PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Erik Norman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Warren Daren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Warren Daren has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Erik Norman's chin.

Norman
vs
Daren

181 cm
18
214 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

193 cm
22
250 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Bad Company Fightwear

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Erik Norman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Warren Daren!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Ben Watson and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Norman closes the distance and pushes Daren back into the cage.
Daren is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Norman is defending well for now.
Norman prevents a takedown attempt there.
Daren is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Norman pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Daren has Norman pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Daren pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Norman tumbling to the mat - Daren dives into Norman's guard.
Daren working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Daren trying to control but Norman is working from the bottom.
Daren stopping the sweep attempt from Norman.
Norman is trying to keep Daren in close.
Norman could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norman keeping full guard, as Daren tries to pass.
Daren controls from within his opponent's guard.
Norman is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Daren is controlling him.
Daren wants to control from the top but Norman keeps moving.
Norman wants to stand but Daren is controlling the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Daren trying to control the position from guard on top but Norman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Norman enables Daren to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Norman manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Daren is stalling in the full guard.

Daren is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Norman looking for a sweep. Not yet Norman, not yet.
Norman wants to stand but Daren is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norman has a closed guard, preventing Daren from standing up.

Daren gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Daren shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Norman's guard.
Daren looks winded!
Norman keeping moving, preventing Daren from controlling successfully.

Daren drops back looking for a leg! Norman is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Norman manages to kick Daren off! Daren jumps back into Norman's guard.

Norman is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Daren is in close to Norman's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Daren drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Daren jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Daren trying to control but Norman is working from the bottom.
Daren content to stall in guard here.
Norman has a closed guard, preventing Daren from standing up.
Norman is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Norman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Daren keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Warren Daren dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Norman has a takedown stuffed.
Warren Daren is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Norman shoots and misses
and Daren counters with a left and a right that stings Norman.
Daren changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Norman tries to avoid it but Daren manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Norman to the ground. Norman escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Daren moves out of range as Norman strikes.
Daren fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Norman fires out a quick counter leg kick but Daren just manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norman misses with a right hand
and Daren counters with a left and a right that stings Norman.
Daren displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Norman.
And Daren tries to counter it with a takedown but Norman pushes his down on his head and steps out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erik Norman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Daren dives in and scores a takedown into Norman's guard.

Daren drops back, looking for a kneebar! Norman looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Norman looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Norman!

Norman throwing strikes but Daren manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Norman struggling a bit here.

Daren looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norman is looking for a sweep.

Daren wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Norman, who protects the arm well.
Norman is looking to reverse the position.

Daren is trying to get an arm triangle but Norman is defending well.
Warren Daren has got the better of the ground game so far.
Daren trying to control the action but Norman is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norman throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Norman tries to buck Daren off but Daren is having none of it.

Daren looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Daren goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Norman has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Daren but great work by Norman.
Daren tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norman is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Daren's shoulder. That is not cool.
Daren is looking for a sweep.
Norman trying to control the action but Daren is working from the bottom.
Norman tries to stand but Daren is controlling his head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Norman wants to control but Daren is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Warren Daren showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Daren closes the distance and clinches.
Daren drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Norman gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Daren goes for a takedown attempt but Norman pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Daren or perhaps it was just good defense by Norman, which made it look bad.
Erik Norman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Warren Daren.
Norman getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Daren takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norman leaves Daren with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Norman fails with the takedown
and Daren counters with a two punch combo.
Norman looks for a takedown but Daren sprawls well.
Norman fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daren tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Norman defends well and Daren ends up having to push Norman into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Daren shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Norman as he avoids it easily.
Norman fails with the takedown.
Norman looks for a takedown but Daren sprawls well.
And Daren tries to counter it with a takedown but Norman pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Daren gets a takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Daren seems content to control.
Norman gets full guard.
Daren keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Norman's head.
Daren slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Daren has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Daren stopping the sweep attempt from Norman.

Daren thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Daren pushing down on Norman's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Norman moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daren trying to control the position from guard on top but Norman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Daren drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Norman dives on top into guard.

Daren has his foot on Norman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Norman works his way back into a safe position though.
Norman trying to control the position from guard on top but Daren is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Daren looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Warren Daren.
I've got Daren 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 Darius Henderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Warren Daren!