PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hector Tafari (ranked 8134 p4p, 804 weight class) and Ted Norman (ranked 9422 p4p, 849 weight class). Tafari comes into the arena with Buffalo Soldier - Bob Marley blaring out of the sound system. Norman has chosen Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. This should be a great matchup!

Tafari
vs
Norman

188 cm
23
215 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

190 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hector Tafari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ted Norman!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Taro Takaoka and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tafari throws an off balance right hand
and Norman counters with a straight right hand.
Tafari takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Norman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tafari circles away quickly and effectively.
Tafari explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Tafari shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Norman but Norman pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tafari plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norman dodges the punch combination from Tafari.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tafari fails with a takedown attempt.
Tafari misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
As Tafari backs off Norman throws a huge counter combo but Tafari manages to avoid it all.
Tafari walks into a jab.
Norman blocks a head kick by Tafari.
Norman throws a lazy right hand but Tafari sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tafari quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Tafari thumps Norman with a low kick.
Norman defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tafari.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hector Tafari. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tafari throws a head kick that Norman semi-blocks.
Tafari throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Norman counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Tafari thinking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norman misses with a two punch combination.
Tafari looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Tafari scores with a head kick.
Norman stuffs the takedown.
Norman works over Tafari's head and body with a nice combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tafari fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tafari shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Norman pinned against the cage. Norman gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Norman throws a jab when Tafari was well out of range.
Tafari throws a quick counter head kick but Norman was just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tafari closes the distance and clinches up with Norman, looking for a takedown. Tafari pushes Norman against the cage but Norman circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Norman fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tafari avoids it really well and circles away.
Norman will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Tafari looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Norman!

Norman sneaks out the side door and pushes Tafari away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tafari shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Norman throws a head kick but Tafari moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tafari.
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!
Tafari misses with a head kick.
Tafari blocks a head kick by Norman.
Tafari delivers a nice body kick.
Norman takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Tafari looks to land a combination but Norman avoids it well.
It seemed like Norman was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ted Norman will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tafari lands the left hand.
Norman throws a head kick but Tafari moves out of range.
Tafari with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Tafari.
Norman closes the distance and clinches up with Tafari, looking for a takedown. Norman pushes Tafari against the cage but Tafari circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tafari throws a quick counter kick to the body but Norman avoids it.
Norman displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tafari.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tafari changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Norman looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norman tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Tafari wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Tafari trying to control the position but Norman is working away.
Norman stops Tafari from passing to mount.

Tafari is trying to get an arm triangle but Norman is defending well.
Tafari is looking to take a break and control but Norman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two 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.
Tafari controlling the position from side mount.
Tafari tries to advance to mount but can't.
Ted Norman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tafari wants to control but Norman is keeping him busy.
Tafari gets to mount! Norman was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tafari controlling his opponent.
Norman looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Norman is trying to get back to his feet but Tafari has full control of the position and if anything, Norman has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Norman really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tafari. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Norman staying busy and making it hard for Tafari to control.
Norman wants to control his opponent's hands but Tafari gets his hands free.

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.

Tafari looking for the choke from the back.
Tafari softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Tafari has Norman flattened out and is raining down punches.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Tafari controlling the positon.

Tafari patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tafari slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hector Tafari dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Tafari shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Tafari is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Norman can do to turn this around?
Tafari stays in close to Norman's body and controls the position.
We've been hearing good reports from Tafari's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Tafari trying to control the position from guard on top but Norman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tafari looking to sit in guard and control but Norman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Tafari is looking for a triangle but Norman pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norman forces his way into half guard.

Norman is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Tafari gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Norman preventing the sweep.
Tafari is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Norman wants to stand and escape but instead Tafari has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Tafari trying to control but Norman is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tafari trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Norman wants to hit a switch here but Tafari passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Norman there!
Tafari looking to control but Norman is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Tafari is looking to work his way around to Norman's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Tafari trying to control but Norman is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tafari looking to control and managing it successfully.
Tafari trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Hector Tafari showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tafari has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hector Tafari!
An intense looking Hector Tafari took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'Hey Yo! Thanks to everyone fi being here. Mi fight wid a pure heart - mi ave no hate fi mi opponents. Mi wa fi tank Shinto Elite MMA gym fi taking mi inna an helping mi tek mi game to di next level. Peace out!'.