PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mickey Murdoch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaiden Norstad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Murdoch kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Bro Hymm- Pennywise. The key to victory for Mickey Murdoch has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Murdoch
vs
Norstad

185 cm
25
185 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

189 cm
19
199 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

5th Round

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mickey Murdoch!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kaiden Norstad!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Norstad circles away from the clinch attempt.
Norstad stuns Murdoch with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Norstad takes a swing at Murdoch's ribcage but misses.
Murdoch fails to land with a series of punches.
Murdoch on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Murdoch tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Murdoch darts in and clinches Norstad up against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Norstad.
Murdoch avoiding damage as Norstad throws knees to the body.
Norstad misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Murdoch.
Murdoch has had enough of the clinch but Norstad keeps him there for the moment.
Norstad taking a breather.
Norstad tries to land knees in the clinch but Murdoch avoids the damage to the body.

Norstad has hold of one of Murdoch's legs. Murdoch is fighting the takedown attempt but Norstad gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Murdoch is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Murdoch scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Murdoch is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murdoch wants to clinch.
Murdoch misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Murdoch scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Norstad doesn't seem bothered though.
A head kick from Murdoch lands but Norstad takes it in his stride.
A head kick misses from Murdoch.
Left hook, right uppercut from Murdoch.
Murdoch tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Murdoch throws a right and a left that Norstad avoids nicely.
Norstad shoots in and drives through. Murdoch sprawls well.
Norstad avoids the head kick by Murdoch.
Norstad swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Norstad shoots in for a takedown but Murdoch shows good takedown defense.
Mickey Murdoch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murdoch will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Murdoch throws a sloppy head kick and Norstad moves out of range easily.
Murdoch throws a right hand that Norstad ducks under and follows up with a left that Norstad also avoids with ease.
Murdoch scores with a sloppy right hand. Norstad should have avoided that one.
Murdoch throws a head kick but Norstad moves out of range.
Norstad shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Murdoch as he avoids it easily.
Mickey Murdoch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kaiden Norstad.
Murdoch looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Murdoch lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Norstad thows a body shot but no joy.
Murdoch tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Murdoch throws a front kick that sends Norstad stumbling back into the cage.
Norstad looks gassed!
Murdoch moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Norstad shoots in for a takedown but Murdoch shows good takedown defense.

Murdoch drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murdoch trying to control but Norstad is working from the bottom.
Norstad looking for a sweep. Not yet Norstad, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murdoch trying to control but Norstad is working from the bottom.
Norstad manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Murdoch is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Norstad avoids the attempt from Murdoch to control.
Murdoch is looking to get to half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Murdoch wants to control but Norstad is having none of it.
Murdoch squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Murdoch fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mickey Murdoch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Murdoch swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Norstad counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Murdoch wants to get back to his feet but Norstad is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Norstad stands up from Murdoch's guard - Norstad perhaps looking for a knockout.
Murdoch throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Murdoch misses with a jab, cross combination.
Murdoch lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
A combination from Murdoch does no damage.
Murdoch tries a head kick but it misses.
Murdoch falls off balance throwing a combination
and Norstad counters with a straight right hand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murdoch scores with a head kick.
Murdoch misses with a double jab

and Norstad counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Norstad.
Murdoch wants to get back to striking at distance but Norstad won't allow it.
Murdoch looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Murdoch wants to get back to striking at distance but Norstad won't allow it.
Murdoch avoiding damage as Norstad throws knees to the body.
Murdoch misses with a knee strike.
Norstad keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Murdoch's efforts to push away.

Norstad lands a takedown into guard.
Murdoch is trying to keep Norstad in close.
Murdoch wants to stand up but Norstad is controlling him.
Norstad is looking to stand up but Murdoch won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Norstad decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Norstad feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Norstad stands and steps away. Murdoch gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Murdoch looks to land a combination but Norstad avoids it well.

