PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Black Mamba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christopher Norman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Christopher Norman is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Mamba
vs
Norman

186 cm
23
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
23
171 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Black Mamba!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Christopher Norman!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Alyssa Summers and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mamba swats away the attempt to clinch by Norman.
Mamba throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mamba misses with a head kick.
Norman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Horrible takedown by Mamba or perhaps it was just good defense by Norman which made him look bad.

Mamba closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mamba lands in his opponent's guard.
Mamba would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Mamba throwing strikes but missing.
Norman is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mamba is controlling him.
Mamba trying to stand up but can't free himself from Norman's guard.
Mamba wants to pass the guard but Norman is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norman keeping moving, preventing Mamba from controlling successfully.
Norman is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mamba is controlling him.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Norman checks a low kick from Mamba.
Mamba tries to clinch up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mamba.
Mamba is breathing heavily.
Mamba closes the distance and clinches up with Norman, looking for a takedown. Mamba pushes Norman against the cage but Norman circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Black Mamba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Norman moves in looking to clinch but Mamba pushes him off.
Mamba closes this distance looking for a takedown but Norman circles away.
Norman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice body kick from Norman.
Norman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Norman is looking to clinch.
Mamba keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norman tries to clinch there but Mamba circles away.
Mamba avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Norman tries to clinch up but Mamba circles away and keeps his distance.

Norman clinches.
Norman lands a nice elbow.
A short uppercut from Norman.
Norman lands an elbow just above Mamba 's eye.
Norman comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Mamba takes an elbow to the temple.
Norman lands an elbow that stopped Mamba in his tracks for a moment.
Norman lands a nice elbow.

Norman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Norman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Norman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Norman fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mamba, pushing him back against the cage.
Norman lands a body shot.
Norman tries for a takedown but Mamba manages to get underhooks.
Norman lands a nice elbow.

Norman manages to break the clinch.
Norman tries to close the distance and clinch but Mamba swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Norman tries to clinch up but Mamba circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Norman closes the distance and clinches.
Norman is looking to control Mamba's arms but Mamba gets an underhook and turns him. Now Norman has his back to the cage.
Nice elbow from Norman.
Mamba on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Norman lands an elbow that stopped Mamba in his tracks for a moment.
Norman lands a nice elbow.
Norman lands an elbow inside that Mamba shrugs off.

It looks like Black Mamba has been cut.
Norman lands an elbow just above Mamba 's eye.
Norman lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Mamba tries to score a body lock takedown but Norman shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Norman lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Norman lands a damaging elbow.
Norman misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mamba.
A right hook to the body lands for Norman.
Norman lands an elbow inside.
Norman using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mamba has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Norman creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Mamba's defenses.
Norman lands an elbow inside.
Norman missing with knees to the body.
Norman lands an elbow just above Mamba 's eye.
Norman lands an elbow inside.
Norman crunches a lovely knee into Mamba's ribcage.

Norman breaks from the clinch.

Norman gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Norman landing knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norman lands an elbow just above Mamba 's eye.
Norman is working for takedown but Mamba is calmly controlling the position for now.
Norman misses with the head strike.
Norman stops a takedown attempt from Mamba.

Norman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mamba misses with an uppercut. Norman saw that one coming.
Mamba changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Norman tries to avoid it but Mamba manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Norman to the ground. Norman escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Norman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mamba swats away the attempt to clinch by Norman.
Norman fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mamba keeps the fight on the outside.

Norman has managed to clinch.
Norman misses with the head strike.
Norman lands an elbow just above Mamba 's eye.
Mamba managing to block the knees to the body from Norman.
Norman creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Mamba's defenses.

Norman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Norman ducks under a wild hook from Mamba.
Mamba fails with a takedown attempt.
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 Black Mamba's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Norman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mamba swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Mamba instigates a clinch.
Mamba blocking some punches.
Mamba changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Norman fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Norman closes the distance and clinches.
Norman lands an elbow inside that Mamba shrugs off.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Norman.
Norman lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Norman breaks the clinch.

Norman clinches up against the cage.
Norman lands a damaging elbow.
Norman stops a takedown attempt from Mamba.
Mamba swings wildly with an uppercut but Norman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mamba takes a knee right on the jaw!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Norman tries to land knees in the clinch but Mamba avoids the damage to the body.
Norman comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Norman has a couple of punches blocked by Mamba.
Mamba takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Norman lands an elbow that stopped Mamba in his tracks for a moment.
Norman gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Norman is pressed up against the cage. Mamba 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 three failed takedown attempts in the round for Black Mamba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Norman misses with a takedown attempt - Mamba sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Norman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mamba paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Norman tries to clinch up but Mamba circles away and keeps his distance.
Mamba swats away the attempt to clinch by Norman.

