PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bronko Nord (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Durham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nord
vs
Durham

183 cm
21
200 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

193 cm
18
201 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bronko Nord!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, James Durham!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Sano and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nord misses with a straight right.

Nord throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Durham tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Nord is in Durham's guard.
Nord trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nord trying to control but Durham is working from the bottom.
Nord throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nord showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Nord throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bronko Nord has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Nord shoots and misses

and Durham counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Durham.
Nord 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.
Durham looking to sit in guard and control but Nord gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Durham is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nord missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nord trying to control the position from guard on top but Durham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Durham escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nord gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nord gets to his feet. Durham looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Nord tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nord misses with a lunging right hand

and Durham counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nord won't be happy with that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nord sneaks back into half guard.
Nord is trying to maintain the position but Durham is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durham wants to control but Nord is keeping him busy.
Nord manages to get to full guard.

Nord has his foot on Durham's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Durham works his way back into a safe position though.
Nord is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durham is looking to stand up but Nord won't let him.
Nord pulls Durham in to control the position.
Durham must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Durham is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Durham dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Durham circles away from the clinch attempt

and Durham counters with a takedown into side control.
Nord regains half guard.
Nord trying to control from the bottom.
Nord tries to get to full guard but Durham has control of the leg.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durham is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nord is not content to let Durham control the position.

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.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. James Durham hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Nord wants to clinch but Durham slips to the side

and Durham counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nord wants to control but Durham is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Durham throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nord wants to control but Durham is keeping busy.
Nord controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durham has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Nord works to full guard.

Nord is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Durham is aware though and is defending well.

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.
Durham wanted to stand there but Nord had control of the position.
Nord keeping full guard, as Durham tries to pass.
Nord wants to get back to his feet but Durham is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Durham showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Nord has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Nord is trying hard to land a takedown here. Durham sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nord connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Nord misses the jab.
Bronko Nord is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nord throws a sloppy head kick and Durham moves out of range easily.
Nord throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nord fails with the takedown

so Durham counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Durham trying to control but Nord is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durham's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Durham pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nord is keeping the position for now.
Durham trying to control the position from guard on top but Nord is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.

OK we're going to have a standup here. James Durham hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Durham clinches.
Nord tries to land knees in the clinch but Durham avoids the damage to the body.
Durham is trying to force a seperation but Nord has the dominant position.
Durham is trying to push Nord away but Nord has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Durham is trying to break free.
Nord tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Durham just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bronko Nord. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Durham has picked Nord up - he's going for a ride! Durham dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Well, if Durham is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nord is looking to control Durham's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nord avoid being mounted?

That's four 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.
Durham trying to mount his opponent but Nord defends it.
Durham wants to take a breather but Nord is having none of it.
Bronko Nord has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Durham keeps the fight on the outside.
Nord misses with a kick to the body.
James Durham is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nord doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Durham decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nord's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Durham comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Durham has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Durham!