PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lukottaja Bart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leroy Morris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leroy Morris has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bart
vs
Morris

180 cm
20
142 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

170 cm
23
150 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lukottaja Bart!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leroy Morris!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bart takes a swing at Morris's ribcage but misses.

Morris closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Morris lands in his opponent's guard.
Bart can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Morris controls the pace.
Bart keeping moving, preventing Morris from controlling successfully.
Bart working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Morris.
Morris won't allow Bart to sweep him here.
Morris trying to control but Bart is working from the bottom.
Morris with a flurry of punches that miss.
Morris throwing strikes but missing.

Bart throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Morris trying to control the position from guard on top but Bart is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morris won't allow Bart to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morris trying to control but Bart is working from the bottom.

Morris drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Morris jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Bart looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Morris trying to control the position from guard on top but Bart is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morris pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bart is keeping the position for now.
Morris wants to control from the top but Bart keeps moving.

Bart is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Morris advances position into side control!
Bart really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bart dodges the ground and pound from Morris.

Morris tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Bart sneaks back into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morris seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Morris looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Morris prevents Bart from improving his position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Morris trying to control from half guard but Bart is working away.

Morris wants to work for an arm triangle but Bart is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Bart is looking to improve his position.
Morris wants to take a breather but Bart is having none of it.
Bart tries to roll over but Morris keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bart keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Bart looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bart gets back to full guard.
Bart keeping moving, preventing Morris from controlling successfully.
Morris stopping the sweep attempt from Bart.
Morris keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bart's head.

Morris decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Morris misses with a takedown attempt - Bart sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Morris uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bart.

Morris shoots in and gets a takedown into Bart's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morris trying to control but Bart is working from the bottom.
Morris has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Morris pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bart is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morris trying to control the position from guard on top but Bart is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Morris throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bart works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Bart is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Morris defends well.
Morris keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bart's head.
Morris tries to free his leg and advance position but Bart is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morris wants to control from the top but Bart keeps moving.

Morris thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Morris postures up and lands a big shot to Bart's brow.
Morris trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
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!

Bart fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bart lands a nice shot that snaps Morris's head back.
Morris ducks under a wild hook from Bart.

Bart gets caught flat footed, as Morris shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Leroy Morris has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bart 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.
Bart bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Morris's guard.
Bart prevents Morris from getting back to his feet.
Bart 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 gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Morris fails with the takedown.
Bart fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bart lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Morris at a distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Morris shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Bart actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bart has a hand on Morris's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Morris takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Bart is in a horrible position here. Morris smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Morris prevents Bart from getting the reversal.
Morris controlling from the full mount.
Bart is looking to improve his position but Morris isn't that keen on the idea.

Morris is working for a guillotine from mount but Bart frees his head quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bart is wriggling around trying to escape.
Bart takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Morris gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Morris drives through with a takedown into Bart's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Bart keeping moving, preventing Morris from controlling successfully.

Bart throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bart controls Morris momentarily but Morris frees himself.
Morris preventing the sweep.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bart is on top in guard.

Morris is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morris has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bart avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Bart doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bart prevents a takedown attempt there.
Lukottaja Bart has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leroy Morris.

Bart drags the fight down to the ground.
Morris trying to control but Bart is working from the bottom.
Bart tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Morris looking to pass the guard.
Bart looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Morris puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Bart is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Morris's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Morris's back!
Morris trying to control but not successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bart is looking for the choke from the back position but Morris is controlling his hands well.

Morris is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Bart gets his way!

Morris preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Bart.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Morris is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bart wants to clinch.
Morris shoots in and drives through. Bart sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Leroy Morris will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Bart misses with a body shot.
Morris dodges the punch combination from Bart.
Bart throws a big shot that misses.
Morris slips a jab from Bart.

Morris bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Morris working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Morris wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bart, who protects the arm well.
Morris wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bart keeps working.

Morris tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Morris has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Bart is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

Morris is trying to get an arm triangle but Bart is defending well.

Morris thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Bart tries to improve position but can't.

Morris decides to stand back up.
Nice takedown defense from Bart. No joy for Morris on that attempt.

Morris gets a takedown into half guard.

Morris is looking for a kimura here.
Morris takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bart tries to get to full guard but Morris has control of the leg.

Morris is looking for a kimura but Bart is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Morris to get the leverage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bart is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Bart manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Morris 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.

Morris 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.
Bart manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Morris manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morris keeping moving, preventing Bart from controlling successfully.

Bart has gone for a leg lock! Morris slips out almost immediately though and dives into Bart's guard.

Bart is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Morris is aware though and is defending well.
Morris postures up in Bart's guard and throws a big left but Bart blocks it.
Morris postures up.
Morris trying to control the position from guard on top but Bart is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morris working some strikes from top position.
Lukottaja Bart has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bart looking for a sweep. Not yet Bart, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bart can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Morris controls the pace.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Bart keeping moving, preventing Morris from controlling successfully.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Leroy Morris hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Morris feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Morris passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Morris scores with a couple of short elbows.
Bart regains half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Morris is keen to just control but Bart is a slippery customer.
Morris missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Morris tries to pass to full mount but Bart defends it.
Leroy Morris is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Bart tries to get to full guard but Morris has control of the leg.

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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leroy Morris!
Leroy Morris managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Grace Grappling Gear, into his post fight interview.