PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steven Mareklidis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steven Mareklidis had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Mareklidis
vs
Morgan

190 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
202 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steven Mareklidis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dan Morgan!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mareklidis wants to clinch.
Morgan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mareklidis tries to close the distance and clinch but Morgan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mareklidis tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Morgan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mareklidis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Mareklidis fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Morgan sprawls well initially but Mareklidis persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Mareklidis is looking to take a break and control but Morgan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Morgan throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Morgan actively working from the bottom here.
Morgan is trying to get back to full guard.

Morgan is defending against the submission attempts here by Mareklidis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mareklidis slows the pace down in half guard.
Morgan has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mareklidis is working away from the top position though.
Mareklidis wants to free his trapped foot but Morgan is holding on for dear life with his legs.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mareklidis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Morgan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mareklidis wants to clinch.
Mareklidis on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mareklidis blocks a jab.
A nice combination there by Mareklidis.

It looks like Dan Morgan has been cut.
Steven Mareklidis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Morgan misses the jab.
Mareklidis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Morgan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mareklidis is looking to clinch but Morgan is avoiding it.

Mareklidis gets the takedown into side control.
Morgan manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Mareklidis kicks Morgan off and gets back to his feet.
Morgan lands with a hook. Mareklidis tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Morgan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Morgan blocks a head kick by Mareklidis.
Mareklidis is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mareklidis tries to clinch but Morgan moves out of range.
Mareklidis moves in looking to clinch but Morgan pushes him off.
Mareklidis wants to clinch up but Morgan keeps it at a distance.

Morgan drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Morgan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Morgan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mareklidis trying to control the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Morgan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Morgan makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Morgan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Morgan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mareklidis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Morgan drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan controlling from the top position.
Morgan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Morgan wants to control from the top but Mareklidis keeps moving.
Mareklidis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Morgan is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mareklidis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Morgan trying to control but Mareklidis is working from the bottom.
Morgan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mareklidis tries to clinch up but Morgan circles away and keeps his distance.
Mareklidis tries for a takedown but Morgan circles away easily

and Morgan counters with a shoot takedown. Mareklidis fights it but they end up in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dan Morgan will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dan Morgan's cut.
That's time! Mareklidis's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Morgan gets a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mareklidis.
Mareklidis drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mareklidis wants a takedown but no success here.
Morgan dodges an elbow strike from Mareklidis.
Morgan working aggressively here.
Mareklidis fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Mareklidis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Morgan as Mareklidis tries to tie him up.
A short left from Morgan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mareklidis is trying to maintain a safe position but Morgan gets an underhook and turns Mareklidis into the cage.
Mareklidis has Morgan pushed against the cage.
Mareklidis is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Morgan is keeping busy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Morgan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Mareklidis as Morgan tries to tie him up.
Mareklidis tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Morgan just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mareklidis tries to pull guard but Morgan won't allow it.
Mareklidis tries a body shot but Morgan blocks it.
Mareklidis looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Mareklidis is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Morgan is looking to control Mareklidis's arms but Mareklidis gets an underhook and turns him. Now Morgan has his back to the cage.
Mareklidis scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Morgan keeps control of Mareklidis as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mareklidis tries to pull guard but Morgan holds him up against the cage and eventually Mareklidis drops back down to his feet.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Mareklidis just misses with a elbow thrown towards Morgan's brow.
Mareklidis fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mareklidis misses with a knee strike.
Mareklidis putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Morgan in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Mareklidis jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Morgan walks away with a smile on his face. Mareklidis gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Morgan scores with a jab to the head.

Morgan takes the fight into the clinch.
Mareklidis tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Morgan avoids it.
Morgan tries to pull guard but Mareklidis won't allow it.
Mareklidis lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Morgan stalling in the clinch but Mareklidis improves position.
Mareklidis is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Morgan is defending well for now.
Morgan stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Morgan is trying to maintain a safe position but Mareklidis gets an underhook and turns Morgan into the cage.
Morgan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mareklidis jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Morgan walks away with a smile on his face. Mareklidis gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Morgan misses with a looping left.
Mareklidis tries to clinch
and Morgan counters with a lovely straight right hand!

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

Mareklidis thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Morgan controls Mareklidis momentarily but Mareklidis frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morgan is adopting a defensive guard.
Morgan controls Mareklidis momentarily but Mareklidis frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan 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.
Mareklidis trying to control the position from guard on top but Morgan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morgan wants to sweep here but Mareklidis controlling him for the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Morgan circles away from the clinch attempt
and Morgan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Morgan throws a jab when Mareklidis was well out of range.
Mareklidis displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Morgan throws out the jab.
Mareklidis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mareklidis wants to clinch but Morgan slips to the side

and Morgan counters by moving into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dan Morgan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Dan Morgan's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Morgan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mareklidis sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Morgan somewhat.
Mareklidis clinches but Morgan breaks the clinch
and Mareklidis takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mareklidis misses with a takedown attempt

and Morgan counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mareklidis won't be happy with that.
Mareklidis gets back to half guard.
Mareklidis trying to hold on to Morgan's head to control him but Morgan postures up.
Mareklidis regains full guard. Nicely done.
Morgan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Morgan postures up in Mareklidis's guard and throws a big left but Mareklidis blocks it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Morgan is looking to work some ground and pound but Mareklidis has wrist control.
Mareklidis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mareklidis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Morgan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mareklidis with a poor takedown
and Morgan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mareklidis tries to clinch but Morgan moves away
and Morgan counters with a series of strikes. Mareklidis will be more careful next time no doubt.
Mareklidis darts in trying to clinch

and Morgan counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Morgan is looking to advance position but Mareklidis has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Morgan throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Morgan wants to hold on but Mareklidis pushes him away.
Morgan bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Mareklidis throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Morgan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mareklidis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mareklidis trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan trying to control but Mareklidis is working from the bottom.
Morgan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mareklidis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mareklidis pulls Morgan in close to his closed guard and prevents Morgan from doing any damage or advancing position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Morgan looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Mareklidis!
Morgan landing punches.
Mareklidis tries to hold on but Morgan pushes him away.
Dan Morgan has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Mareklidis?
Morgan scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Mareklidis?
Morgan looking to ground and pound but Mareklidis is blocking nicely.
Morgan punching from mount but Mareklidis doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Morgan working for a guillotine from mount but Mareklidis is in no mood to give up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Morgan jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Mareklidis manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Mareklidis sneaks back into half guard.
Mareklidis is trying to maintain the position but Morgan is very close to passing his half guard.
Mareklidis pushes Morgan off looking to stand but Morgan dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mareklidis keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Morgan scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Morgan stops Mareklidis from getting back to his feet.
Mareklidis blocking the ground and pound attempt from Morgan.
Morgan lands strikes from half guard.
Morgan thows a huge punch but Mareklidis dodges it nicely.
Morgan prevents Mareklidis from standing back up.
Mareklidis is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Morgan scores with a couple of nice shots.
Mareklidis on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Morgan trying to control from half guard but Mareklidis is working away.
Morgan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mareklidis defending well though.
Steven Mareklidis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dan Morgan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Morgan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mareklidis's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Morgan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Morgan 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Morgan!