PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Noah Ortega (ranked 1629 p4p, 1839 weight class) and Nils Norling (ranked 229 p4p, 256 weight class). Norling is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Scarlet - Age of seduction. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ortega
vs
Norling

183 cm
26
174
7 - 11 - 0

185 cm
26
175
11 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

High Peak Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Noah Ortega!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nils Norling!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Reed Andrews and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ortega punishes Norling's body with a nice straight punch.

Ortega shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Ortega was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Norling is trying to get back to his feet.
Ortega trying to control the position but Norling is working away.
Ortega misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Ortega is staying tight to Norling's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Ortega is looking to take a break and control but Norling is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ortega lands an elbow.
Ortega working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Norling gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Ortega sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ortega has control of Norling's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Norling regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Ortega thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Norling is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Ortega misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Ortega tries to control but Norling wriggling away.
Ortega controlling the position easily from mount.
Ortega landing strikes from the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ortega scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Ortega can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Norling is looking to escape.
Norling is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Norling is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Ortega wants to control the action but instead Norling gets a body lock and reverses into Ortega's guard! Nice work!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ortega lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ortega pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Norling is keeping the position for now.
Norling can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ortega controls the pace.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ortega stops Norling from standing up.
Ortega trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ortega 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortega keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Norling's head.
Ortega is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ortega in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Norling is looking to stand up but Ortega isn't so interested in that idea.
Ortega is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Norling pushes Ortega off and gets back to his feet.
Ortega fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Norling.
A head kick misses from Ortega.
Norling scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Ortega takes the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norling tries to circle away but Ortega has him pinned against the cage.
Ortega with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Norling breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ortega throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Noah Ortega seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Norling digs a good body shot into Ortega's ribs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ortega scores with the left hand. Norling knows he should have avoided that one.
Norling swats away the attempt to clinch by Ortega.
Ortega looks to land a left hand but Norling moved out of range nicely.
Norling loads up on a big right hand but Ortega slips the punch.
Ortega tries to score a power double leg takedown but Norling sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ortega somewhat.

Ortega gets tackled into the cage by Norling. Norling maintains the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Noah Ortega dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ortega throws a body shot but no joy.

Norling moves into range and clinches up with Ortega.

Norling pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ortega throws an overhand right that lands on Norling's shoulder, as Norling tries to avoid the shot.
Norling tries to clinch but Ortega is having none of it.
Ortega tries to close the distance and clinch but Norling swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Ortega looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Norling!
Ortega is looking to take a break and control but Norling is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ortega is trying to move to mount but Norling reverses beautifully and ends up in Ortega's guard.
Ortega looking for a sweep. Not yet Ortega, not yet.
Norling throwing strikes from guard but Ortega blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norling postures up.
Ortega is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Norling trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Norling is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ortega has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Ortega is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Ortega sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Norling defending well though.
Ortega content to control rather than advance.
Ortega throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Norling to regain full guard.
Norling working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ortega.
Ortega trying to control the position from guard on top but Norling is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ortega is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Norling is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Ortega throws a strike but Norling rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Norling trying to control the position from guard on top but Ortega is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Norling throwing strikes but missing.
Ortega avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Norling throws a big elbow that misses.
Norling passes into half guard.
Ortega is looking to control Norling's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ortega avoid being mounted?
Norling prevents Ortega from improving his position.
Norling wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ortega keeps working.
Norling thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norling is thwarting Ortega's attempts to control the position.
Norling thows a huge punch but Ortega dodges it nicely.
Norling missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ortega slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ortega preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Norling must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ortega controls Norling momentarily but Norling frees himself.
Norling sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ortega preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ortega managing to control the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Norling accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ortega looks to throw the jab but Norling is out of range.
Ortega throws a series of strikes that have Norling backpedaling.

It looks like Nils Norling has been cut.
Norling walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Ortega looks to throw the jab but Norling is out of range.
A shot to the liver by Norling. Beautiful body shot.
Ortega looks for a takedown but Norling sprawls well.
Norling is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Ortega with a body shot.
Norling displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ortega.
Ortega misses with a takedown attempt - Norling sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Noah Ortega. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ortega ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Norling is looking to clinch but Ortega is avoiding it.
Ortega feinted with a counter takedown.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nils Norling will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Nils Norling's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Norling misses with an uppercut. Ortega saw that one coming.

Norling rushes Ortega and presses him up against the cage.
Norling is looking for a takedown.
Ortega throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Norling blocks it with crossed arms.
Ortega tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ortega with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ortega misses with a body punch.
Ortega misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Norling.
Norling tries to pull guard but Ortega forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ortega misses with a punch to the body.
Norling tries to break the clinch but Ortega is controlling the position.
Ortega throws a punch but it's blocked by Norling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norling prevents the takedown attempt.
Ortega is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Ortega changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Norling fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Norling as he connects with a hook.
An inside leg kick lands from Norling.
Ortega tries for a takedown but Norling circles away easily
and Norling counters with a two punch combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Noah Ortega. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ortega gets caught flat footed, as Norling shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Norling is looking to work some ground and pound but Ortega has wrist control.
Norling throws a big elbow that misses.

Ortega has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Norling can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Norling controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Norling postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ortega lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Norling keeping moving, preventing Ortega from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ortega pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Norling is keeping the position for now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Norling can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ortega controls the pace.
Ortega prevents Norling from getting back to his feet.
Norling preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Norling wants to stand and escape but Ortega is having none of it.
Ortega stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Norling swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ortega won't allow Norling to get back to his feet.
Ortega throws a strike but Norling rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Norling throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Norling accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norling trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ortega's guard.

Ortega is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Norling frees his head nicely. Oh but Ortega has switched to an armbar! Norling is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Noah Ortega!
After winning the bout, Noah Ortega thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
The defeated Nils Norling had this to say: 'You win lose, you some some.'.