PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sabin Figaro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Figaro
vs
Morgan

180 cm
20
180 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

169 cm
23
180 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Win Nutritional

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sabin Figaro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Morgan!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Thiago Cunha and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Figaro closes this distance looking for a takedown but Morgan circles away.
Figaro keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A punch combination from Figaro misses.
Figaro swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Morgan misses the jab.
Morgan waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Figaro.
Morgan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Figaro counters with a left and a right that stings Morgan.
Figaro thuds a left hand into Morgan's body.
Morgan waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Figaro.
Morgan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Figaro swinging wilding here.
Figaro lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Carlos Morgan has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Figaro fails with a takedown attempt.
Morgan waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Figaro.
Morgan falls off balance throwing a combination
and Figaro counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Figaro shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Morgan sprawls well. Morgan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Figaro gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sabin Figaro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morgan misses the shot to the body.
Morgan misses with a straight left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Figaro counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Figaro.
Figaro trying to control the position from guard on top but Morgan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Figaro controls from within his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Figaro passes into half guard.
It looks like Figaro is going to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Figaro is trying to control the action in half guard but Morgan is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Morgan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Figaro. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Figaro prevents Morgan from improving his position.
Figaro passes to full mount!
Morgan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Figaro takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Morgan can do anything to dispel that myth.

Figaro is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Morgan is surviving well by controlling Figaro's body position as best he can.
Morgan is squirming around, avoiding Figaro's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Sabin Figaro just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Figaro shoots in and bounces Morgan off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Morgan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sabin Figaro dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Carlos Morgan's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Morgan throws an overhand right that lands on Figaro's shoulder, as Figaro tries to avoid the shot.
Figaro walks into a stiff left hand from Morgan.
No joy there for Morgan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Figaro lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Morgan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Figaro throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Figaro tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Morgan just misses with a punch to the body.
Morgan is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Figaro shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Morgan as he avoids it easily.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Figaro.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Figaro shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Morgan as he jumps to the side.
Morgan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Figaro missing with a left hand there. Morgan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Figaro dives in and grabs Morgan's left leg, looking for a takedown. Morgan pushes down on Figaro's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sabin Figaro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Figaro scores with a jab.

That has opened up Carlos Morgan's cut even more.
Morgan throws a combination that misses
and Figaro counters with a two punch combo.
Figaro cracks Morgan with a right hand to the side of the head.
Figaro looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Morgan is fending him off so far but Figaro persists. Nope, Morgan circles away and we're back to standing.
Morgan misses the jab.
Figaro misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Figaro shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Figaro takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Figaro fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Morgan manages to avoid it.
Carlos Morgan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Morgan swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Figaro counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Morgan lands with a shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Morgan goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Sabin Figaro has been cut.
Figaro looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A jab from Figaro misses.
Sabin Figaro is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Morgan throws a left and a right that both miss

and Figaro counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan wants to control but Figaro is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Figaro is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Morgan sees it coming and defends easily.
Morgan wants to improve his position but Figaro is controlling well.
Figaro is controlling the pace.
Morgan tries to get to full guard but Figaro has control of the leg.
Figaro works his way into full mount!

Figaro is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Morgan has managed to escape the submission attempt.

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.
Morgan is looking to improve his position but Figaro isn't that keen on the idea.
Figaro will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Figaro is landing with some decent strikes but Morgan is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Morgan can't escape the position.
Figaro wants to control the pace but Morgan is squirming around nicely.
Morgan is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sabin Figaro dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Some wild striking there from Morgan.
Sabin Figaro is winning the standup battle so far.
Figaro throws a wild body kick that Morgan sees coming a mile off.
Figaro slips a straight right by Morgan.
Figaro slips under a jab.
Morgan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Figaro was well out of range. Poor timing from Morgan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab, jab by Morgan - just one landing.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Figaro.
Figaro scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan swings away with a body shot that misses
and Figaro counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Morgan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Figaro misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Figaro misses with a head kick.

Figaro throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Morgan was covering up waiting for the punch and Figaro finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Figaro is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Morgan is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Morgan has escaped and now he's on top!
Morgan throwing strikes from guard but Figaro blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan distracts Figaro with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Figaro utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Figaro looking for a sweep. Not yet Figaro, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morgan won't allow Figaro to get back to his feet.
Morgan postures up.
Morgan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Morgan thows a big elbow that misses.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Figaro misses with a takedown attempt - Morgan sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sabin Figaro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A slow jab from Morgan misses its intended target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Figaro misses with a few strikes there.
Figaro throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Figaro bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Morgan misses the body punch
and Morgan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Figaro ducks under a wild hook from Morgan.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Morgan, as that shot connected.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Figaro.
A cross from Morgan lands.
Morgan swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan leaves Figaro with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Morgan looks to land a combination but Figaro avoids it well.
Carlos Morgan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice takedown defense from Morgan. No joy for Figaro on that attempt.
Morgan is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Morgan misses the body punch
and Figaro counters with a stiff right hand.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Figaro.
Sabin Figaro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Morgan thows a body shot but no joy.
Figaro scores with a punch to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Sabin Figaro.
Well Figaro 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 30:26
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:26
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sabin Figaro!