PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Virgil Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artem Bessmertin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Morgan kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Volbeat - Caroline #1. Virgil Morgan has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Morgan
vs
Bessmertin

169 cm
21
183 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

189 cm
21
183 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Fenrir Fightgear - Steel Penn

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Virgil Morgan!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Artem Bessmertin!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morgan loads up on a big right hand but Bessmertin slips the punch.
Morgan walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A good leg kick by Morgan.
Morgan takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Morgan misses with a body shot.
Bessmertin doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Morgan counters with an inside leg kick.
Morgan gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Morgan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Morgan throws a front kick aimed at Bessmertin's knee but Bessmertin avoids it well.
Morgan throws a lazy right hand but Bessmertin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Morgan takes a swing at Bessmertin's ribcage but misses.
Bessmertin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Morgan does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Bessmertin slips a straight right by Morgan.

Bessmertin is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Morgan's half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bessmertin.
Morgan is trying to get back to full guard.
Bessmertin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Morgan's head.
Morgan works his way to full guard. Good work.

Morgan throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Bessmertin escapes and throws Morgan's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Bessmertin wants to control for a moment but Morgan uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Morgan gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan controls Bessmertin momentarily but Bessmertin frees himself.

Morgan looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Bessmertin passes into half guard.
Morgan has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bessmertin is working away from the top position though.

Morgan looking for submissions off his back.
Bessmertin is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Morgan!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bessmertin scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Morgan?
Morgan is wriggling around trying to escape.
Morgan is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Bessmertin lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Morgan hang on?
Morgan working to try and regain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bessmertin landing shots from mount.
Morgan regains half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Morgan looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Morgan trying to control but Bessmertin postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bessmertin throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Morgan to regain full guard.
Bessmertin wants to pass the guard but Morgan is keeping the position.

Morgan throws his legs up looking for a submission but Bessmertin uses it to pass to side control.
Bessmertin working the ground and pound but Morgan is defending the strikes.
Morgan manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Morgan is trying to control but can't.
Bessmertin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bessmertin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artem Bessmertin dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Morgan throws a lazy right hand but Bessmertin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bessmertin takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A cross from Morgan lands.
Morgan tries to land a front kick but Bessmertin steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Morgan tries a low kick but Bessmertin avoids it.
Morgan is looking to land body kicks.
Morgan with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Bessmertin to score with a decent uppercut.
Bessmertin pivots, looking for a leg kick but Morgan is out of range and Bessmertin settles back down.
Bessmertin staying out of range there.
Bessmertin misses with an uppercut.
Morgan lands a jab to Bessmertin's midsection.
A big left from Morgan misses.
Morgan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A shot to the liver by Morgan. Beautiful body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bessmertin stuns Morgan with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Some bone on bone action there as Bessmertin checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Nice defenses there by Bessmertin.
Bessmertin throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Morgan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Morgan stuns Bessmertin with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Bessmertin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Morgan.
A nice inside leg kick there by Morgan. That's going to slow Bessmertin down.
Morgan misses with a kick to the body.
Morgan throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Morgan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bessmertin.
Bessmertin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bessmertin lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Bessmertin connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Morgan walks into a straight right hand from Bessmertin.
Bessmertin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Morgan tries to avoid it but Bessmertin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Morgan to the ground. Morgan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Morgan thows a body shot but no joy.
Morgan shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Bessmertin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Morgan is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Bessmertin's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Bessmertin keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Bessmertin has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Donk. Morgan catches Bessmertin right on the button with a cross.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bessmertin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Morgan lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Bessmertin at a distance.
Morgan avoids the body shot from Bessmertin.
Virgil Morgan is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bessmertin misses with a straight left.
Bessmertin misses the shot to the body.
Morgan misses with an uppercut

