PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kareem Said (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alfie Norks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Norks's choice of entrance music: Like a G6. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Said
vs
Norks

190 cm
24
220 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

200 cm
21
267 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kareem Said!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alfie Norks!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Paulo Santos and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Norks misses with an uppercut
and Said counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Norks ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Said moves away.

Said looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Norks!
Norks manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Said throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Norks wants to improve his position but Said is controlling well.
Said missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Said trying to control from half guard but Norks is working away.
Norks has a hand on Said's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Said takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Norks wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Said.
Norks is in all sorts of trouble here.
Norks is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Norks working to try and regain half guard.
Said with shots to the head and body - Norks looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Said prevents Norks from getting the reversal.
Norks is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Norks is looking to improve his position but Said isn't that keen on the idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Norks is in a horrible position here. Said smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Said scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Norks?
Said lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Norks hang on?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Said working the ground and pound effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Said with a couple of short strikes.
Norks is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Said working the ground and pound effectively.
Said fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Said lands a heavy elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Said trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Said with good strikes from the mount here!
Said punishing his opponent with strikes.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Norks can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Said putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Norks is bucking up trying to escape but Said cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Said with good strikes from the mount here!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Said cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
A nice elbow there by Said.

Norks is rocked!
Said trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Said working Norks over with strikes here.
Norks is still in real trouble! Can Said finish him?
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Norks is looking to improve his position but Said isn't that keen on the idea.
Norks seems to have recovered his senses.
Said raining down shots from the mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kareem Said dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Norks throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Said blocks a low kick nicely.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Said checks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Norks - that will leave a mark!
Norks throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Said shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Norks moves in looking to clinch but Said pushes him off.
Alfie Norks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Said moves into the clinch.

Norks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Said here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Norks wants to land a leg kick but Said is out of range.
Norks moves to clinch but Said breaks away

and Said counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Said wants to lay and pray for a moment but Norks keeps working.
Said is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Norks can do to turn this around?
Norks can't do much from the bottom here.
Norks manages to get back to half guard.
Norks is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Said drops an elbow to the side of Norks's head.
Said takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Said seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Said throwing shots but Norks is blocking nicely.
Kareem Said overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Said not doing much here.
Said wants to control but Norks is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norks wants to get back to full guard but Said has passed into side control.
Said lands an elbow.
Said scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Norks to see if he's OK.
Norks is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Norks really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Said. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Said lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Norks is looking for a sweep. Said is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Said trying to control from half guard but Norks is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kareem Said dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Said gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Norks manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Said misses with a body punch.
Norks misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Said.
A right handed body shot lands from Norks.
Said doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Norks landing knees to the head.

It looks like Kareem Said has been cut.
Said lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Norks backwards.
Said digs a right hand underneath Norks's ribcage. Norks let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Norks is working Said over against the cage.
Norks leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norks blocks an uppercut.
Norks throws an elbow that misses.
Said blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Said takes a knee right on the jaw!
Said tries to score a body lock takedown but Norks shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Norks taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Norks lands a knee to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Norks landing knees to the head.
Norks's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Norks.
Norks tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Said avoids it.
Norks slowing the pace effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norks throws a knee to the head but misses.
Norks is struggling to control the position.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Alfie Norks.
Norks throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Said counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Said not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Norks regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Said.
Said is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Norks wants to sweep here but Said controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Said looking to sit in guard and control but Norks gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Said keeping full guard, as Norks tries to pass.
Said is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Said is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Said keeping full guard, as Norks tries to pass.
Norks won't allow Said to sweep him here.

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.
Said keeping full guard, as Norks tries to pass.
Said is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Said controlling Norks's posture.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Norks tries to score with a low kick but Said moves his leg out of the way.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alfie Norks really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kareem Said's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Norks throws a low kick but Said avoids it.
Norks throws a nice looking combination but Said bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Norks wants to slow Said down by chopping away at his legs.
Said will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norks defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Said.
Nice sprawl there from Norks as Said shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kareem Said. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Said takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Norks misses with an attempted mid kick.
Said will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Norks misses with a low kick.
Said uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Norks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norks feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Said's calf.
Norks stuns Said with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Norks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Said was well out of range. Poor timing from Norks.
Said steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Norks. That one must have hurt.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Norks moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kareem Said is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norks chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Norks fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Said has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Norks wants to clinch.
Norks misses with a low kick as Said jumps back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norks pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Norks misses with a head kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Said tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Norks swivels and escapes.
Norks works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alfie Norks dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Kareem Said's cut.
That's time! 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.

Norks swings away with a body shot that misses

and Said decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Norks's guard.
Said trying to control but Norks is working from the bottom.
Said is in close to Norks's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Norks lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Said!
Said gets back to half guard.
Said tries to get to full guard but Norks has control of the leg.
Said regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Said wants to sweep but no luck.
Said controls Norks momentarily but Norks frees himself.
Said looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Said can't keep his opponent in guard - Norks advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Norks tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Norks with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Norks is looking to take a break and control but Said is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Said is trying to maintain the position but Norks is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
It looks like Norks is going to stand back up.
Said is looking for a sweep. Norks is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Alfie Norks.
Said shoots in but Norks avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A head kick misses from Norks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norks throws out a loose jab but Said uses good head movement to avoid it.
Norks swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Norks throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Norks tries to clinch up but Said circles away and keeps his distance.
Norks throws a leg kick but Said moved away.

That's four 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.
Norks throws a one two combo.
A leg kick checked by Said.
Said shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Norks but Norks pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Norks throws a left and a right that both miss

and Said counters with a nice double leg into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kareem Said.
I think Said 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 47:46
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 47:46
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 47:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kareem Said!
Kareem Said retains his heavyweight title!