PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ash Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Moralez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Simon Moralez is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Junior
vs
Moralez

180 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
24
146 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ash Junior!
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, Simon Moralez!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Valeri Chadov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moralez fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Junior as Moralez shoots in.
Moralez has a takedown stuffed.
Ash Junior has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Simon Moralez.
Moralez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Moralez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Junior tries to avoid it but Moralez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Junior to the ground. Junior escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Junior clinches up with Moralez and pushes him back against the cage.
Moralez keeps control of Junior as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Moralez tries to land a knee to the head but Junior blocks with his arms.
Junior tries to pull guard but Moralez holds him up against the cage and eventually Junior drops back down to his feet.
Junior taking a breather.
Junior has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Junior wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Junior lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Moralez backwards.
Moralez looks gassed!
Junior trying to stall but Moralez improves his position.
Moralez prevents Junior from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Moralez smiles and moves away.
Moralez shoots for a takedown but Junior saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Junior stuffs the takedown attempt from Moralez. Moralez gets slowly back to his feet.
Junior will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Moralez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Junior sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Moralez somewhat.
Junior scores with a crisp jab that stopped Moralez in his tracks.
Junior tries to clinch but Moralez moves out of range.
Junior throws a series of punches but Moralez avoids them all with ease.
Junior really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Moralez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Junior avoids it really well and circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Moralez is defended easily by Junior.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Moralez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jab, jab by Junior - just one landing.
Moralez shoots in but Junior avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Junior with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Junior clinches with his opponent.
Moralez looking to throw knees to the head but Junior is blocking nicely.
Junior tries to break the clinch but Moralez is controlling the position.
Moralez pushes off an throws an elbow but Junior leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Junior scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Junior.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Junior.
Junior lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Moralez backwards.
Junior lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Moralez backwards.
A shot in the inside from Junior.
Junior fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Junior holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Junior lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Junior manages to break the clinch.
Junior looks to land a combination. Moralez sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Moralez dives in and grabs Junior's left leg, looking for a takedown. Junior pushes down on Moralez's head and hops out.
Junior throws a right hand that Moralez ducks under and follows up with a left that Moralez also avoids with ease.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Moralez is defended easily by Junior.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moralez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Junior avoids it really well and circles away.
A lazy left from Junior finds it's target.
Junior throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Moralez.
Moralez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Moralez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Junior's waist but Junior gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Moralez off to one side.

Moralez closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Junior to the mat! Junior manages to get full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Moralez trying to control but Junior is working from the bottom.
Moralez is stalling in the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ash Junior dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Moralez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Junior circles away.
Moralez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Junior misses with a series of wild punches.
Junior throws a right and a left that both miss.

Junior moves into the clinch.
Junior is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Junior working aggressively here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Junior breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Moralez shoots in and drives through. Junior sprawls well.
Ash Junior has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Simon Moralez.
Junior connects with a body shot.
No luck for Moralez with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moralez closes the distance and clinches up with Junior, looking for a takedown. Moralez pushes Junior against the cage but Junior circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Moralez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Junior sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Junior clinches up with Moralez and pushes him back against the cage.
Moralez misses with a knee strike.
Junior working aggressively here.
Junior can't break the clinch.
Junior lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Moralez backwards.
Moralez tries to land a knee to the head but Junior blocks with his arms.
Moralez comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Moralez tries to land a knee to the head but Junior blocks with his arms.
Moralez prevents a body shot from Junior.
Moralez creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Junior's defenses.
Moralez lands an elbow that stopped Junior in his tracks for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Junior can't break the clinch.
Moralez tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
With the fighters up against the cage, Moralez throws an elbow but misses.
Moralez misses with a knee to the head.
Junior stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Junior breaks from the clinch.
Moralez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Moralez fails with a takedown attempt.
Moralez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Junior as he avoids it easily.
Simon Moralez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Junior keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Moralez has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moralez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Moralez.
Moralez fails with the takedown.
Nice shot lands for Junior.
Junior displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Moralez.
Moralez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Junior tries to avoid it but Moralez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Junior to the ground. Junior escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Moralez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Moralez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Junior pinned against the cage. Junior gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Junior throws a one two combo.
Ash Junior is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moralez on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Moralez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Junior defends it nicely.
Junior connects with a looping right hand.
Junior swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Moralez shoots in for a takedown but Junior shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ash Junior is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Junior fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Junior misses with a double jab.
Moralez shoots in and drives through. Junior sprawls well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Moralez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Moralez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Moralez has a takedown stuffed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ash Junior dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Moralez shoots for a double leg takedown but Junior sprawls well. He's pushed Moralez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Junior tries to clinch but Moralez moves out of range.
Junior keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Junior fails to land with a series of punches.
Junior misses with a wild combination.
Junior stuffs the takedown attempt from Moralez. Moralez gets slowly back to his feet.
Ash Junior has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Simon Moralez.
Junior keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Junior connects with a right hand. Moralez shakes it off.
Moralez keeps the fight on the outside.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Moralez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moralez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Moralez walks into a jab.
Moralez on the wrong end of a nice hook.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Moralez.
Moralez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Junior swivels and escapes.
Junior catches Moralez with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Moralez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Junior sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Moralez somewhat.
Junior stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Junior wants it to stay on the feet.
Junior is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Junior is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Junior gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Moralez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Junior blocks it with crossed arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Junior scores with a nice short uppercut.
Moralez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Moralez lands a knee to the head.
Junior looking to slow down the pace here.
Moralez blocks an uppercut.
Junior pushes Moralez back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Moralez comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Junior digs a right hand underneath Moralez's ribcage. Moralez let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Junior is trying to break the clinch but Moralez is controlling him.
Moralez throws a knee to the head but misses.
Moralez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Moralez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Moralez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior wants to break the clinch but can't.
Junior looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Junior fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Junior stalling in the clinch.
Junior tries to pull guard but Moralez won't allow it.
Junior lands a right hand.
Junior dodges an elbow strike from Moralez.
Junior tries to break the clinch but Moralez is controlling the position.
Moralez tries a knee to the head but Junior blocks it.
Moralez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Junior takes a knee right on the jaw!
Junior throws a punch but it's blocked by Moralez.
Junior wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A short body shot lands from Junior as the two fighters clinch.

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.
Junior has a couple of punches blocked by Moralez.
Moralez tries to land a knee to the head but Junior blocks with his arms.
A frustrated look appears on Junior's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A body shot lands from Junior.
A short right from Junior on the inside.
Junior wants to get back to striking at distance but Moralez won't allow it.
A frustrated look appears on Junior's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Simon Moralez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Moralez keeps control of Junior as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Junior lands with a left to the head.
Junior is trying to force a seperation but Moralez has the dominant position.
Junior tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Junior is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Moralez is keeping busy.
Junior jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Moralez walks away with a smile on his face. Junior gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ash Junior showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Junior, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ash Junior!