PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alexey Tarasov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Magonn Morguss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Magonn Morguss has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Alexey Tarasov's chin.

Tarasov
vs
Morguss

188 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
172 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexey Tarasov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Magonn Morguss!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Dmitry Maklakov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morguss circles away from the clinch attempt.
A punch combination from Tarasov misses.

Tarasov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Morguss to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Tarasov 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.
Tarasov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tarasov has Morguss pulled in close to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Tarasov looking to control.

Morguss drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Morguss jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Morguss is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Morguss trying to control the position from guard on top but Tarasov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tarasov wants to hit a switch here but Morguss passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Tarasov there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Tarasov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tarasov tries to hold on but Morguss pushes him away.
Morguss controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morguss looking to control but Tarasov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Tarasov tries to hold on but Morguss pushes him away.
Morguss wants to control the pace but Tarasov is squirming around nicely.
Tarasov tries to hold on but Morguss pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Morguss trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morguss looks gassed!
Tarasov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Morguss avoids the attempt from Tarasov to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tarasov clinches with his opponent.

Tarasov jumps into guard, dragging Morguss to the mat.
Tarasov keeping moving, preventing Morguss from controlling successfully.

Morguss drops back looking for a leg! Tarasov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Tarasov manages to kick Morguss off! Morguss jumps back into Tarasov's guard.
Tarasov controlling Morguss's posture.
Morguss is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morguss trying to control the position from guard on top but Tarasov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tarasov is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Morguss tries for a takedown but Tarasov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Tarasov clinches up with Morguss and pushes him back against the cage.

Tarasov gets control of Morguss's arms and successfully pulls guard. Tarasov will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Tarasov seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Morguss won't allow Tarasov to get back to his feet.
Morguss won't allow Tarasov to sweep him here.
Morguss's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tarasov is looking to clinch but Morguss is avoiding it.
Morguss circles away from the clinch attempt.
Morguss circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tarasov throws a head kick but Morguss moves out of range.
Tarasov wants to clinch up but Morguss keeps it at a distance.
Tarasov tries a head kick but it misses.
Alexey Tarasov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tarasov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Morguss avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tarasov doesn't manage to clinch there - Morguss circles away.
Tarasov fails with an attempt to clinch.

Morguss shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Tarasov's guard.
Morguss postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four 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.
Tarasov looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Morguss puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Tarasov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Morguss.
Tarasov tries to kick Morguss off but Morguss keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Morguss is looking to take a break and control but Tarasov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Well, if Morguss is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tarasov is pressing down on Morguss's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Alexey Tarasov will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Tarasov tries a head kick but it misses.
Morguss throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tarasov's waist but Tarasov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Morguss off to one side.
Tarasov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Morguss.
Morguss avoids the head kick by Tarasov.
Tarasov tries to clinch but Morguss is having none of it.
No joy there for Tarasov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tarasov doesn't manage to clinch there - Morguss circles away.

Tarasov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Good body shot from Tarasov.

Tarasov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tarasov closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Tarasov lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Morguss at a distance.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tarasov.
Tarasov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Morguss.
Morguss takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarasov throws a nice looking combination but Morguss bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Morguss takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tarasov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tarasov scores with a leg kick.
Morguss swats away the attempt to clinch by Tarasov.
A head kick misses from Tarasov.
Morguss keeps the fight on the outside.
A right-left combo lands from Tarasov.
Tarasov jabs at Morguss's body.
Tarasov throws a head kick but Morguss moves out of range.
Nice body punch from Tarasov.
Tarasov doesn't manage to clinch there - Morguss circles away.
Tarasov wants to clinch.
Tarasov misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tarasov throws a sloppy head kick and Morguss moves out of range easily.
Morguss avoids the head kick by Tarasov.
Tarasov tries to clinch but Morguss is having none of it.
Tarasov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Morguss moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tarasov moves in looking to clinch but Morguss pushes him off.

Tarasov drives through and clinches with Morguss against the cage.
Tarasov throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Tarasov fails to pull guard.

Tarasov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tarasov lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Tarasov.
Tarasov throws the kick towards the body but Morguss avoids it.
Tarasov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Tarasov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Morguss avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tarasov lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarasov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tarasov is looking to clinch.
A combination from Tarasov does no damage.
Tarasov throws a nice head kick!
Tarasov plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Tarasov throws a series of strikes that have Morguss backpedaling.
Morguss swats away the attempt to clinch by Tarasov.
Morguss takes a kick to the side of the head.
Tarasov lands a jab to the head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tarasov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Morguss avoids the head kick by Tarasov.
Tarasov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tarasov throws a one two combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morguss steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Tarasov. That one must have hurt.
Alexey Tarasov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tarasov wants to clinch up but Morguss keeps it at a distance.
Tarasov throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A combination from Tarasov does no damage.
Tarasov scores with a jab to the jaw.
Morguss fails with a takedown attempt.
Alexey Tarasov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Magonn Morguss.
Tarasov throws a nice looking combination but Morguss bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tarasov misses with a head kick.
Tarasov tries to clinch up.
Tarasov tries to clinch up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tarasov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tarasov connects with a high kick.
A head kick misses from Tarasov.
Morguss blocks a head kick by Tarasov.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexey Tarasov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tarasov 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Alexey Tarasov!