PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mo Tali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Norris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Tali
vs
Norris

177 cm
23
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mo Tali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Steven Norris!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Norris tries to clinch but Tali is having none of it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Tali checks a leg kick.
Norris stuffs the takedown.
Norris wants to clinch up but Tali keeps it at a distance.
Norris lands a nice looking body kick.
Tali takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tali.
Norris feints and then cracks Tali's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Tali down.

Norris moves into range and clinches up with Tali.
Norris scores a nice knee to the body.
Tali looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mo Tali. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Norris tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Norris stops a takedown attempt from Tali.
Tali tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tali letting Norris take a breather here.
Norris working Tali over with knees to the body.
Norris misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tali.
Norris is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Tali is keeping busy.
Norris using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tali has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tali has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Norris is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Norris is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norris tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Tali has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Norris avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Norris tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Norris utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Knees to the body from Norris.
Norris lands a knee to the head.
Norris with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Norris avoids a wild elbow strike from Tali.
Tali changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Norris fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Norris fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tali, pushing him back against the cage.
Norris tries to land knees in the clinch but Tali avoids the damage to the body.
Norris tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Tali avoids it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Norris as Tali tries to tie him up.
Norris is trying to stall.
Norris misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tali.

Tali breaks the clinch.
Tali blocks a head kick by Norris.

That's two 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.
A thudding body kick lands there by Norris!
Tali avoids the head kick by Norris.
Norris lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Norris thuds his shin into the meat of Tali's side.
Norris throws a head kick that misses.
Tali swats away the attempt to clinch by Norris.
Steven Norris is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tali fails with a takedown attempt.
Norris leaves Tali with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Steven Norris seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tali is breathing heavily.
A chopping leg kick lands by Norris.
Norris tries to close the distance and clinch but Tali swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Norris connects with a high kick.
Norris fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norris tries to clinch up but Tali circles away and keeps his distance.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Norris, right into the meat.
Norris feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tali's calf.
Norris is looking to clinch but Tali is avoiding it.
Tali avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tali takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Norris connects with a high kick.
Norris scores with a leg kick.
Norris feints and then cracks Tali's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Tali down.
Norris is looking to clinch.
Norris tries to clinch but Tali moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Norris.
Norris keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Norris throws a quick inside leg kick.
Norris scoring well with a low kick there.
Norris thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Tali if he has to take too many more of those.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norris turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Norris throws a sloppy head kick and Tali moves out of range easily.
Tali shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Norris sprawls well. Norris wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tali gets slowly back to his feet.
Norris moves in looking to clinch but Tali pushes him off.
Tali is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Tali takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Norris scores with a push kick.
Norris pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Norris throws a half hearted mid kick.
Norris plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Tali tries to keep at a distance but Norris has taken the fight into the clinch.
Tali tries to score a body lock takedown but Norris shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Norris using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tali has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Knees in the clinch landing for Norris.
Norris is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Norris wants to break free but Tali has control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Norris tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Both fighters circling a little - Norris finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Norris goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Norris connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Mo Tali is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Norris tries to clinch up.
Tali fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Norris avoids it really well and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Norris looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Norris fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tali, pushing him back against the cage.
Norris holding his opponent close, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norris is pressed up against the cage. Tali has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Norris down to the mat. Norris avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Norris lands a nice looking kick to the body. Tali takes a step back to recover.
Tali avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tali walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norris tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tali swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Norris thumps Tali with a low kick.
Norris lands a head kick. Tali smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A bone on bone clash there as Norris blocks the leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Norris.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tali.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mo Tali. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Norris lands a head kick. Tali smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Norris has closed the distance and engaged Tali in a clinch.
Norris can't break the clinch.
Norris with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Norris stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Norris is looking to break free of the clinch but Tali has double underhooks.
Norris with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Norris landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Norris trying to land knees to the body.
Norris wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Norris wants to stall.
Norris misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norris tries a knee to the head but Tali blocks it.
Tali has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Norris avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Tali slows down the pace here.
Norris stalling in the clinch but Tali improves position.
A knee to the head by Norris.
Norris scores a nice knee to the body.
Norris is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Tali wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Norris has him pressed against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Norris lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Tali manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Norris is looking to stand up but Tali won't let him.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Norris.
Norris bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Norris.
Tali tries to score a power double leg takedown but Norris sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tali somewhat.
Norris looks to land a body kick but Tali moved away.
Norris throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Norris.
Nice sprawl there from Norris as Tali shoots in.
Tali avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Norris feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tali's calf.
Tali pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tali looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

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.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Norris, right into the meat.
Norris tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Norris throws a head kick that Tali semi-blocks.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Norris, right into the meat.
Tali takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Norris is looking to clinch but Tali is avoiding it.

Norris clinches with his opponent.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Norris obliges.
Norris tries a knee to the head but Tali blocks it.
Norris working Tali over with knees to the body.
Norris landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Norris stalling the fight.
Norris tries a knee to the head but Tali blocks it.
Norris lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Tali will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Norris lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Norris throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tali blocks it with crossed arms.
Norris looking to throw knees to the head but Tali is blocking nicely.
Tali using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Norris has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Norris showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Tali's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Tali keeps the fight on the outside.
Tali keeps the fight on the outside.
Norris cracks the inside of Tali's front leg.
Norris dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tali. That did some damage!
Norris is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Norris throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Tali's head.
Norris moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Tali avoids the head kick by Norris.
Norris throws a solid leg kick but Tali takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Norris.
An inside leg kick lands from Norris.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norris fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Tali.
Tali looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Norris.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Norris misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norris scoring well with a low kick there.

Tali tries to keep at a distance but Norris has taken the fight into the clinch.
Norris unloads a knee to the mid-section. Tali lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Norris with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tali managing to block the knees to the body from Norris.
Norris tries to break free but Tali pushes him back against the cage.
Norris lands a nice knee to the body.
Norris wants to stall.
Norris stops a takedown attempt from Tali.
Norris can't break the clinch.
Norris taking a breather.
Norris using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tali has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tali fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mo Tali. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tali is trying to drag Norris to the mat but Norris just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Norris lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Norris is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tali is defending well for now.
A knee to the head by Norris.
Norris connects with a knee to the head.

Tali escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Norris goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Tali fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Norris avoids it really well and circles away.
Norris pulls out of a head kick attempt.
An inside leg kick lands from Norris.

Norris rushes Tali and presses him up against the cage.
Tali tries to pull guard but Norris holds him up against the cage and eventually Tali drops back down to his feet.
Norris with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tali drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Norris lands a good knee to the midsection. Tali won't want to take too many of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norris tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Norris lands a good knee to the midsection. Tali won't want to take too many of those.
Norris landing knees to the body.
Norris throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tali wants a takedown but no success here.
Norris misses with a knee to the head.
Norris working Tali over with knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Norris.
Norris is trying to break the clinch but Tali is controlling him.
Norris is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Norris landing knees to the body.
Norris with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tali takes a knee right on the jaw!
Norris working Tali over with knees to the body.
Norris crunches a lovely knee into Tali's ribcage.
Norris misses with a knee to the head.
Norris throws a knee to the head but misses.

Tali successfully pulls guard.
Steven Norris is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Norris tries to stand but Tali is controlling from the bottom.
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.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tali bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Norris's guard.
Norris keeping moving, preventing Tali from controlling successfully.
Mo Tali has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tali throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Norris wants to get back to his feet but Tali is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Tali drops back, looking for a kneebar! Norris looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Norris looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Norris!

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven Norris comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Norris 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Norris!