Norman rushes Mamba and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Norman has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mamba avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Mamba takes an elbow to the forehead.
A short uppercut from Norman.
Norman prevents a takedown attempt there.
Norman lands an elbow just above Mamba 's eye.
Norman lands a damaging elbow.
Norman missing with knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Mamba fails to land.
Norman misses with the head strike.

Norman manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norman doesn't manage to clinch there - Mamba circles away.
Norman doesn't manage to clinch there - Mamba circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mamba looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mamba throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Norman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mamba shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Norman as he avoids it easily.
Mamba keeps the fight on the outside.

Norman darts in and clinches Mamba up against the cage.
Norman lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Norman lands a knee to the body.
Norman lands a damaging elbow.
Norman creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Mamba's defenses.
Norman working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Norman gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Mamba has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Norman avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Norman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Norman tries to clinch up but Mamba circles away and keeps his distance.

Norman gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Norman breaks from the clinch.
Norman is looking to clinch but Mamba is avoiding it.
Norman closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mamba circles away.
Mamba swats away the attempt to clinch by Norman.
Norman moves in looking to clinch but Mamba pushes him off.
Norman wants to clinch.
Mamba keeps the fight on the outside.
Norman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mamba paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Norman wants to clinch up but Mamba keeps it at a distance.
Norman tries to clinch but Mamba is having none of it.

Norman instigates a clinch.
Norman gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mamba.
Mamba managing to block the knees to the body from Norman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Norman holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Norman misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mamba.
Norman is pressed up against the cage. Mamba 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.
Norman moves in looking to clinch but Mamba pushes him off.
Norman avoids the head kick by Mamba.
Norman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mamba paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Norman tries to clinch up but Mamba circles away and keeps his distance.
Norman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mamba paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mamba has his takedown stuffed

and Norman holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Norman prevents a takedown attempt there.
Norman with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Norman misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mamba.
Norman stalling in the clinch but Mamba improves position.
Norman blocks an uppercut.
Norman is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mamba gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Norman keeps control of Mamba as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Norman comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Mamba wants a takedown but no success here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christopher Norman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Black Mamba's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Mamba throws a sloppy head kick and Norman moves out of range easily.
Norman wants to clinch up but Mamba keeps it at a distance.
Mamba shoots in and drives through. Norman sprawls well.
Mamba throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Norman misses with a takedown attempt - Mamba sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Norman swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Norman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mamba fails with a takedown attempt.
Mamba circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Norman clinches up against the cage.
Mamba managing to block the knees to the body from Norman.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Norman lands an elbow that stopped Mamba in his tracks for a moment.
Norman creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Mamba's defenses.
Mamba takes an elbow to the forehead.
Mamba blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Norman gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Norman lands an elbow inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Norman lands an elbow inside that Mamba shrugs off.
Norman lands an elbow that stopped Mamba in his tracks for a moment.
Mamba takes an elbow to the temple.

Norman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Norman drives through and clinches with Mamba against the cage.

Norman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mamba avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Norman fails with an attempt to clinch.

Mamba scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Norman parries the strikes from Mamba easily there. Mamba is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Norman to escape.
Norman prevents Mamba from improving position.
Mamba trying to control the position but Norman is working away.
Norman is pushing Mamba's head away, looking to escape. Mamba manages to hold on to the position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mamba laying and praying for a moment but Norman takes advantage and regains half guard.
Mamba throws a strike but Norman avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Mamba throws a big right hand that misses.
Norman is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Norman tries to clinch up.
Norman moves in looking to clinch but Mamba pushes him off.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Norman.
Mamba tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Norman swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Black Mamba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Norman tries to clinch but Mamba is having none of it.
Norman wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Norman is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Norman gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Mamba avoiding damage as Norman throws knees to the body.
Norman lands an elbow inside that Mamba shrugs off.
Norman gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mamba.
Norman creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Mamba's defenses.
Christopher Norman seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Norman lands a nice elbow.
Mamba can't get the takedown.
Norman lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Mamba blocks an uppercut.

Norman breaks the clinch.
Black Mamba is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Norman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Norman misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mamba shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Norman but Norman pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Norman tries to close the distance and clinch but Mamba swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Norman doesn't manage to clinch there - Mamba circles away.
Norman tries to clinch up.
Norman tries to clinch up.

Mamba drives through and clinches with Norman against the cage.
Norman lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Norman comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Norman creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Mamba's defenses.
A short uppercut from Norman.
Mamba tries to pull guard but Norman holds him up against the cage and eventually Mamba drops back down to his feet.

Norman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Black Mamba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mamba circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mamba fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mamba closes this distance looking for a takedown but Norman circles away.
Black Mamba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Norman moves into the clinch.
Mamba tries for a takedown. No joy.
Norman gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Christopher Norman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Norman 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 John Roberts scores the fight for Christopher Norman!
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight for Christopher Norman!
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight for Christopher Norman!

Christopher Norman wins by unanimous decision!
Christopher Norman is the new middleweight champion!