PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gerald Norton (ranked 5178 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sid Moncrief (ranked 5188 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.

Norton
vs
Moncrief

173 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gerald Norton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sid Moncrief!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moncrief fails with an attempt to clinch.
Norton takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Moncrief slaps away a takedown attempt from Norton, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Moncrief has Norton up against the cage in a clinch.
Moncrief is trying to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norton avoiding damage as Moncrief throws knees to the body.
Norton lands a body shot.
Moncrief looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Moncrief pulls guard effortlessly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norton slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Norton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Norton gets to his feet. Moncrief looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Moncrief is looking to clinch but Norton is avoiding it.
Norton keeps the fight on the outside.
Moncrief just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromNorton.
Moncrief pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
As Moncrief tries to get set, Norton tries to push him back and clinch up but Moncrief manages to avoid the attempt.
Norton moves out of range of the body kick.
Moncrief tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Moncrief shoots in for a takedown but Norton shows good takedown defense.
Moncrief tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Norton feints and as Moncrief raises his hands in defense, Norton changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Norton stands and steps away. Moncrief gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Moncrief shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Norton actively working from the bottom here.
Norton controlling the position for now.
Moncrief throwing shots but Norton is blocking nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Moncrief is nestled in close to Norton, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Moncrief is trying to control. Norton wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Norton is looking to control Moncrief's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Norton avoid being mounted?
Moncrief is looking to advance position but Norton won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norton tries to get to full guard but Moncrief has control of the leg.
Norton makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Norton.
Moncrief wants to get up but he can't break Norton's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Moncrief really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Norton. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Norton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Norton is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Norton pushes Moncrief off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Norton closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Moncrief did well to prevent Norton getting side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moncrief is trying to stand back up but Norton is controlling him
Norton prevents Moncrief from improving his position.

Norton escapes and gets back to his feet.
Moncrief doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Norton counters by clinching up.
Moncrief looks winded!
Norton stalling the fight.
Norton content to slow the pace in the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Norton has Moncrief pressed against the cage.
Norton seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerald Norton dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Moncrief checks a leg kick.

Moncrief scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Norton preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Norton is looking to control Moncrief's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Norton avoid being mounted?
Moncrief tries to pass the half guard into mount. Norton knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Norton wants to control but Moncrief is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norton wants to get back to his feet.
Norton moves into full guard.
Moncrief trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Norton has his foot on Moncrief's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Moncrief works his way back into a safe position though.
Norton keeping moving, preventing Moncrief from controlling successfully.
Norton is pulling down on Moncrief's head to control his posture.
Moncrief pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Norton is keeping the position for now.

Norton is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Moncrief is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Moncrief postures up.
Moncrief looking to pass the guard.
Moncrief postures up.

Norton is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Moncrief defends well.
Moncrief wants to control from the top but Norton keeps moving.

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.
Norton 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.
Moncrief content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Moncrief engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Norton wants to get back to his feet but Moncrief is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Moncrief decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Moncrief is defended easily by Norton.
Norton fires out a quick counter leg kick but Moncrief just manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moncrief tries for a takedown but Norton circles away easily
and Norton counters with a thumping low kick.
Moncrief misses with a wild combination.
Norton looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Moncrief misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Norton is looking to counter punch.
Moncrief shoots for a takedown but Norton saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
As Moncrief backs away, Norton returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Gerald Norton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sid Moncrief.

Norton looking to score a takedown here. Moncrief is defending well but Norton drives through and ends up in Moncrief's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Moncrief is working an open guard so Norton takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Moncrief throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Norton tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Moncrief is in Norton's guard.

Norton has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Moncrief is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Norton manages to break the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Moncrief. No joy for Norton on that attempt.
Moncrief stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Moncrief wants it to stay on the feet.

Moncrief scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Norton manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Moncrief keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Norton controlling the action here for a moment.
Moncrief tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerald Norton dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Moncrief throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Moncrief misses the shot to the body.
Norton misses with a takedown attempt
letting Moncrief counter with a right hand.
No luck for Moncrief with that takedown attempt.
Moncrief defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Norton.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moncrief throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Gerald Norton has been cut.
Sid Moncrief seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Moncrief.
Norton slaps away a takedown attempt from Moncrief, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Norton appears to be looking for a big counter.
Moncrief takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

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

Moncrief moves into the clinch.
Norton tries to break the clinch but Moncrief is controlling the position.
Norton has Moncrief pushed against the cage.
Moncrief wants a takedown.
Gerald Norton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sid Moncrief.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norton stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Norton has Moncrief pressed against the cage.
Moncrief wants to break the clinch but can't.

Moncrief escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Moncrief shoots in and bounces Norton off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Norton pushes Moncrief off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Moncrief fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Norton checks it well.
As Moncrief tries to get set, Norton tries to push him back and clinch up but Moncrief manages to avoid the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norton fails with the takedown.
Moncrief shoots for a takedown but Norton saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Moncrief moves to clinch but Norton breaks away
and Norton counters with an inside leg kick.
Moncrief misses with a head kick.

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

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sid Moncrief seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Norton has a takedown stuffed.
A punch combination from Moncrief misses.
Norton is looking to counter the offense by Moncrief and move into the clinch.
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!

Norton shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Moncrief manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Norton decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Norton shoots in but Moncrief avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Moncrief throws a counter combo.
Sid Moncrief has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gerald Norton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sid Moncrief is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Moncrief has Norton up against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sid Moncrief.
I think Norton 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gerald Norton!