and Bessmertin counters with a takedown into side control.
Morgan manages to work his way to half guard, despite Bessmertin's best efforts.
Nice strikes from Bessmertin there.
Bessmertin with the ground and pound but Morgan uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Bessmertin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Bessmertin works over Morgan with some ground and pound from guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Morgan working for submissions but it's allowed Bessmertin to get to half guard.
Morgan wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bessmertin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bessmertin lands with a punch from half guard.
Bessmertin lands with a punch from half guard.
Bessmertin performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Morgan tries to get to full guard but Bessmertin has control of the leg.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bessmertin throwing shots but Morgan is blocking nicely.
Morgan is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Artem Bessmertin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bessmertin needs to keep his hands up - Morgan had a free shot at his head there.
Morgan lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Morgan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bessmertin.
Bessmertin keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A slow jab from Morgan misses its intended target.
The fighters circle momentarily. Bessmertin darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Morgan walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Morgan throws a jab but it's blocked by Bessmertin.
Bessmertin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Morgan.
Morgan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Morgan swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Morgan chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bessmertin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Morgan manages to avoid it.
Bessmertin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Morgan manages to avoid it.
Morgan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Morgan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bessmertin.
Morgan swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Bessmertin connects with an inside leg kick.
Morgan lands a nice shot to the body.
Bessmertin looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Bessmertin is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Morgan throws a head kick that misses

and Bessmertin counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Bessmertin is looking to take a break and control but Morgan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Morgan is pressing down on Bessmertin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bessmertin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Morgan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bessmertin postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Morgan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bessmertin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bessmertin is looking to work some ground and pound but Morgan has wrist control.
Bessmertin postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Morgan wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Bessmertin is now in half guard.
Bessmertin slips a nice elbow through Morgan's hands, connecting with Morgan's forehead.

Morgan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bessmertin is working away from the top position though.
Bessmertin working Morgan over with strikes.
Morgan is refusing to be controlled, as Bessmertin sits in half guard.
Bessmertin looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Morgan with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Morgan is pressing down on Bessmertin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Morgan looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Bessmertin has picked Morgan up and slammed him! Morgan can't keep hold of the triangle and Bessmertin manages to pass to side control!
Bessmertin lands some shots froms side control.
You can see the frustration on Morgan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan is trying to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bessmertin working away.
Bessmertin works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bessmertin lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Morgan wants to control but Bessmertin postures up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morgan avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Bessmertin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artem Bessmertin really dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A punch combination from Morgan misses.
Bessmertin throws a leg kick but Morgan sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Bessmertin scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Morgan takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Morgan throws a body punch but Bessmertin moves out of range.
Bessmertin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Morgan was well out of range. Poor timing from Bessmertin.

Bessmertin drives through with a takedown into Morgan's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Bessmertin throws a big elbow that misses.
Bessmertin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Morgan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bessmertin is pushing down on Morgan's leg trying to pass to half guard. Morgan is fighting to maintain full guard but Bessmertin has managed to sneak the leg through.

Morgan actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan won't allow Bessmertin to pass to mount.
Bessmertin performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Morgan wants to control the action here but instead Bessmertin manages to pass to full mount!
Morgan is in all sorts of trouble here.
Morgan wants to control but Bessmertin is having none of it.
Artem Bessmertin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bessmertin landing punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bessmertin landing strikes, looking to finish!
Bessmertin landing shots from mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Morgan tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bessmertin working the ground and pound effectively.
Bessmertin postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Morgan looks a forlorn figure.
Bessmertin raining down shots from the mount!

Morgan is rocked!
Morgan is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bessmertin avoids the attempt from Morgan to control.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Bessmertin cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Bessmertin putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Oh Morgan is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Morgan tries to reverse the position but Bessmertin maintains control.
Bessmertin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Morgan tries to hold on but Bessmertin postures up.
Morgan seems to have got his legs back now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Morgan is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Bessmertin has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Morgan's face.
Morgan is trying to escape the mount.
Bessmertin lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Morgan hang on?
Bessmertin looking to finish Morgan with some ground and pound. This is bad for Morgan!
Bessmertin postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Morgan in real trouble here! The ref calls for Morgan to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Artem Bessmertin!
Artem Bessmertin is the new welterweight champion!
A relieved looking Artem Bessmertin thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.