PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Norris Andersson (ranked 4942 p4p, 4355 weight class) and Akio Izumi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Norris Andersson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Andersson
vs
Izumi

159 cm
24
135
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
145
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Norris Andersson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akio Izumi!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Trevor Gratis and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Izumi looks to throw the jab but Andersson is out of range.
It looked like Andersson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Izumi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Izumi lands in his opponent's guard.

Andersson has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Izumi off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Andersson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
As Izumi looks to move away, Andersson throws a big counter combo but Izumi just gets out of the way.

Izumi shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Andersson pushes Izumi off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Izumi gets a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Andersson wants to get back to his feet.

Izumi seems to be looking for submissions.
Izumi wants to free his trapped foot but Andersson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Izumi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Andersson's head.
Andersson wants to improve his position but Izumi is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Izumi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Andersson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Izumi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Andersson's head.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Izumi in particular looking to stall.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Izumi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Izumi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Andersson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Izumi drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Andersson throws Izumi to one side and escapes!

Izumi shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Andersson napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Andersson bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Izumi scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Andersson is breathing heavily.
Andersson struggling a bit here.
Izumi tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Izumi working the ground and pound but Andersson is defending the strikes.

Izumi tries for a kimura but Andersson is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Andersson is looking for a sweep.
Izumi working away.
Andersson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Izumi is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Andersson is not content to let Izumi control the position.
Andersson is trying to control Izumi's posture but Izumi avoids it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Norris Andersson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Andersson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Izumi throws a nice head kick!

Izumi looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Andersson!
Izumi wants to stand but Andersson has his arm trapped.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Izumi throwing strikes but Andersson manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Izumi tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Izumi can't escape the position.
Andersson controlling the pace for now.
Izumi reaches up to try and control the position but Andersson seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Izumi rolls and tries to escape and now Andersson has his back!
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Izumi trying to control the position but Andersson manages to sink in the hooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Andersson has the hooks in. Izumi is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Izumi is still trying to improve position.
Izumi is breathing heavily.
Izumi is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Andersson.
Andersson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Izumi tries to roll but Andersson sticks to his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Izumi wants to control his opponent's hands but Andersson gets his hands free.
Izumi can't escape the position.
Andersson biding his time, controlling Izumi.
Izumi is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Izumi is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Andersson.
Andersson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Izumi for as long as he can get away with.
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.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
I really don't envy Izumi right now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Norris Andersson dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Izumi fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Andersson to the ground. Izumi is now in Andersson's guard.
Andersson seems keen to control Izumi's posture.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Andersson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Izumi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Andersson holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Andersson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Andersson managing to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Andersson takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Izumi throws a nice looking combination but Andersson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Izumi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Andersson momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Izumi feints and as Andersson raises his hands in defense, Izumi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Izumi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Norris Andersson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Izumi wants to control from the top but Andersson keeps moving.
Izumi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Andersson is keeping the position for now.
Andersson pulls Izumi in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
We've been told by Andersson's head coaches at Cozad MMA Montreal that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Andersson swats away the attempt to clinch by Izumi.
Andersson went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's four 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.
Izumi tries to close the distance and clinch but Andersson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Izumi feints a jab promting Andersson to slip. Izumi then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Andersson slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Izumi decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Andersson manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Izumi keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Izumi leaning his opponent against the cage.
Akio Izumi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Izumi has a couple of punches blocked by Andersson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akio Izumi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Andersson 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Norris Andersson!
Norris Andersson decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.