PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Will Norris (ranked 2961 p4p, 153 weight class) and Anton Strålman (ranked 2109 p4p, 114 weight class). Strålman comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Three Kings kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Norris
vs
Strålman

165 cm
25
145 lbs
7 - 5 - 1

172 cm
27
140 lbs
14 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Groove Gear
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Will Norris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Anton Strålman!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strålman misses with a low kick.
Norris went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Strålman, right into the meat.
A leg kick checked by Norris.
Norris is looking for a counter combo.
Norris chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Strålman can pounce on him.
Norris misses with a body shot
and Strålman counters with a straight right hand.
Strålman cracks the inside of Norris's front leg.
Norris lands the left hand.
A low kick from Strålman is predictable there
letting Norris counter with a right hand.
Strålman connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Strålman wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Strålman uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Norris.
Anton Strålman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Strålman throws a body punch but Norris moves out of range.
Norris moves out of range of the strikes.
Norris keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Norris fails in his attempt to clinch.
Strålman ducks under a wild hook from Norris.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strålman throws a front kick aimed at Norris's knee but Norris avoids it well.
Strålman checks a low kick from Norris.
Strålman dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Norris loads up on a big right hand but Strålman slips the punch.
Norris swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Norris wants to clinch up but Strålman keeps it at a distance.
Norris swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Strålman counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Strålman just misses with a punch to the body.
Norris throws a big counter combination but Strålman scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Strålman connects with a right hand. Norris shakes it off.
Norris avoids the head kick by Strålman.
Norris swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Strålman throws a leg kick but Norris sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Strålman lands a nice shot to the body.
Strålman looks to score with a jab to the body but Norris is just out of range.
Norris swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Norris has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Strålman finds it's way round the side to connect with Norris's head.
Norris has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Strålman tries to land a front kick but Norris steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Norris misses with a hook.
Strålman doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Strålman is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Norris rather than just go for the knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norris with a hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Strålman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Strålman thows a leg kick but Norris checks it
enabling Norris to counter with a crisp jab.
Norris throws an off balance right hand
and Strålman counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Strålman lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Strålman thows a leg kick but Norris checks it
and Norris counters with a series of strikes. Strålman will be more careful next time no doubt.
Norris rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Strålman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Strålman swings for the body but Norris moves out of range.
Strålman throws a sloppy head kick and Norris moves out of range easily.
As Strålman looks to move away, Norris throws a big counter combo but Strålman just gets out of the way.
Strålman swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Norris ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Strålman moves away.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A slow jab from Strålman misses its intended target.
A shot to the liver by Strålman. Beautiful body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Norris looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Strålman looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anton Strålman dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Norris ducks under a wild hook from Strålman.
Strålman scores with a hook.
Strålman tries a head kick but it misses.
Strålman throws a jab when Norris was well out of range.
Strålman has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Norris throws a nice inside leg kick.
Strålman cracks Norris with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
Strålman has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Strålman scores with a hook.
Strålman throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Norris misses with a straight left.
Strålman swings away with a body shot that misses
and Norris counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Strålman misses with a leg kick
and Norris counters with a straight right hand.
Norris misses with a head kick.
Strålman scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Strålman slips a jab from Norris.
Strålman turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Anton Strålman seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Norris just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norris looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Strålman throws a lazy right hand but Norris sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Strålman misses with a straight right.
Norris looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Strålman cracks the inside of Norris's front leg.
Norris takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A nice leg kick lands there from Strålman.
Norris bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Strålman scores with a jab to the body.
Norris looks to land a body kick but Strålman moved away.
Strålman keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Norris.
Strålman throws a leg kick but Norris moved away.
Strålman misses with a left hand
and Norris counters with a three punch combo that has Strålman backing up. Strålman nods at Norris to acknowledge the strikes.
Strålman with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Norris to score with a decent uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Norris stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Strålman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strålman scores with a nice strike.
Norris avoids the head kick by Strålman.
Norris went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Norris tries to clinch but Strålman moves away
and Strålman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Strålman, right into the meat.
Strålman tests Norris's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Norris stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Strålman.
Strålman throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Norris on the side of the head.

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

Strålman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Norris tries to close the distance and clinch but Strålman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Norris lands with a nice combination. Strålman backs away looking to recover.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Strålman throws a body punch but Norris moves out of range.
Strålman shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Strålman throws a leg kick
and Norris counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anton Strålman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Strålman fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Will Norris has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Strålman on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Strålman throws a leg kick
and Norris counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Strålman lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Strålman sizes up Norris with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Norris tries to close the distance and clinch but Strålman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Strålman misses the shot to the body.
Strålman lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Norris swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Strålman cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Strålman lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Norris lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Strålman circles away quickly and effectively.
An inside leg kick lands from Strålman.
Strålman throws a right hand that misses
and Norris counters with a nice body shot.
Good leg kick by Strålman there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Norris throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strålman is looking to slow Norris down with leg kicks.
Norris gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Strålman.
Strålman throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Strålman thows a left - swing and a miss!
Strålman jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Norris is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Norris moves forwards but Strålman connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Norris clinches up with Strålman and pushes him back against the ropes.
Strålman lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Strålman is looking to break free of the clinch but Norris has double underhooks.
Norris blocks a body shot from Strålman.
Strålman lands with a left to the head.
Norris blocking some punches.
Norris blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Norris fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Norris fails to land.
Strålman goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Norris misses with a hook from the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short left from Strålman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norris swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Norris working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Norris fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Strålman breaks from the clinch.
Anton Strålman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Norris tries to clinch there but Strålman circles away.
Norris moves out of range of the body kick.
Norris checks the leg kick.
Norris feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Strålman throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Norris counters with a nice body kick.
Norris misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Strålman.
Strålman connects with a nice looking jab.
Strålman throws a leg kick that is checked

and Norris counters with a combination of strikes to the head and body that crumple Strålman!

Strålman is rocked!
Strålman works his way to full guard. Good work.
Strålman is still in real trouble! Can Norris finish him?
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Norris won't allow Strålman to get back to his feet.
Strålman seems to have recovered his senses.
Norris throwing strikes but missing.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Anton Strålman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Strålman 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Anton Strålman!
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Anton Strålman!
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for Anton Strålman!

Anton Strålman wins by unanimous decision!
Anton Strålman was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.