PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dexter Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Sobral (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dexter Morgan is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Morgan
vs
Sobral

179 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

182 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Aggression Clothing

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dexter Morgan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Thiago Sobral!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Sergei Dronov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morgan feints and then cracks Sobral's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sobral down.
Morgan swats away the attempt to clinch by Sobral.
Sobral stuffs the takedown attempt from Morgan. Morgan gets slowly back to his feet.
Sobral throws a head kick but Morgan moves out of range.
Sobral thows a leg kick but Morgan checks it

and Morgan counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Sobral!
Morgan won't let Sobral get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Morgan looking to control and managing it successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sobral is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

Morgan has hold of Sobral's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Sobral manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Sobral is trying to stand up.
Morgan misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Sobral is trying to stand.
Morgan takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morgan working for a submission but Sobral is keeping him at bay.
Morgan working the ground and pound effectively.
Morgan won't let Sobral get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Morgan lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Sobral really wants to buck Morgan off and get back to his feet.
Morgan wants to control the pace but Sobral is squirming around nicely.
Sobral is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Morgan trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sobral is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sobral looks gassed!
Morgan wants to control the pace but Sobral is squirming around nicely.
Morgan won't let Sobral get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

Morgan wants to finish this one by submission but Sobral is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Morgan.
Morgan tries to control but Sobral wriggling away.
Sobral tries to buck Morgan off but he can't manage it.

Morgan is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Sobral has managed to escape the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sobral is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobral is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Morgan has taken his back!
The referee is taking a good look at Sobral as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Morgan!
Morgan softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Sobral has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Sobral covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Sobral controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Morgan is landing with strikes from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Morgan is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Sobral controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Sobral is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Morgan is landing with strikes from the back.

Morgan is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Sobral defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dexter Morgan dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sobral swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Morgan counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sobral won't be happy with that.

Morgan tries for a kimura but Sobral is defending well.
Sobral is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Morgan trying to control the action but Sobral is working from the bottom.
Sobral is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Sobral is breathing heavily.
An elbow from Morgan crashes against the mat.
Morgan fails to land a wild elbow strike.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Morgan fails with the takedown.
Thiago Sobral is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobral throws a leg kick that is checked

and Morgan counters with a shoot takedown. Sobral fights it but they end up in guard.
Sobral wants to stand and escape but Morgan is having none of it.
Morgan wants to pass the guard but Sobral is keeping the position.
Morgan wants to control from the top but Sobral keeps moving.
Sobral wants to stand and escape but Morgan is having none of it.
Morgan wants to pass the guard but Sobral is keeping the position.
Sobral is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan fails with the takedown.
Sobral misses with a double jab
and Morgan counters with a series of strikes. Sobral will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sobral tries to clinch but Morgan is having none of it.
Sobral scores with a jab to the head.
Morgan checks the leg kick.

Sobral clinches up with Morgan and pushes him back against the cage.
Morgan tries to pull guard but Sobral holds him up against the cage and eventually Morgan drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dexter Morgan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sobral trying to land knees to the body.
Sobral misses with an elbow over the top.
Sobral with a knee to the head.
Sobral misses with an elbow strike.
Sobral working Morgan over with knees to the body.
Morgan throws a punch but it's blocked by Sobral.

Morgan gets control of Sobral's arms and successfully pulls guard. Morgan will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sobral trying to stand up but can't free himself from Morgan's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobral is fighting to break Morgan's control of his arms but Morgan is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Sobral wants to stand but Morgan is controlling his posture from full guard.
Morgan wants to sweep but no luck.

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.
Sobral wants to stand but Morgan is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Morgan lands a jab-cross combination.
Morgan fails to land the takedown.
Morgan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Morgan shoots in but no luck this time.

Sobral darts in and clinches Morgan up against the cage.
Sobral lands an elbow inside.
Sobral lands an elbow inside.
Sobral creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Morgan's defenses.
Morgan drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dexter Morgan dominated that second round.
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!

Morgan slips under a jab from Sobral.
Morgan circles away from the clinch attempt

and Morgan counters by moving into the clinch.
Morgan tries for a takedown but Sobral manages to get underhooks.
Morgan avoids the elbow strike from Sobral, against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Sobral obliges.
Sobral lands a nice knee to the body.
Sobral missing with knees to the body.
Sobral missing with knees to the body.
Sobral misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Morgan.
Morgan tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sobral's elbow.
Sobral throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Sobral landing knees to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sobral tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Morgan avoids it.
Sobral crunches a lovely knee into Morgan's ribcage.
Sobral missing with knees to the body.
Sobral creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobral lands a knee to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Sobral just misses with a elbow thrown towards Morgan's brow.
Sobral lands an elbow that stopped Morgan in his tracks for a moment.
Sobral throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Morgan tries to throw a body punch but Sobral avoids it by throwing Morgan back against the cage.
Morgan fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sobral putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Morgan in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Sobral obliges.
Sobral 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.
Sobral using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Morgan managing to block the knees to the body from Sobral.
Sobral gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Morgan.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dexter Morgan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sobral tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Morgan drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sobral pulls his leg out and moves away.

Sobral closes the distance and clinches.
Morgan takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sobral with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sobral tries to land a knee to the head but Morgan blocks with his arms.
Sobral 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.
Sobral 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 lands an uppercut.
Sobral trying to land knees to the body.
Sobral working Morgan over with knees to the body.
Morgan drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sobral pulls his leg out and moves away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sobral trying to land knees to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Morgan.
Morgan is leaning against Sobral and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Morgan.
Sobral trying to land knees to the body.
Sobral tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Morgan tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Sobral just misses with a elbow thrown towards Morgan's brow.
Morgan fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sobral misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Morgan.
Sobral pushes off an throws an elbow but Morgan leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Sobral tries to land knees in the clinch but Morgan avoids the damage to the body.
Morgan tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Sobral.
Sobral 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 goes for a takedown attempt but Sobral pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sobral throws a head kick but Morgan moves out of range.
Dexter Morgan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Morgan moves into the clinch.
Sobral misses with an elbow over the top.
Sobral misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Morgan.
Sobral lands a good knee to the midsection. Morgan won't want to take too many of those.
Sobral 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.
Thiago Sobral has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Sobral 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 has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Sobral is trying to keep an underhook but Morgan manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Morgan seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Sobral is refusing to be controlled, as Morgan sits in half guard.
Morgan is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Sobral pushes Morgan off looking to stand but Morgan dives back in and keeps control.
Sobral punching from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago Sobral comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Morgan 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28

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