PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dexter Morleaux (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Russell Joyner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Morleaux kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Massive Attack feat. Mos Def - I Against I. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Morleaux
vs
Joyner

193 cm
26
205 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

179 cm
24
205 lbs
3 - 2 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dexter Morleaux!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Russell Joyner!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Morleaux misses.
Morleaux throws an off balance right hand
and Joyner counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Joyner takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Joyner slips under a jab from Morleaux.
Morleaux rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Joyner counters with a left hand that sends Morleaux to the canvas!

Morleaux is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Joyner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Joyner wants to control from the top but Morleaux keeps moving.
Joyner is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Joyner postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Morleaux is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Morleaux on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Morleaux tries to get out of the position.
Joyner postures up in Morleaux's guard and throws a big left but Morleaux blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joyner in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Joyner throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Joyner wants to control from the top but Morleaux keeps moving.
Morleaux will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Joyner thows a big elbow that misses.
Joyner looking to sit in guard and control but Morleaux gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Morleaux postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Joyner preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Joyner looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Joyner escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Morleaux gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

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.
Joyner working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Morleaux.
Joyner keeping moving, preventing Morleaux from controlling successfully.
Joyner looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Joyner keeping moving, preventing Morleaux from controlling successfully.
Morleaux with a flurry of punches that miss.
Joyner looking to hit a scissor sweep but Morleaux is one step ahead there.
Morleaux postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Morleaux wants to control from the top but Joyner keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morleaux won't allow Joyner to sweep him here.
Morleaux wants to stand but Joyner is controlling his posture from full guard.
Morleaux stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Joyner swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Morleaux postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Morleaux has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Joyner looking for a guillotine here but Morleaux defends easily.
Joyner really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Morleaux. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Joyner looking for a sweep. Not yet Joyner, not yet.
Joyner being controlled here, momentarily.
Joyner keeping moving, preventing Morleaux from controlling successfully.

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.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Dexter Morleaux just wasn't active enough.
Morleaux ducks under a wild hook from Joyner.
Joyner throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Morleaux counters with a straight right hand.
Morleaux misses with a straight left.
Joyner's corner calls for a 1-2. Joyner obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morleaux clobbers Joyner with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Dexter Morleaux seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Joyner misses with a few strikes there.
Morleaux misses with a left hand
and Joyner counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russell Joyner dominated that round.
That's time! Morleaux's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Morleaux shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Joyner counter with a right hand.
Morleaux throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Morleaux. Joyner does a little dance to reset his feet.
Joyner rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Morleaux moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Morleaux throws a combination that misses

and Joyner counters with a nice double leg into side control. Morleaux won't be happy with that.
Joyner creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Morleaux sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morleaux is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Morleaux is not content to let Joyner control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joyner scoring with punches and elbows.
Joyner sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Morleaux is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Joyner working the strikes but Morleaux uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Morleaux blocking the ground and pound attempt from Joyner.
Joyner is looking to stall here but Morleaux recovers full guard.
Joyner seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joyner throws and elbow that misses. Morleaux uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Joyner's guard. Nice move by Morleaux!
Morleaux throws a big right hand that misses.
Morleaux slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Joyner is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Morleaux's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Morleaux trying to control from half guard but Joyner is working away.
Joyner is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morleaux scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Joyner is looking to control Morleaux's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Joyner avoid being mounted?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morleaux lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Morleaux not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Morleaux wants to stand up but Joyner is controlling the position.
Morleaux prevents Joyner from improving his position.
Still in half guard, Morleaux seems content to control.
Joyner wants to improve his position but Morleaux is controlling well.
Joyner trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joyner is pressing down on Morleaux's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Morleaux's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Morleaux stands and steps away. Joyner gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Joyner throws a left and a right that both miss
and Morleaux counters with a straight right hand.
Joyner throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Morleaux throws a sloppy body shot

and Joyner counters with a shoot takedown. Morleaux fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Morleaux wants to stand but Joyner is controlling the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Morleaux pushes Joyner off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russell Joyner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Joyner connects with a jab.
Joyner shoots for a takedown but Morleaux saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Morleaux misses with a hook. Joyner ducked under it nicely.
Morleaux lunges at Joyner with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Joyner's hand.
Joyner throws an off balance right hand

and Morleaux counters by clinching up.

Morleaux gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Joyner is refusing to be controlled, as Morleaux sits in half guard.
Joyner tries to get to full guard but Morleaux has control of the leg.
Morleaux seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Joyner does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morleaux working over Joyner with some ground and pound. Joyner looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Joyner is looking for a sweep. Morleaux is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Morleaux is trying to control. Joyner wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Morleaux takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Morleaux prevents Joyner from improving his position.
Joyner gets back to full guard.
Joyner throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Joyner is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Morleaux defends well.
Morleaux slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joyner tries to buck Morleaux off but Morleaux is having none of it.
Morleaux working the head and body with strikes.
Joyner taking a bit of punishment here - Morleaux scoring with strikes.
Morleaux is looking to take a break and control but Joyner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Joyner tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Morleaux wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Morleaux working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Morleaux has control of an arm but Joyner manages to advance to Morleaux's back!
Morleaux takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Joyner is striking from the back but Morleaux escapes and manages to recover to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morleaux is trying to stand back up but Joyner is controlling him
Russell Joyner has got the better of the ground game so far.
Joyner is just content to waste time from the top position. Morleaux takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Joyner won't allow Morleaux to get back to his feet.
Russell Joyner is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Joyner wants to control from the top but Morleaux keeps moving.
Joyner missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Joyner stops Morleaux from standing up.
Joyner is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Let's hope that Joyner has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Russell Joyner wasn't active enough on the ground.
Joyner swings for the body but Morleaux moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dexter Morleaux showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Joyner has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Russell Joyner!