PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ezequiel Norton (ranked 24990 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Gilbert (ranked 5833 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Norton
vs
Gilbert

195 cm
18
214 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ezequiel Norton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Frank Gilbert!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Valeri Chadov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Norton manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Gilbert on his heels. He'll look to pass Gilbert's guard now, I'm sure.
Gilbert not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Norton will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Norton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gilbert striking off his back but it's not causing Norton any problems.
Norton working some strikes from top position.
Gilbert looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Norton throws a big elbow that misses.
Norton cracks Gilbert with a solid left hand.
Gilbert working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norton postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Norton postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Norton with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Norton working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gilbert's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norton is working Gilbert over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Norton landing with the ground and pound.
Norton trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Norton stopping the sweep attempt from Gilbert.
Norton makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Gilbert is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gilbert might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Norton haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Norton avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Norton lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norton chips away with some ground and pound.
Gilbert looking to hit a scissor sweep but Norton is one step ahead there.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gilbert is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gilbert looks winded!
Norton scoring with some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Norton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gilbert utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norton postures up in Gilbert's guard and throws a big left but Gilbert blocks it.
Norton works over Gilbert with some ground and pound from guard.
Gilbert avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Norton working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Norton has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Norton throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gilbert works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Norton postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Gilbert 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 landing with the ground and pound.
Gilbert controls Norton momentarily but Norton frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norton is looking to work some ground and pound but Gilbert has wrist control.
Norton throwing strikes from guard but Gilbert blocks nicely.
Gilbert looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Norton scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Norton distracts Gilbert with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Norton connects with a couple of short punches.
Norton is working Gilbert over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gilbert is looking to stand up but Norton isn't so interested in that idea.
Norton lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Norton fails with the takedown.
Gilbert lands a nice looking kick to the body. Norton takes a step back to recover.
Gilbert fails with the takedown
and Norton counters with a straight right hand.
Gilbert fails to land the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norton shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gilbert but Gilbert pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gilbert tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Norton defends well and Gilbert ends up having to push Norton into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Ezequiel Norton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Gilbert.
Norton doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Gilbert counters with a left and a right that stings Norton.
Gilbert is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norton is looking to land body kicks.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Norton.

Gilbert drives through with a takedown into Norton's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Gilbert controls from within his opponent's guard.
Norton has control of Gilbert's left arm, preventing Gilbert from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gilbert gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gilbert.

Norton scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Gilbert on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Norton is working Gilbert over with some ground and pound from side control.
Norton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gilbert can do to turn this around?
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!
Gilbert is trying to improve his position.
Norton cracks Gilbert with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Norton scores with a couple of short elbows.
Norton cracks Gilbert with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Norton is working Gilbert over with some ground and pound from side control.
Norton lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Norton landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Norton working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Norton lands a few punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert taking punishment in the form of punches.
Norton scoring with punches and elbows.
Gilbert taking a bit of punishment here - Norton scoring with strikes.
Gilbert managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Norton.
Gilbert manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Norton working the head and body with strikes.
Norton lands strikes from half guard.
Norton is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Gilbert is trying to stand back up but Norton is controlling him
Gilbert wants to get back to full guard.
Norton winds up and cracks Gilbert with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ezequiel Norton dominated that second round.
That's time! Norton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Norton.
And Gilbert tries to counter it with a takedown but Norton pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Gilbert changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Norton tries to avoid it but Gilbert manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Norton to the ground. Norton escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Frank Gilbert is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Norton fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gilbert throws a head kick but Norton moves out of range.
Gilbert connects with a nice looking jab.
Norton slips a jab and a cross from Gilbert.

Gilbert closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Gilbert darts in and clinches Norton up against the cage.
Gilbert takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A nice right hand lands inside from Norton.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Gilbert's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Frank Gilbert seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Norton fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ezequiel Norton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Norton fails to land the takedown.

Gilbert forces Norton back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gilbert breaks the clinch.
Gilbert defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Norton.
Gilbert throws a series of strikes that have Norton backpedaling.
Nice takedown defense from Norton. No joy for Gilbert on that attempt.
Gilbert shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Norton sprawls well. Norton wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gilbert gets slowly back to his feet.
Norton wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Norton looks for a takedown but Gilbert sprawls well.
Gilbert with a lazy takedown attempt

and Norton counters by moving into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert has Norton pressed against the cage, preventing Norton from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gilbert is trying to pull guard but Norton turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Norton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Norton gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Gilbert counters with a body kick.
Norton has a takedown stuffed.
Gilbert defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Norton.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Norton is defended easily by Gilbert.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gilbert drives through and clinches with Norton against the cage.
Gilbert is pushing Norton up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Norton is trying to force a seperation but Gilbert has the dominant position.
Frank Gilbert has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ezequiel Norton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gilbert throws a knee to the head but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Gilbert comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Norton 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ezequiel Norton!