PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bret Norton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dante Slavovick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dante Slavovick will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Norton
vs
Slavovick

183 cm
18
231 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
22
265 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bret Norton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dante Slavovick!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, John Mangel and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Norton tries to clinch up but Slavovick circles away and keeps his distance.
Norton could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
A bone on bone clash there as Slavovick blocks the leg kick.
Norton closes this distance looking for a takedown but Slavovick circles away.
Norton is looking to clinch.
Slavovick misses with a takedown attempt
and Norton counters with a body kick that stops Slavovick in his tracks momentarily.
Norton will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Slavovick circles away from the clinch attempt.
Norton tries for a takedown but Slavovick circles away easily

and Slavovick counters with a single leg into guard. Norton didn't expect that.
Slavovick stops Norton from standing up.
Norton keeping full guard, as Slavovick tries to pass.
Slavovick stays in close to Norton's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Norton is working an open guard so Slavovick takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Norton tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Slavovick holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Slavovick has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Norton uses from the top position.
Norton controls from within his opponent's guard.
Norton trying to control the position from guard on top but Slavovick is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slavovick has a closed guard, preventing Norton from standing up.
Slavovick seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Norton has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Let's hope that Slavovick has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Slavovick has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Norton can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norton wants to stand but Slavovick has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Slavovick looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Slavovick is pulling down on Norton's head to control his posture.
Norton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

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.

Slavovick has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Norton can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Norton wants to get up but he can't break Slavovick's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Norton misses with a combination

and Slavovick counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Slavovick dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Norton swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Slavovick counters with a shoot takedown. Norton fights it but they end up in guard.
Slavovick is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Slavovick wants to pass the guard but Norton is keeping the position.
Norton wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Norton keeping moving, preventing Slavovick from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norton is looking to stand up but Slavovick isn't so interested in that idea.
Slavovick pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Norton is keeping the position for now.
Slavovick controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two 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.

Slavovick has gone for a leg lock! Norton slips out almost immediately though and dives into Slavovick's guard.
Slavovick is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norton trying to control the position from guard on top but Slavovick is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Norton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Slavovick is keeping the position for now.
Norton wants to stand and escape but instead Slavovick has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

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.
Slavovick wants to control from the top but Norton keeps moving.
Norton tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Norton can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Slavovick controls the pace.
Norton bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Slavovick's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Norton stopping the sweep attempt from Slavovick.
Slavovick pulls Norton in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Norton closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Norton lands in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Slavovick wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Despite being in the dominant position, Dante Slavovick just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Slavovick shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Norton is squirming around, avoiding Slavovick's attempts to control the action.
Norton tries to reverse the position but Slavovick maintains control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slavovick sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Slavovick takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Slavovick is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Slavovick instigates a clinch.
Slavovick slows down the pace here.
Slavovick tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Norton smiles and moves away.
Norton closes the distance but Slavovick moves to the side

and Slavovick counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Slavovick.
Slavovick tries to pull guard but Norton won't allow it.
Slavovick avoiding damage.
Norton wants to break free but Slavovick has control.
Norton tries to break the clinch but Slavovick is controlling the position.
Norton is looking to break free of the clinch but Slavovick has double underhooks.
Slavovick misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slavovick jumps guard but Norton stands there with Slavovick around his waist. Slavovick gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Bret Norton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dante Slavovick.

Norton gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Slavovick regains guard.
Slavovick is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Norton would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Slavovick controlling Norton's posture.
Slavovick is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Slavovick holds on and takes a little breather.
Slavovick keeping moving, preventing Norton from controlling successfully.
Norton would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Bret Norton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Norton throws a strike but Slavovick rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dante Slavovick.
I've got Slavovick winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dante Slavovick!