PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andi Sharp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zhenya Morozov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zhenya Morozov will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Sharp
vs
Morozov

183 cm
19
202 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

225 cm
26
204 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andi Sharp!
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, Zhenya Morozov!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sharp misses with a right hand
and Morozov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sharp throws a predictable looking body shot
and Morozov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Morozov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Sharp wants to control but Morozov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sharp might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Morozov wants to stand up but Sharp has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Morozov prevents Sharp from improving his position.
Sharp trying to hold on to Morozov's head to control him but Morozov postures up.
Morozov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Morozov tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Morozov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Morozov fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morozov blocks a leg kick.
Zhenya Morozov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Morozov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sharp sprawls well initially but Morozov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Morozov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sharp keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Morozov wants to stand but Sharp has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Sharp trying to control from the bottom.
Morozov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morozov frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sharp wants to control but Morozov is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Morozov is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Sharp has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Morozov thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Morozov lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Sharp tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Morozov controlling the pace for now.
Sharp is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Morozov is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Morozov moves away from the strike by Sharp.
Sharp misses with a kick to the body.
Sharp tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sharp swats away the attempt to clinch by Morozov.

Morozov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Sharp was covering up waiting for the punch and Morozov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Morozov looks gassed!
Morozov wants to stand but Sharp is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sharp looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sharp manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Morozov manages to get himself to full guard.
Sharp stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Morozov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sharp is working hard here to advance position.

Sharp is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Morozov is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Morozov has escaped and now he's on top!
Sharp not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sharp throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sharp lands with a slapping head kick.
Sharp tries to clinch up.
Sharp throws a body punch but Morozov moves out of range.

Morozov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Sharp quickly recovers to half guard.
Sharp has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Morozov is working away from the top position though.
Sharp tries to roll over but Morozov keeps him under control.
Sharp has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Morozov is working away from the top position though.
Sharp is refusing to be controlled, as Morozov sits in half guard.
Sharp tries to get to full guard but Morozov has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sharp wants to control but Morozov is keeping busy.

Morozov wants to work for an arm triangle but Sharp is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sharp tries to roll over but Morozov keeps him under control.
Sharp is trying to control but can't.
Sharp is trying to get back to full guard.
Sharp is pressing down on Morozov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sharp managing to control the position.
Morozov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Morozov stands up and waves to Sharp to follow him.
Morozov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sharp swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Andi Sharp is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Morozov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Morozov is thwarting Sharp's attempts to control the position.
Sharp is trying to get back to full guard.
Sharp gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharp pulls Morozov in close to prevent any damage.

Morozov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Morozov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Sharp keeping moving, preventing Morozov from controlling successfully.
Sharp trying to keep a closed guard but Morozov is proving a slippery customer.
Sharp looking to hit a scissor sweep but Morozov is one step ahead there.

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.
Sharp looking to control.
Morozov won't allow Sharp to sweep him here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sharp dodges the punch combination from Morozov.
Sharp throws the left hand but Morozov avoids the punch easily.
Sharp throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Sharp changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Morozov looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Morozov dodges the ground and pound from Sharp.
Sharp lands a few punches from side control.
Sharp trying to control the position but Morozov is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Zhenya Morozov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Sharp throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Sharp gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Morozov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Zhenya Morozov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sharp trying to control the position.
Sharp wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Sharp looking for a sweep. Not yet Sharp, not yet.
Morozov wants to control from the top but Sharp keeps moving.
Morozov wants to stand but Sharp is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morozov landing with the ground and pound.
Morozov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Morozov stopping the sweep attempt from Sharp.

Sharp had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Morozov defends it easily.
Morozov 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.
Morozov stopping the sweep attempt from Sharp.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sharp looking to control.
Sharp keeping moving, preventing Morozov from controlling successfully.
Sharp is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sharp trying to pass the guard but Morozov defending well.
Morozov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sharp's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sharp's back!
Sharp trying to control the position but Morozov manages to sink in the hooks.
Sharp manages to reverse the position and now he's in Morozov's guard. Nice work there by Sharp.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharp tries to free his leg and advance position but Morozov is retaining full guard.
Sharp with a nice head shot there.

Sharp drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Morozov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Sharp has Morozov in his guard.
Sharp will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Morozov throws a big right hand that misses.
Morozov passes Sharp's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Morozov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Morozov is thwarting Sharp's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sharp tries to roll over but Morozov keeps him under control.
Zhenya Morozov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sharp is refusing to be controlled, as Morozov sits in half guard.
Sharp is positioning himself well to prevent Morozov advancing to mount.
Sharp is trying to control but can't.
Andi Sharp has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

Sharp gets caught flat footed, as Morozov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Zhenya Morozov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Morozov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zhenya Morozov!