PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kel Varnsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthiew Morales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Varnsen
vs
Morales

167 cm
23
276 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
21
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kel Varnsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matthiew Morales!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Skip Squint and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Varnsen as Morales shoots in.
Varnsen shoots in for a takedown but Morales shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Varnsen gets the takedown into side control.
Varnsen prevents Morales from escaping the position.
Morales tries to bench press Varnsen off him but Varnsen keeps the position.
Morales gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morales is trying desperately to improve position.
BOOM! Varnsen connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Varnsen takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varnsen scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Morales?
Varnsen really is a fat lump.
Varnsen scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Varnsen lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Morales is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Varnsen avoids the attempt from Morales to control.
Varnsen lands a big shot there that rocks Morales but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Varnsen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Varnsen looking to control but Morales is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Varnsen 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.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Varnsen cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Varnsen wants to control the pace but Morales is squirming around nicely.
Varnsen lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Varnsen controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varnsen is trying to control here but Morales has managed to regain half guard.
Morales wants to improve his position but Varnsen is controlling well.
Varnsen moves into full mount! Morales won't be happy about that!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Varnsen landing strikes, looking to finish!
Varnsen tries to control but Morales wriggling away.
Varnsen fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Varnsen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Morales is looking to escape.
Varnsen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Varnsen with shots to the head and body - Morales looks very uncomfortable down there.
Morales is working to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Varnsen.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Varnsen punishing his opponent with strikes.
Varnsen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Morales is squirming around, avoiding Varnsen's attempts to control the action.
Morales looks gassed!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Varnsen raining down hammerfists from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kel Varnsen dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Varnsen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Varnsen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Morales has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Varnsen has managed to get both his arms back between Morales's legs - danger averted.
Varnsen wants to pass the guard but Morales is keeping the position.
Varnsen throws a big elbow that misses.
Varnsen sitting in guard here, content to control.
Varnsen chips away with some ground and pound.
Morales working a defensive guard here.
Morales keeping moving, preventing Varnsen from controlling successfully.
Kel Varnsen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varnsen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Varnsen tries to free his leg and advance position but Morales is retaining full guard.
Varnsen trying to control but Morales is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Morales shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Morales was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Varnsen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Varnsen is working hard here to advance position.
Varnsen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Morales is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Varnsen is surviving well by controlling Morales's body position as best he can.
Varnsen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varnsen wants to control but Morales is having none of it.
Varnsen slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Varnsen moves into full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Varnsen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varnsen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Well, if Varnsen 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.
Morales is refusing to be controlled, as Varnsen sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morales really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Varnsen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Morales wants to get back to full guard.
Varnsen slows the pace down in half guard.
Varnsen's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Kel Varnsen has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Morales has managed to clinch.

Morales has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Varnsen regains guard immediately.
Morales is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Varnsen manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
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!
Varnsen looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kel Varnsen dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Varnsen shoots for a double leg takedown but Morales sprawls well. He's pushed Varnsen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Morales throws a low kick, looking for Varnsen's leg but Varnsen calmly moves out of range.

Morales fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Varnsen sprawls well initially but Morales persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Varnsen won't allow Morales to pass to mount.
Varnsen keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
The fighters are battling for position here. Varnsen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Varnsen pulls Morales in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morales won't allow Varnsen to sweep him here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Varnsen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Morales manages to get himself to full guard.
Varnsen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Morales swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Varnsen trying to control the position from guard on top but Morales is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morales trying to keep a closed guard but Varnsen is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice takedown defense from Morales. No joy for Varnsen on that attempt.
Varnsen fails with a takedown attempt.
Kel Varnsen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kel Varnsen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varnsen shoots in looking for a takedown but Morales manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Varnsen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Varnsen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Morales tries to free his leg and advance position but Varnsen is retaining full guard.
Morales takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Varnsen pulls Morales in close to prevent any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Varnsen is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varnsen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Morales is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Varnsen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Morales has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Varnsen has managed to get both his arms back between Morales's legs - danger averted.
Varnsen stays in close to Morales's body and controls the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Varnsen has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kel Varnsen.

Varnsen shoots in and bounces Morales off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Morales throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Varnsen wants to control from the top but Morales keeps moving.
Morales being controlled here, momentarily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kel Varnsen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Varnsen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight for Kel Varnsen!
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight for Kel Varnsen!
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight for Kel Varnsen!

Kel Varnsen wins by unanimous decision!