PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov (ranked 5516 p4p, 24920 weight class) and David Morrell Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Morrell Jr has chosen Orishas A lo Cubano as his entrance music. Both these guys are coming into the fight with injuries so let's see if that has a bearing on the fight. David Morrell Jr will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Nurmagomedov
vs
Morrell Jr

198 cm
18
218
4 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
214
1 - 10 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Prefers standup

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Helsinki Xtreme Fightwear

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Khabib Nurmagomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, David Morrell Jr!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nurmagomedov connects with a right hand. Morrell Jr shakes it off.

That has opened up David Morrell Jr's cut even more.
Nurmagomedov misses with a double jab.
Nurmagomedov throws a body punch but Morrell Jr moves out of range.
Morrell Jr takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Nurmagomedov misses with a hook. Morrell Jr ducked under it nicely.
Morrell Jr shapes to counter with a head kick.
Nurmagomedov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Morrell Jr counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nurmagomedov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nurmagomedov throws a combination that misses
letting Morrell Jr counter with a right hand.
Nurmagomedov throws a poor cross that misses
and Morrell Jr counters with a series of strikes. Nurmagomedov will be more careful next time no doubt.
Nurmagomedov looks to land a left hand but Morrell Jr moved out of range nicely.
Morrell Jr is looking for the big counter here.
Nurmagomedov misses with an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nurmagomedov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Morrell Jr tries a quick counter leg kick but Nurmagomedov is wise to it.
Morrell Jr tries to close the distance and clinch but Nurmagomedov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nurmagomedov misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov misses the body punch
and Morrell Jr counters with a straight right hand.
Nurmagomedov is breathing heavily.
Morrell Jr stalks Nurmagomedov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Nurmagomedov's face. Nurmagomedov staggers backwards, shaken.
Morrell Jr tries to clinch but Nurmagomedov moves out of range.
Nurmagomedov misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Morrell Jr counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nurmagomedov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Jab from Morrell Jr.
Nurmagomedov throws a right hand that misses
and Morrell Jr counters with a stiff right hand.
Nurmagomedov throws a sloppy head kick
and Morrell Jr counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Nurmagomedov thinking.
Nurmagomedov keeps the fight on the outside.
Morrell Jr connects with a high kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nurmagomedov misses with a shot to the body
and Morrell Jr counters with a straight right hand.
Nurmagomedov throws a predictable looking body shot
letting Morrell Jr counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov swings widly with a right hand
and Morrell Jr counters with a one-two to the body.
Nurmagomedov thuds his right hand into Morrell Jr's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Morrell Jr tries a head kick but it misses.
Nurmagomedov misses with a shot to the body
and Morrell Jr counters with a right hand to the body.
Morrell Jr moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Morrell Jr has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Khabib Nurmagomedov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Morrell Jr uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Morrell Jr appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Nurmagomedov's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Morrell Jr connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Nurmagomedov scrambles back to his feet.
Nurmagomedov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Morrell Jr counters with a stiff right hand.
Nurmagomedov just misses with a punch to the body.
Morrell Jr avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrell Jr is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Morrell Jr is looking to clinch.
Morrell Jr moves away from the strike by Nurmagomedov.
Morrell Jr lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Nurmagomedov throws a sloppy body shot
and Morrell Jr connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Morrell Jr tries to clinch there but Nurmagomedov circles away.
Morrell Jr uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nurmagomedov.
Morrell Jr pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Nurmagomedov back to the cage. Morrell Jr follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Morrell Jr ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nurmagomedov throws a lazy head kick
and Morrell Jr counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morrell Jr moves in looking to clinch but Nurmagomedov pushes him off.
Morrell Jr just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromNurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov looks to throw the jab but Morrell Jr is out of range.
Nurmagomedov misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Morrell Jr counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Jab, jab by Nurmagomedov - just one landing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morrell Jr lands a high kick!
Morrell Jr moves out of range as Nurmagomedov strikes.
Morrell Jr is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Morrell Jr darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Morrell Jr is working the combinations to good effect here.
A head kick misses from Morrell Jr.
Nurmagomedov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Morrell Jr was well out of range. Poor timing from Nurmagomedov.
Morrell Jr is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Nurmagomedov had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morrell Jr ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

