PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jonny Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leroy Morris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Stevens
vs
Morris

175 cm
26
138 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

170 cm
22
150 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Dangerous knees
Good chin

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jonny Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leroy Morris!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morris swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Morris shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Morris was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Morris goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Stevens is on top in guard.
Stevens looking to sit in guard and control but Morris gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Stevens keeping moving, preventing Morris from controlling successfully.
Morris might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Stevens kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morris advances to half guard.

Morris is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Stevens sees it coming and defends easily.

Morris is looking for a kimura here.
Morris thows a huge punch but Stevens dodges it nicely.

Morris wants to work for an arm triangle but Stevens is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Stevens manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Morris trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morris pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stevens is keeping the position for now.
Stevens being controlled here, momentarily.
Stevens has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Morris not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morris trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stevens shoots for a double leg takedown but Morris sprawls well. He's pushed Stevens's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Stevens clinches up with Morris and pushes him back against the cage.

Stevens lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Stevens stalling away here and it's allowed Morris to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Morris is looking to stand up but Stevens isn't so interested in that idea.
Stevens trying to control the position from guard on top but Morris is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens looking to sit in guard and control but Morris gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Morris throwing strikes but missing.
Stevens keeping full guard, as Morris tries to pass.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morris not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Morris wants to control from the top but Stevens keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stevens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Morris pinned against the cage. Morris gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
No luck for Stevens with that takedown attempt.
Stevens ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Morris moves away.
Morris throws a right and a left that Stevens avoids nicely.
Horrible takedown by Stevens or perhaps it was just good defense by Morris which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jonny Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morris moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stevens.
Morris throws a big shot that misses.
Stevens defending well as Morris loads up on a big left hand.
Stevens avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Morris misses with a double jab.
No luck for Stevens with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens shoots for a takedown but Morris saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Morris throws a series of punches but Stevens moves out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stevens.
Stevens shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stevens changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Morris tries to avoid it but Stevens manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Morris to the ground. Morris escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Stevens tries for a takedown but Morris sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Stevens fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Morris throws a lazy right hand but Stevens sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Stevens shoots for a takedown but Morris saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Morris drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Morris controls the position.
Morris wants to control but Stevens is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Morris is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Stevens has escaped the position, nice work there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Morris wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stevens keeps working.

Morris is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Stevens is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Stevens can't do much from the bottom here.
Stevens managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Morris.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens is looking to reverse the position.
Morris taking a break here but Stevens is having none of it and regains half guard.
Morris wants to advance to full mount but Stevens doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Stevens not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Morris stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stevens swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stevens trying to control the position.
Morris trying to control but Stevens is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Morris has gone for a leg lock! Stevens slips out almost immediately though and dives into Morris's guard.
Stevens has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Stevens trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stevens trying to control but Morris is working from the bottom.

Morris pushes Stevens off and scrambles back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stevens shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leroy Morris showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Morris throws a right and a left that Stevens avoids nicely.
Stevens looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Morris tries to bum rush Stevens with a series of wild strikes but Stevens uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Jonny Stevens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Morris shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Stevens is trying to get back to full guard.
Morris is looking to stall here but Stevens recovers full guard.
Stevens 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens keeping moving, preventing Morris from controlling successfully.
Morris is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Morris throws an elbow that misses. Stevens uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Morris's guard. Nice move by Stevens!
Morris working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stevens.

Morris has his feet on Stevens's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Morris throws a nice looking combination but Stevens bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Morris misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens shoots in but Morris avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Stevens gets a double leg takedown into Morris's guard.
Stevens sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Morris wants to stand up but Stevens is controlling him.
Morris is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stevens trying to control the position from guard on top but Morris is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Morris has Stevens pulled in close to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jonny Stevens just wasn't active enough.
Stevens fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jonny Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Morris drops Stevens with a beautiful combination! Stevens stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Morris is looking for the KO!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Morris misses with a right hand

and Stevens counters with a nice double leg into side control. Morris won't be happy with that.

Morris throws Stevens to one side and escapes!

Morris closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Stevens to the mat! Stevens manages to get full guard.
Morris wants to pass the guard but Stevens is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Morris drops back looking for a leg! Stevens is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Stevens manages to kick Morris off! Morris jumps back into Stevens's guard.

Morris drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Morris jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Jonny Stevens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stevens working a defensive guard here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Morris drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Stevens manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Morris has Stevens in his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leroy Morris comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Morris 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leroy Morris!
An out of breath Leroy Morris thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.