PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matts Nilsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hamid Norouzi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Norouzi has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. 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?

Nilsson
vs
Norouzi

188 cm
25
195 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

180 cm
24
195 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matts Nilsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Hamid Norouzi!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nilsson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nilsson swings widly with a right hand
enabling Norouzi to counter with a crisp jab.

Norouzi gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Nilsson wants to get back to his feet.
An elbow from Norouzi crashes against the mat.
Nilsson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Norouzi misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The ground and pound from Norouzi seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Nilsson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Norouzi has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nilsson trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Nilsson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norouzi looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Nilsson is avoiding damage well.
Norouzi tries to score with some ground and pound. Nilsson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Norouzi looks up at the clock and then as Nilsson takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Norouzi smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Norouzi working the head and body with strikes.
Norouzi working the head with strikes.
Sloppy strikes there by Norouzi.
The ground and pound from Norouzi seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Norouzi tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Norouzi scoring with punches and elbows.
Nilsson dodges the ground and pound from Norouzi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norouzi wants to control but Nilsson is keeping him busy.
Norouzi working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
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!
Nilsson wants to get back to his feet.
Norouzi sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Nilsson is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Nilsson tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Norouzi has Nilsson flattened out and is raining down punches.
Norouzi is landing with strikes. Nilsson can't take much more of this.
Norouzi throwing damaging strikes from the back! Nilsson could be in trouble here!
Norouzi trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Nilsson doesn't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nilsson looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Nilsson is taking damage to the body and head.
Nilsson trying to get back to his feet but Norouzi is in full control for now.
Can Nilsson hold on?! Norouzi is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Nilsson holding both Norouzi 's hands and preventing any damage.
Nilsson takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Nilsson controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norouzi looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Nilsson trying to get back to his feet but Norouzi is in full control for now.
Norouzi is landing with strikes from the back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nilsson looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hamid Norouzi dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Norouzi darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Norouzi looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Nilsson tries to kick Norouzi off but Norouzi keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Norouzi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Norouzi looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Nilsson wants to get back to his feet.
Norouzi working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Nilsson wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norouzi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nilsson is looking to escape.
Norouzi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nilsson wants to get back to his feet.
Norouzi is nestled in close to Nilsson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Nilsson pushes Norouzi off looking to stand but Norouzi dives back in and keeps control.
Norouzi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nilsson's head.
Norouzi with the ground and pound but Nilsson uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Nilsson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Norouzi is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norouzi connects with a couple of short punches.
Nilsson wants to stand but Norouzi is controlling the position.
Norouzi looking to pass the guard.
Norouzi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Nilsson wants to stand but Norouzi is controlling the position.
Hamid Norouzi has got the better of the ground game so far.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nilsson misses with a double jab.
Nilsson throws an overhand right that lands on Norouzi's shoulder, as Norouzi tries to avoid the shot.
Nilsson misses with a left hand

and Norouzi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Norouzi trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Nilsson manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Nilsson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Nilsson postures up.
Norouzi pulls Nilsson in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nilsson wants to stand but Norouzi has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Norouzi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nilsson is one step ahead there.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hamid Norouzi has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Nilsson looks to land a right hand but Norouzi moved out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nilsson just misses with a punch to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Nilsson. Those never looked like landing.
Norouzi defending well as Nilsson loads up on a big left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hamid Norouzi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nilsson scores with a sloppy right hand. Norouzi should have avoided that one.
Nilsson throws a looping overhand right but Norouzi ducks down to avoid it.
Matts Nilsson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nilsson misses with a looping left.

Norouzi shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Nilsson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Nilsson is trying to buck Norouzi off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Norouzi is looking to take a break and control but Nilsson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nilsson is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Norouzi asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norouzi in side control, just content to control the action for now.
The ground and pound from Norouzi seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Nilsson wants to get back to his feet.
Norouzi wants to control but Nilsson is keeping him busy.
Norouzi working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norouzi prevents Nilsson from escaping the position.
Norouzi cracks Nilsson with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Nilsson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Norouzi has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Norouzi creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Nilsson is not content to let Norouzi control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nilsson wants to get back to his feet but Norouzi drags him back down.
Norouzi scoring with punches and elbows.
Norouzi is working Nilsson over with some ground and pound from side control.
Nilsson wants to get back to his feet but Norouzi drags him back down.
Norouzi trying to control the action but Nilsson is working from the bottom.
Matts Nilsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Norouzi lands some shots froms side control.
Hamid Norouzi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Norouzi lands a few punches from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Hamid Norouzi.
Well Norouzi has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hamid Norouzi!