David Morrell Jr dominated that round.
The cut man is working on David Morrell Jr's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nurmagomedov throws a series of punches but Morrell Jr avoids them all with ease.
Morrell Jr fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nurmagomedov misses with a lunging right hand
and Morrell Jr counters with a thumping low kick.
Nurmagomedov swings away with a body shot that misses
and Morrell Jr cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nurmagomedov swings widly with a right hand
and Morrell Jr counters with a two punch combo.
Morrell Jr is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nurmagomedov throws a sloppy head kick and Morrell Jr moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morrell Jr connects with a body shot.
Nurmagomedov misses with a jab to the body
and Nurmagomedov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Morrell Jr bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Nurmagomedov's head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nurmagomedov throws a series of punches but Morrell Jr avoids them all with ease.
Morrell Jr throws out a counter right but Nurmagomedov avoids it with no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morrell Jr lands a jab to the nose.
Nurmagomedov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Morrell Jr connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nurmagomedov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Morrell Jr counters with a good low kick that Nurmagomedov was not able to check.
Nurmagomedov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Morrell Jr counters with a straight right hand.
Morrell Jr tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Morrell Jr avoids the body shot from Nurmagomedov.
Morrell Jr lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Nurmagomedov swings away with a body shot that misses
and Morrell Jr counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nurmagomedov looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Nurmagomedov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Morrell Jr lands a jab-cross combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nurmagomedov misses the body punch
and Morrell Jr cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Morrell Jr throws a head kick that misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Nurmagomedov misses its target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morrell Jr slips under a jab from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Nurmagomedov there as he acknowledges the shot.
Nurmagomedov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Morrell Jr counters with a left and a right that stings Nurmagomedov.
Morrell Jr goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Nurmagomedov swings away with a body shot that misses
letting Morrell Jr counter with a right hand.
Morrell Jr avoids the body shot from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nurmagomedov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nurmagomedov is looking to wear down Morrell Jr with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Morrell Jr tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nurmagomedov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nurmagomedov throws a nice looking combination but Morrell Jr bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nurmagomedov swats away the attempt to clinch by Morrell Jr.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Nurmagomedov misses.
Morrell Jr tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nurmagomedov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
No joy there for Nurmagomedov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Morrell Jr lands with a straight right. Nurmagomedov didn't see that one coming.
Morrell Jr lands a nice hook to Nurmagomedov's body. Nurmagomedov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Nurmagomedov might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Morrell Jr tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nurmagomedov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nurmagomedov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Morrell Jr is looking for the big counter here.
Morrell Jr tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nurmagomedov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nurmagomedov misses with a double jab
and Morrell Jr counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morrell Jr lands a nice hook to Nurmagomedov's body. Nurmagomedov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nurmagomedov misses with a hook
and Morrell Jr counters with a left and a right that stings Nurmagomedov.
Morrell Jr tries to clinch but Nurmagomedov moves out of range.
Nurmagomedov swats away the attempt to clinch by Morrell Jr.
Nurmagomedov misses with a hook
and Morrell Jr counters with a straight right hand.
A shot to the body from Nurmagomedov misses
and Morrell Jr counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Nurmagomedov thinking.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nurmagomedov misses with a looping right.
Nurmagomedov misses with a combination
and Morrell Jr counters with a stiff right hand.
Morrell Jr has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Morrell Jr tries to clinch but Nurmagomedov moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

David Morrell Jr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on David Morrell Jr's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Morrell Jr bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nurmagomedov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nurmagomedov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nurmagomedov misses with a double jab
and Morrell Jr counters with a stiff right hand.
Nurmagomedov keeps the fight on the outside.
Nurmagomedov misses with a hook
and Morrell Jr counters with a left to the body.
Nurmagomedov misses with a hook to the body
and Morrell Jr counters with a straight right hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morrell Jr doesn't manage to clinch there - Nurmagomedov circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Morrell Jr looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Morrell Jr doesn't manage to clinch there - Nurmagomedov circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov misses the jab.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nurmagomedov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Morrell Jr tries to clinch but Nurmagomedov moves out of range.
Nurmagomedov was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Morrell Jr throws a head kick but Nurmagomedov moves out of range.
Nurmagomedov misses with a double jab.
Morrell Jr is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Nurmagomedov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
The fight stays on the outside here - Morrell Jr looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nurmagomedov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nurmagomedov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nurmagomedov misses with a double jab
and Morrell Jr counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Nurmagomedov thinking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morrell Jr tries to clinch but Nurmagomedov is having none of it.
Morrell Jr misses with a head kick.
Nurmagomedov is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Morrell Jr misses with a head kick.
Nurmagomedov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Morrell Jr manages to avoid it.
Morrell Jr unleashes a big counter combination but Nurmagomedov bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Nurmagomedov throws out a loose jab but Morrell Jr uses good head movement to avoid it.
Morrell Jr tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nurmagomedov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nurmagomedov misses with a left hand
and Morrell Jr counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nurmagomedov throws a sloppy body shot
and Morrell Jr counters with a straight right hand.
Nurmagomedov takes a swing at Morrell Jr's ribcage but misses.
Nurmagomedov looks to score with a jab to the body but Morrell Jr is just out of range.
Morrell Jr throws a big counter head kick but Nurmagomedov avoids it with no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrell Jr pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nurmagomedov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nurmagomedov moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromMorrell Jr.
Morrell Jr fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Morrell Jr looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nurmagomedov misses the body punch
and Morrell Jr counters with a nice low kick that buckles Nurmagomedov's knee momentarily.
Morrell Jr connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Nurmagomedov's hands.
Nurmagomedov avoids the head kick by Morrell Jr.
Nurmagomedov misses with a hook. Morrell Jr ducked under it nicely.
Morrell Jr tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nurmagomedov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nurmagomedov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Morrell Jr circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morrell Jr misses with a head kick.
Nurmagomedov swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Morrell Jr to counter with a crisp jab.
Morrell Jr blocks a jab.
David Morrell Jr is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Morrell Jr dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Nurmagomedov. Those never looked like landing.
Morrell Jr is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Nurmagomedov misses with a left hand
and Morrell Jr makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morrell Jr lands with a right hand.
A slow jab from Nurmagomedov misses its intended target.
Despite the aggression on Morrell Jr's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Nurmagomedov takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Morrell Jr tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nurmagomedov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Morrell Jr comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Morrell Jr 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Morrell Jr!
During a confident post fight interview, David Morrell Jr thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.