norman wants to clinch.
Norman closes the distance looking to clinch

and Zane counters by clinching up.
Norman lands a damaging elbow.
Norman pushes off an throws an elbow but Zane leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Norman crunches a lovely knee into Zane's ribcage.
Zane is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norman misses with a knee strike.
Zane wants to stall.
Norman lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Norman looking to throw knees to the head but Zane is blocking nicely.
Norman trying to land knees to the body.
Zane can't get the takedown.
Zane managing to block the knees to the body from Norman.
Norman misses with an elbow over the top.
Norman throws an elbow that misses.
Norman misses with an elbow strike.
Norman tries to land knees in the clinch but Zane avoids the damage to the body.
Zane avoids a wild elbow strike from Norman.
Zane jumps guard but Norman stands there with Zane around his waist. Zane gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Christopher Norman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bryan Zane.
Zane doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Norman misses with a knee strike.
Norman working Zane over with knees to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Zane.
Zane stalling the fight.
Zane tries for a takedown but Norman manages to get underhooks.
Norman lands an elbow inside that Zane shrugs off.
Norman gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Zane.
Zane takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Norman lands an elbow inside.
Zane taking a breather.
Norman throws a knee to the head but misses.
Norman lands an elbow inside that Zane shrugs off.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Norman obliges.
Norman misses with a knee strike.

Zane wants the takedown. Norman is fighting it off but Zane persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Norman's guard against the cage.
Zane trying to control the position from guard on top but Norman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zane is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Zane pushes down on Norman's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Zane controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zane is just content to waste time from the top position. Norman takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Zane looking to sit in guard and control but Norman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Norman in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Norman postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Zane is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Norman, into his guard.

Zane decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Zane looks to clinch
enabling Norman to counter with a crisp jab.
Bryan Zane is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zane swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Norman counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Zane is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Norman looks to clinch
and Zane counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Norman thinking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bryan Zane will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Bryan Zane's cut.
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!

Zane throws a shot from downtown. Norman moves away and avoids it.
Christopher Norman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Norman moves in looking to clinch but Zane pushes him off.
Zane tries to clinch

and Norman counters by clinching up.

Zane is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Norman can't fight it off and eventually Zane manages to take the fight to the floor. Norman looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Zane controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Norman keeping moving, preventing Zane from controlling successfully.
Norman is looking to stand up but Zane isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Norman throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Zane escapes and throws Norman's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norman is trying to get back to his feet.
Zane moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Zane trying to control the action but Norman is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Norman wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Zane working the body and head with strikes.
Zane controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zane wants to control but Norman is keeping him busy.

Despite being in the dominant position, Bryan Zane just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zane falls off balance throwing a combination

and Norman counters by clinching up.
Norman gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Norman lands an elbow inside.
Norman with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Zane takes an elbow to the temple.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Norman just misses with a elbow thrown towards Zane's brow.
Zane blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Norman tries to pull guard but Zane holds him up against the cage and eventually Norman drops back down to his feet.
Norman is pressed up against the cage. Zane has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Norman down to the mat. Norman avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

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.
Zane falls off balance throwing a combination

and Norman counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zane won't be happy with that.

Norman decides to stand back up.
Zane misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Norman counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Norman tries to clinch up but Zane circles away and keeps his distance.

Norman forces Zane back against the cage and clinches.

Zane has clasped his hands together around Norman's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Norman wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Norman manages to get one leg in to regain 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 Christopher Norman.
I think Norman 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight for Christopher Norman!
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight for Christopher Norman!
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight for Christopher Norman!

Christopher Norman wins by unanimous decision!