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SSG 257 Yasalmibaal vs Vilmat PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the super heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of London, with a TWGC record of 6 wins and 10 losses; Robert Melia! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Las Vegas, with a TWGC record of 6 wins and 1 losses; Mark Norman!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Norman looks for a takedown but Melia sprawls well.
No luck for Norman with that takedown attempt.
Melia attempts a counter takedown but Norman avoids it well and moves away.
Norman throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Melia was covering up waiting for the punch and Norman finishes the takedown easily into guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Melia (0) vs (2) Norman
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Melia holds on and takes a little breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norman trying to control the position from guard on top but Melia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Norman won't allow Melia to sweep him here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Norman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Melia swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Melia tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Melia is trying to keep Norman in close.
My spies in Rollins Fitness inform me that Norman has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Norman passes Melia's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Melia has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Norman is working away from the top position though.
Norman moves into full mount! Melia won't be happy about that! Score +3 for passing guard: Melia (0) vs (5) Norman
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melia is wriggling around trying to escape.
Norman looking to control but Melia is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Norman content just to control the position here.
Norman trying to control but Melia is having none of it.
Norman wants to take his opponent's back but Melia doesn't allow it.
Norman wants to control the pace but Melia is squirming around nicely.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melia tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Norman tries to control but Melia wriggling away.
Melia keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Melia manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Norman is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Melia (0) vs (8) Norman
Norman avoids the attempt from Melia to control.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melia is squirming around, avoiding Norman's attempts to control the action.
Norman controlling the pace for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Norman pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Melia is looking to get to half guard.
Norman takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Melia keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Melia is working hard here to advance position.
Norman moves to back control. Score +3 for taking back: Melia (0) vs (11) Norman
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Norman trying to control momentarily.
Good control from Norman.
Melia trying to control the action but Norman just sinks the hooks in.
Norman patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Norman's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
I really don't envy Melia right now.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Norman controlling the positon.
Norman not allowing Melia to control his hands.
Melia wants to escape the position.
Norman just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Melia can't escape the position.
Norman doesn't have the hooks in and Melia manages to turn into his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Melia (2) vs (11) Norman
Norman controls Melia momentarily but Melia frees himself.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Melia wants to control from the top but Norman keeps moving.
Norman controls Melia momentarily but Melia frees himself.
Melia slips effortlessly into side control - very nice. Score +3 for passing guard: Melia (5) vs (11) Norman
Norman is looking for a sweep.
Melia tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Melia has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Norman is looking to regain half guard here but Melia keeps moving and retains side control.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Melia just content to control the position.
Norman sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Norman is looking to control Melia's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Norman avoid being mounted?
Melia uses his free foot to push down on Norman's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Norman. Score +3 for passing guard: Melia (8) vs (11) Norman
Melia wants to control the pace but Norman is squirming around nicely.
Melia moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Norman has worked his arm free - good work by Norman!
Norman regains half guard.
Melia will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Norman controlling the position for now.
Norman is trying to control but can't.
Melia controlling the action here.
Norman is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Melia's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Melia's back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Melia (8) vs (15) Norman
Norman just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Melia rolls, trying to escape but Norman keeps control of the position.
Norman trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Melia doesn't escape.
It looks like Norman might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Norman trying to control.
Melia is in bad spot here.
Norman looking for the choke but no joy.
Norman just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Norman keeps control of the position as Melia tries to break free.
Norman just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Melia breaks Norman's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Melia (10) vs (15) Norman
Melia controlling from the top position.
Melia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Norman is keeping the position for now.
Melia stopping the sweep attempt from Norman.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Melia slips effortlessly into side control - very nice. Score +3 for passing guard: Melia (13) vs (15) Norman
Melia working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Norman is trying to improve his position.
Melia tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Norman is looking to reverse the position.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Norman prevents Melia from improving position.
Norman is trying to get back to half guard.
Norman struggling a bit here.
Melia tries to move to mount but Norman blocks the move with his legs.
Norman regains half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Melia trying to control from half guard but Norman is working away.
Norman gets full guard.
Melia postures up.
And that's the end of the fight!
Norman wins on points by 15 to 13.
After winning the bout, Mark Norman thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility. |
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