PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Arlindo Moralles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andy Roberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andy Roberts struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 172.0lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Andy Roberts looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Moralles
vs
Roberts

174 cm
21
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

174 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Arlindo Moralles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Andy Roberts!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Bruno Hogan and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moralles throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Roberts's waist but Roberts gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Moralles off to one side.

Moralles is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Roberts's half guard.

Moralles is working for a submission of some sort.
Roberts really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Moralles. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Moralles seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Roberts does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Moralles missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Moralles is trying to control. Roberts wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Moralles looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Moralles is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Moralles seems to be working for a kimura but Roberts defends the submission attempt.
Roberts is trying to stand.
Moralles is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Moralles is breathing heavily.

Moralles is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Roberts sees it coming and defends easily.

Moralles is trying to work for a kimura but Roberts is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Moralles missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Moralles is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Roberts is just riding it out for now. Moralles eventually gives up the hold.
Roberts desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Roberts is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts wants to control but Moralles is keeping busy.
Roberts gets back to full guard.
Moralles is in close to Roberts's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Roberts is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Roberts is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Moralles thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Moralles drops back looking for a leg! Roberts is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Roberts manages to kick Moralles off! Moralles jumps back into Roberts's guard.
Moralles prevents Roberts from getting back to his feet.

Moralles thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Moralles is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Moralles has gone for a leg lock! Roberts slips out almost immediately though and dives into Moralles's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arlindo Moralles dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Roberts looks to land a combination. Moralles sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Nice sprawl there from Roberts as Moralles shoots in.
Roberts fails with the takedown

and Moralles counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Roberts's guard now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Moralles trying to control but Roberts is working from the bottom.
Moralles tries to free his leg and advance position but Roberts is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Moralles thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Moralles postures up.
Moralles looking to pass the guard.
Moralles throwing strikes but missing.
Moralles stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Roberts swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Roberts wants to stand and escape but Moralles is having none of it.

That's two 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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Moralles shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Roberts doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Moralles counters with a takedown into side control.

Moralles thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Moralles swings around for an armbar but Roberts sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Moralles's guard.
Roberts trying to control but Moralles is working from the bottom.

Moralles looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Roberts trying to control the position from guard on top but Moralles is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Moralles manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Moralles breaks from Roberts's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Moralles with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Moralles throwing strikes here but Roberts is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Moralles jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Roberts manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Roberts is trying to get back to half guard.
Moralles advances to mount.

Roberts defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Moralles.
Moralles lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arlindo Moralles dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Moralles shoots and misses

and Roberts counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Moralles's guard now.
Roberts trying to control but Moralles is working from the bottom.

Moralles had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Roberts defends it easily.

Moralles looking for a guillotine here but Roberts defends easily.
Roberts is stalling in the full guard.
Arlindo Moralles overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Moralles had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Roberts defends it easily.
Roberts trying to control but Moralles is working from the bottom.
Roberts wants to stand but Moralles is controlling his posture from full guard.

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.

Moralles is looking for a triangle but Roberts pushes his legs off easily.

Moralles is looking for a triangle but Roberts pushes his legs off easily.
Roberts wants to control from the top but Moralles keeps moving.

Moralles looking for a guillotine here but Roberts defends easily.
Roberts looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts wants to control from the top but Moralles keeps moving.

Moralles is looking for a triangle but Roberts pushes his legs off easily.

Moralles has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Roberts can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Moralles keeping moving, preventing Roberts from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts throws a big right hand that misses.

Moralles is looking for a triangle but Roberts pushes his legs off easily.
Roberts trying to control the position from guard on top but Moralles is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Moralles working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Roberts doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Roberts manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Moralles looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arlindo Moralles showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Moralles, 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arlindo Moralles!