PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Selimi Selim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jaak Normaal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Selim
vs
Normaal

170 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Selimi Selim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jaak Normaal!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paul Aken and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Normaal misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Selim scores with a head kick.
Normaal leaves Selim with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Normaal rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Selim moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Selim throws a wild body kick that Normaal sees coming a mile off.
Normaal tries a head kick but it misses.
Selim throws an overhand right that lands on Normaal's shoulder, as Normaal tries to avoid the shot.
Normaal shoots in but Selim avoids the takedown attempt easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Selim.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Selim fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Selimi Selim. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Selim shoots in looking for a takedown. Normaal tries to sprawl out of it but Selim keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Normaal manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Normaal lands a nice looking body kick.
Normaal tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Selim manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Normaal fails with the takedown.
An attempted straight right counter from Selim misses the target.
Normaal cracks Selim with a good jab.

Selim moves into range and clinches up with Normaal.
Normaal is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Normaal breaks the clinch.
Normaal moves in looking to clinch but Selim pushes him off.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Normaal prevents a takedown attempt there.
Normaal wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Selim has him pressed against the cage.
Normaal letting Selim take a breather here.
Selim tries a body shot but Normaal blocks it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Selim.

Selim breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Normaal drives through and clinches with Selim against the cage.

Selim manages to break the clinch.
Normaal throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
It looked like Selim was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Selim takes the fight into the clinch.

Selim's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Selim will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Selim shoots in for a takedown but Normaal shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Normaal fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Selim.
Selim walks forward, straight into a front kick from Normaal.
Jaak Normaal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Selim is breathing heavily.
Normaal throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Selim is looking to counter with head kicks.
Normaal pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Selim shoots in for a takedown but Normaal shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Normaal wants to counter the offense by Selim and move into the clinch position.
Normaal scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Normaal doesn't manage to clinch there - Selim circles away.

Selim closes the distance and pushes Normaal back into the cage.

Selim breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Selim checks the leg kick.
Normaal turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Normaal.
Normaal displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Selim.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Normaal misses with the combination.
Selim fails with the takedown.
As Selim backs off Normaal throws a huge counter combo but Selim manages to avoid it all.
Selim tries to clinch there but Normaal circles away.
Normaal leaves Selim with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Normaal lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Normaal scores with a one two! Selim had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Selim on the wrong end of a nice hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaak Normaal dominated that round.
That's time! Selim's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Selim shoots in for a double leg but Normaal sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Normaal misses with a head kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Selim.
Normaal throws a head kick that misses.
Selim blocks a head kick by Normaal.
Normaal dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Selim. That did some damage!
Normaal fails to land with a series of punches.
Selim fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Normaal looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Normaal throws a head kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Normaal throws a nice looking combination but Selim bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Normaal lands an overhand right.
Normaal swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Selim.
Selim throws a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Normaal keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Selimi Selim. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Horrible takedown attempt by Normaal or perhaps it was just good defense by Selim, which made it look bad.
Jaak Normaal seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Selim fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Normaal, pushing him back against the cage.

Selim's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Selim throws a push kick but Normaal slaps the foot to one side.
Selim backing away here, and Normaal unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

Normaal has closed the distance and engaged Selim in a clinch.

Normaal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Normaal has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Normaal is looking to land body kicks.

Selim clinches up with Normaal and pushes him back against the cage.
Normaal looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Selim lands a right hand that snaps the head of Normaal backwards.
Selim drops down looking for an ankle pick but Normaal pulls his leg out and moves away.
Selim shoots for a double leg takedown but Normaal sprawls well. He's pushed Selim's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Selim has managed to clinch.
Selim is trying to stall.
Normaal fails to pull guard.
Selim drops down looking for an ankle pick but Normaal pulls his leg out and moves away.
Selim misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Normaal stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
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!
Normaal looks for the body kick but Selim saw that one coming.
Normaal tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Selim swivels and escapes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Selim looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Normaal unleashes a big counter combination but Selim bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Normaal circles away from the clinch attempt.
Normaal fails in his attempt to clinch.
Danga de danga de dang - Normaal scores with a four punch combination!

Selim forces Normaal back against the cage and clinches.
Selim tries to pull guard but Normaal holds him up against the cage and eventually Selim drops back down to his feet.
Selim displaying some good clinch control by pressing Normaal up against the cage.
Normaal wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Normaal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Selim is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Selim shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Selim.
Normaal shoots in looking for a takedown. Selim tries to sprawl out of it but Normaal keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Selim manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Selim rushes Normaal and presses him up against the cage.
Selim tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Selim wants a takedown but no success here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaak Normaal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Normaal closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Normaal prevents the takedown attempt.
Selim tries for a takedown but Normaal manages to get underhooks.
Normaal is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Selim pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Normaal throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Normaal escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Normaal tries to bum rush Selim with a series of wild strikes but Selim uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Normaal swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Selim counters by moving into the clinch.
Nice body punch from Selim - that landed with a thud.
Normaal on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Selim tries to pull guard but Normaal forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Selimi Selim. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Normaal can't break the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Normaal has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Selim breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Normaal stuffs the takedown.
Normaal cracks Selim with a good jab.
Normaal pushes Selim away with a front kick.
A punch combination from Normaal misses.
Normaal takes a swing at Selim's ribcage but misses.
Selim shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Normaal but Normaal pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Selim slaps away a takedown attempt from Normaal, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Selim fails with an attempt to clinch.
Normaal connects with a solid leg kick.
Selimi Selim is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Normaal keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Despite the aggression on Normaal's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Selim takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Selim keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Selim closes the distance and clinches up with Normaal, looking for a takedown. Selim pushes Normaal against the cage but Normaal circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Normaal throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Selim.
Selim goes for a double leg but Normaal avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Normaal continues to drive forward.
Nice body kick from Normaal.
Normaal goes for a double leg but Selim avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Selim continues to drive forward.
Normaal just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromSelim.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Selim forces Normaal back against the cage and clinches.
Normaal throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Selim prevents a takedown attempt there.
Selim lands a damaging elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Selim.

Selim manages to break the clinch.
Selim throws a body kick that misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Normaal misses.
A head kick misses from Selim.
Normaal shoots in and drives through. Selim sprawls well.
Normaal waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Selim.
Selim shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Normaal as he jumps to the side.
Normaal swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Normaal shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Selim pinned against the cage. Selim gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Normaal keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Normaal tries to bum rush Selim with a series of wild strikes but Selim uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Normaal with a poor takedown
letting Selim counter with a right hand.
Selim is looking to clinch but Normaal is avoiding it.

Selim gets a clinch.
Selim has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Normaal is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Normaal wants to break free but Selim has control.
Normaal missing with knees to the body.
Selimi Selim has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Selim breaks the clinch.
Normaal throws a head kick but Selim moves out of range.
Normaal is looking to clinch but Selim is avoiding it.
Selimi Selim has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jaak Normaal is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Selim has taken the fight to the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jaak Normaal.
I've got Normaal 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jaak Normaal!