PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Omari Morales (ranked 3024 p4p, 24386 weight class) and Mo Ganozri (ranked 320 p4p, 495 weight class). The key to victory for Omari Morales has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Morales
vs
Ganozri

201 cm
29
200
6 - 3 - 0

182 cm
20
185
4 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Silverguard Outfitters ðŸ›¡
Furnace Performance ðŸ”¥

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Omari Morales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mo Ganozri!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morales avoids the body shot from Ganozri.
Morales lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Morales throws a series of punches but Ganozri avoids them all with ease.
Ganozri has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Ganozri there as he acknowledges the shot.

It looks like Mo Ganozri has been cut.
Morales lands an overhand right.
Ganozri closes the distance and clinches up with Morales, looking for a takedown. Ganozri pushes Morales against the ropes but Morales circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
An attempted straight right counter from Morales misses the target.
We've been told by Morales's head coaches at California Top Team that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Ganozri swings widly with a right hand
and Morales counters with a nice uppercut.
Morales swings for the body but Ganozri moves out of range.
Ganozri lands a nice hook to Morales's body. Morales takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Ganozri manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Morales on his heels. He'll look to pass Morales's guard now, I'm sure.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Morales utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Morales working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ganozri.
Ganozri trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ganozri with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morales wants to stand up but Ganozri is controlling him.
Ganozri working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Morales wants to stand and escape but Ganozri is having none of it.
Ganozri missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ganozri lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Ganozri throws a big elbow that misses.
Morales really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Morales wants to sweep here but Ganozri controlling him for the moment.
Ganozri postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ganozri accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Morales is trying to control the position but Ganozri postures up.
Ganozri looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Morales preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two 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.

Ganozri decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Morales makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Morales.
Ganozri wants to control from the top but Morales keeps moving.
Ganozri trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ganozri with a nice head shot there.
Ganozri loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ganozri working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Morales bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ganozri's guard.

Morales sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Morales postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morales wants to control from the top but Ganozri keeps moving.
Morales postures up.
Morales stopping the sweep attempt from Ganozri.
Ganozri is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Morales is trying to maintain the position but Ganozri is very close to passing his half guard.

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.
Ganozri lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ganozri thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ganozri is nestled in close to Morales, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ganozri is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ganozri working Morales over with strikes.
Morales tries to kick Ganozri off but Ganozri keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Nice strikes from Ganozri there.
Nice strikes from Ganozri there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mo Ganozri dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mo Ganozri's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ganozri misses with a wild body shot.
Morales is looking to counter punch.
Ganozri tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Morales swivels and escapes.
Morales lands a nice shot that snaps Ganozri's head back.
Ganozri misses with an uppercut. Morales saw that one coming.
Ganozri throws a predictable looking body shot
and Ganozri takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ganozri fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ganozri shoots in but no luck this time.
Omari Morales has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mo Ganozri.
The fighters circle momentarily. Morales darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Morales is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ganozri looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ganozri with the ground and pound but Morales uses the opportunity to regain guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ganozri postures up in Morales's guard and throws a big left but Morales blocks it.
Ganozri connects with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ganozri missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Morales is looking to stand up but Ganozri isn't so interested in that idea.
Ganozri must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ganozri accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Morales working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ganozri.
Mo Ganozri has got the better of the ground game so far.
Morales tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Morales kicks Ganozri off and gets to his feet.
Ganozri with a poor takedown
and Morales counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Morales takes one to the chin there.
Ganozri misses with a takedown attempt
and Morales cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ganozri with a lazy takedown attempt
and Morales counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nice straight punches there by Morales. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Morales.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ganozri shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ganozri takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ganozri misses the shot to the body.
Morales scores with a sloppy right hand. Ganozri should have avoided that one.
Ganozri swings for the body but Morales moves out of range.
Ganozri tries for a takedown but Morales circles away easily
and Ganozri takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Omari Morales is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ganozri shoots in for a double leg but Morales sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Morales is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Ganozri misses with an uppercut. Morales saw that one coming.
Morales jabs Ganozri right on the nose. Ganozri blinks but takes it well.

That has opened up Mo Ganozri's cut even more.
Ganozri is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Morales rather than just go for the knockout.
Ganozri lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Morales at a distance.
The crowd cheers as Morales lands an impressive looking overhand right. Ganozri doesn't seem phased though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morales lands a jab to the head.
Omari Morales is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Morales smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Ganozri feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Morales trying to keep a closed guard but Ganozri is proving a slippery customer.
Ganozri preventing the sweep.
Ganozri trying to control the position from guard on top but Morales is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morales is trying to control the position but Ganozri postures up.
Ganozri won't allow Morales to get back to his feet.
Ganozri throwing strikes but missing.
Ganozri throws a big right hand that misses.
Morales will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ganozri connects with a couple of short punches.
Ganozri trying to control the position from guard on top but Morales is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Morales gets caught flat footed, as Ganozri shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ganozri lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Ganozri trying to control but Morales is working from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Ganozri throws a big elbow that misses.
Ganozri lands a couple of elbows.
Ganozri throws a big right hand that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Omari Morales dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mo Ganozri's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Ganozri shoots in for a double leg but Morales sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A jab from Morales misses.
Ganozri looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Morales tries to sprawl but Ganozri drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Morales trying to control from the bottom.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ganozri connects with a nice short shot to Morales's temple.
Morales is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ganozri's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ganozri's back!
Ganozri can't escape the position.
Morales trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ganozri trying to control the action but Morales just sinks the hooks in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morales tries to keep control of the position but Ganozri is staying busy.
Ganozri can't escape the position.
Morales struggling to keep hold of the position.

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.
Ganozri wants to control his opponent's hands but Morales gets his hands free.
Morales wants to control but Ganozri is keeping busy.
Morales is hanging on to Ganozri's back as he tries to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ganozri trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Morales is looking to control Ganozri but Ganozri is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Morales is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Ganozri is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Morales has the hooks in. Ganozri is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Morales trying to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ganozri trying to control but not successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Omari Morales showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Morales 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Omari Morales!
Omari Morales bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.