Norstad drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
You can see the frustration on Murdoch's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Norstad wants to control but Murdoch is keeping him busy.
Murdoch is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norstad is staying tight to Murdoch's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Murdoch is looking for a sweep.
Norstad is looking to take a break and control but Murdoch is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Murdoch manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Norstad makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Norstad.
Norstad working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Murdoch controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Murdoch trying to control the position from guard on top but Norstad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Norstad has an active guard here but Murdoch has managed to pass into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Norstad wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaiden Norstad showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Murdoch shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Murdoch trying to control the position from guard on top but Norstad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Murdoch is looking to stand up but Norstad won't let him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Norstad keeping full guard, as Murdoch tries to pass.
Murdoch controlling from the top position.
Norstad is looking to sweep but instead, Murdoch has passed into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Norstad is trying to maintain the position but Murdoch is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murdoch is looking to advance position but Norstad won't allow it.
Murdoch controlling the action here.
Murdoch is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Norstad reverses the position - he's now on top in Murdoch's guard.
Norstad scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Murdoch has momentary wrist control but Norstad slips an elbow through the middle.
Murdoch manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Murdoch avoids the attempt from Norstad to control.
Murdoch trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Norstad takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Murdoch tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norstad tries to reverse the position but Murdoch maintains control.
Murdoch takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Murdoch tries to control but Norstad wriggling away.
Norstad is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Murdoch controlling the pace for now.
Murdoch looking to control but Norstad is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Mickey Murdoch just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Murdoch scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Murdoch misses with a combination

and Norstad counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Norstad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Kaiden Norstad just about did enough to take it.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Murdoch darts in and clinches Norstad up against the cage.
Murdoch looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Norstad stalling the fight.
Murdoch takes a knee to the side of the body.
Murdoch has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Murdoch is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Norstad taking a breather.
Murdoch is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Norstad is keeping busy.
Norstad lands a nice knee to the body.
Murdoch avoiding damage as Norstad throws knees to the body.
Norstad is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Murdoch is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Norstad gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Murdoch managing to block the knees to the body from Norstad.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Norstad stalling.
Murdoch blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Murdoch breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Murdoch lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murdoch looks to clinch
enabling Norstad to counter with a crisp jab.
Norstad showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Murdoch.

Norstad gets caught flat footed, as Murdoch shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Norstad not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Norstad managing to control the position.
Norstad controls Murdoch momentarily but Murdoch frees himself.
Norstad is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norstad wants to sweep but no luck.
Norstad keeping moving, preventing Murdoch from controlling successfully.
Norstad is controlling Murdoch's posture.
Murdoch is looking to stand up but Norstad won't let him.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Murdoch tries to bum rush Norstad with a series of wild strikes but Norstad uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A jab from Murdoch finds it's way through Norstad's defenses.

Norstad shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Norstad was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Murdoch throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norstad lands a nice shot to the head.
Murdoch wants to hold on but Norstad pushes him away.
Norstad looking to control but Murdoch is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Murdoch wants to control but Norstad is having none of it.
Murdoch is trying to stand.
Murdoch manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Murdoch trying to get back to full guard but Norstad takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Murdoch tries to hold on but Norstad postures up.
Norstad controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaiden Norstad dominated that fourth round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Jab from Murdoch.
Murdoch throws a combination. Norstad tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Norstad takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Murdoch closes the distance but Norstad moves to the side

and Norstad counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Norstad.
Murdoch working a defensive guard here.
Murdoch wants to stand but Norstad is controlling the position.
Norstad is stalling in the full guard.
Norstad throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Murdoch works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murdoch tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Norstad tries to free his leg and advance position but Murdoch is retaining full guard.
Murdoch is looking to sweep but instead, Norstad has passed into half guard.
Murdoch is concentrating on defense, preventing Norstad from advancing position.
Murdoch wants to get back to full guard.
Murdoch pushes Norstad off looking to stand but Norstad dives back in and keeps control.
Murdoch is looking to control Norstad's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Murdoch avoid being mounted?

That's two 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Norstad misses with a double jab
and Murdoch counters with a two punch combo.
Norstad keeps the fight on the outside.
Murdoch looks to clinch

so Norstad counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Norstad must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Murdoch working a defensive guard here.
Norstad content to stall in guard here.
Norstad slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Murdoch tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norstad creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Murdoch sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Murdoch looking for a sweep but Norstad has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Murdoch in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Murdoch is looking to get to half guard.
Norstad sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Murdoch is squirming around, avoiding Norstad's attempts to control the action.
Mickey Murdoch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kaiden Norstad is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murdoch is trying desperately to improve position.
Norstad controlling his opponent.
Murdoch keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Norstad tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Murdoch really wants to buck Norstad off and get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kaiden Norstad comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Norstad has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 47:49
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 46:49
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kaiden Norstad! Kaiden Norstad retains his middleweight title!