PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Pinto Pinto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pinto comes to the cage accompanied by Bibiano Fernandes Highlights [HELLO JAPAN] . James Morgan will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Pinto Pinto
vs
Morgan

150 cm
24
200 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

180 cm
23
200 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Antonio Pinto Pinto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Morgan!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Igor Prikhodko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morgan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pinto.
Pinto looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Morgan is fending him off so far but Pinto persists. Nope, Morgan circles away and we're back to standing.

Pinto manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Morgan on his heels. He'll look to pass Morgan's guard now, I'm sure.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pinto accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pinto slips nicely into half guard.
Morgan has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pinto is working away from the top position though.
Pinto works his foot free and advances to mount.
Pinto 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.

Pinto looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Pinto looking to ground and pound but Morgan is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pinto can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Morgan is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morgan tries to hold on but Pinto pushes him away.
Pinto can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Morgan is looking to escape.
Morgan is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Morgan is bucking up trying to escape but Pinto cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pinto can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Morgan is looking to escape.

Pinto swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Morgan is now in Pinto's guard. A big mistake from Pinto there, giving up the dominant position!
Morgan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Morgan stopping the sweep attempt from Pinto.
Pinto is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan wants to control from the top but Pinto keeps moving.
Morgan preventing the sweep.
Pinto manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Pinto trying to control but Morgan is having none of it.
Pinto throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pinto tries to control but Morgan wriggling away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Morgan can do anything to dispel that myth.

Pinto jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Morgan is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Morgan and Pinto has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Pinto is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Morgan knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Pinto tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Pinto has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Morgan leaves Pinto with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A slow jab from Morgan misses its intended target.
Morgan wants to clinch up but Pinto keeps it at a distance.

Pinto bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Pinto has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Morgan!

Pinto working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan is squirming around, avoiding Pinto's attempts to control the action.
Antonio Pinto Pinto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Pinto is working for a guillotine from mount but Morgan frees his head quite easily.

Pinto goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Morgan is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan preventing the sweep.
Pinto keeping moving, preventing Morgan from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morgan won't allow Pinto to sweep him here.
Morgan is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Pinto wants to sweep here but Morgan controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by James Morgan.
Pinto shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Morgan as he avoids it easily.
Pinto shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Pinto tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Morgan swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Pinto Pinto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pinto shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Morgan but Morgan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Pinto tries to score a power double leg takedown but Morgan sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pinto somewhat.
Nice sprawl there from Morgan as Pinto shoots in.
James Morgan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Morgan connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Pinto closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Pinto lands in his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pinto is pushing down on Morgan's leg trying to pass to half guard. Morgan is fighting to maintain full guard but Pinto has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pinto looking for a submission but Morgan manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Pinto looking to pass the guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Morgan wants to get back to his feet but Pinto passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Pinto Pinto dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Pinto scores a takedown into full mount!
Pinto trying to control but Morgan is having none of it.

Pinto wants to finish this one by submission but Morgan is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Pinto.
Morgan wants to control but Pinto is having none of it.
Pinto is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Morgan can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pinto wants to control the pace but Morgan is squirming around nicely.

Pinto working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Pinto looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Pinto wants to finish this one by submission but Morgan is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Pinto.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pinto lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Pinto looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Pinto wants to finish this one by submission but Morgan is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Pinto.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pinto thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Morgan keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pinto trying to control but Morgan is having none of it.
Morgan blocking the ground and pound.
Pinto raining down shots from the mount!
Morgan is squirming around, avoiding Pinto's attempts to control the action.
Pinto throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Antonio Pinto Pinto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pinto working for a guillotine from mount but Morgan is in no mood to give up.

Pinto has hold of Morgan's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Morgan manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Pinto looking to control but Morgan is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
James Morgan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Morgan is wriggling around trying to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonio Pinto Pinto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pinto, 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonio Pinto Pinto!
Antonio Pinto Pinto thanked the fans post fight for their support.