PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Juan Morales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Luukku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Morales
vs
Luukku

178 cm
18
180 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
180 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

CEC Nutrition Q160 & Loan

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juan Morales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alex Luukku!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Morales fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Luukku to the ground. Morales is now in Luukku's guard.
Luukku wants to stand and escape but Morales is having none of it.
Morales throws a big elbow that misses.
Luukku preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Luukku looking to control.
Luukku might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Morales kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Morales looking to sit in guard and control but Luukku gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Morales tries to strike from the bottom.
Morales is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Luukku is staying active underneath Morales, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Morales with the ground and pound but Luukku uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Morales stands up and waves to Luukku to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luukku misses with a straight left.
Luukku throws a right and a left that Morales avoids nicely.
Luukku fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Morales looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Morales misses with a body shot.
Luukku throws a leg kick that misses.
Luukku throws a series of punches but Morales avoids them all with ease.
Morales just misses with a punch to the body.

Morales closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Luukku quickly recovers to half guard.
Morales not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Luukku trying to control from the bottom.
Morales is pressing down on Luukku's thigh, looking to free his foot. Luukku is holding on for now.
Nice strikes from Morales there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luukku blocking the ground and pound attempt from Morales.
Morales thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Morales seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Morales seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Morales is nestled in close to Luukku, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Luukku is looking to control Morales's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Luukku avoid being mounted?
Morales missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Luukku can do anything to dispel that myth.
Morales thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Luukku's head.
Luukku is trying to stand.
Morales throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morales is thwarting Luukku's attempts to control the position.
Morales throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Morales is nestled in close to Luukku, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Morales not doing much here.
Nice strikes from Morales there.
Morales is nestled in close to Luukku, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Morales scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Morales missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ground and pound from Morales.
Morales is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morales not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Morales throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Luukku tries to kick Morales off but Morales keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Nice strikes from Morales there.
Morales not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Morales lands a nice short elbow.
Morales missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Morales throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Morales prevents Luukku from standing back up.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Morales takes a swing at Luukku's ribcage but misses.
Luukku throws a body punch but Morales moves out of range.
Morales misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Luukku.

Morales manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Luukku on his heels. He'll look to pass Luukku's guard now, I'm sure.
Juan Morales overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Morales works over Luukku with some ground and pound from guard.
Morales content to stall in guard here.
Morales scoring with some ground and pound.
Luukku is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Morales is controlling him.
Luukku preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morales trying to control the position from guard on top but Luukku is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morales postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Luukku trying to control the position here.
Morales with a flurry of punches that miss.
Morales has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Morales postures up in Luukku's guard and throws a big left but Luukku blocks it.
Morales is looking to work some ground and pound but Luukku has wrist control.
Morales not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Luukku is looking to stand up but Morales isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morales connects with a couple of short punches.
Morales loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Morales throwing strikes from guard but Luukku blocks nicely.
Morales postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Morales is looking to work some ground and pound but Luukku has wrist control.
Morales throws a big right hand that misses.
Morales stops Luukku from standing up.
Morales is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Morales throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luukku utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Luukku avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Morales postures up and lands a big shot to Luukku's brow.
Morales postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Luukku working for a triangle but Morales defends it easily.
Morales loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Morales postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Luukku wants to get back to his feet but Morales is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Morales preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morales wants to control from the top but Luukku keeps moving.
Morales throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Morales accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Morales trying to control the position from guard on top but Luukku is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morales with a flurry of punches that miss.
Luukku trying to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Morales is looking to work some ground and pound but Luukku has wrist control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Luukku controls Morales momentarily but Morales frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Morales dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Luukku misses with a double jab

so Morales counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Luukku is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Morales is controlling him.
Morales pushing down on Luukku's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Luukku is refusing to be controlled, as Morales sits in half guard.
Morales not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Luukku is trying to stand up here but Morales is controlling him well.
Morales throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Morales performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Morales thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morales stops Luukku from getting back to his feet.
Morales with the ground and pound but Luukku uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Luukku 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.
Luukku takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Morales working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Morales throwing strikes from guard but Luukku blocks nicely.
Morales looking to pass the guard.
Morales throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morales trying to control but Luukku is working from the bottom.
Morales postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Morales throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Morales keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Luukku's head.
Morales is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Morales looking to sit in guard and control but Luukku gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Morales keeping moving, preventing Luukku from controlling successfully.
Morales looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luukku throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Luukku is looking to work some ground and pound but Morales has wrist control.
Luukku throwing strikes from guard but Morales blocks nicely.
Morales looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Luukku stops Morales from standing up.
Luukku is looking to work some ground and pound but Morales has wrist control.
Morales wants to sweep but no luck.
Morales is wriggling around but Luukku manages to pass to half guard.
Morales slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Morales looking for a sweep. Not yet Morales, not yet.
Luukku throws a big elbow that misses.
Alex Luukku has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morales tries to land a sweep but no joy.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Morales is on top in guard.
Luukku preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Luukku working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Morales.
Morales distracts Luukku with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Morales wants to control from the top but Luukku keeps moving.
Luukku wants to get back to his feet but Morales is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Morales tries to free his leg and advance position but Luukku is retaining full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan Morales showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Morales, 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Morales!
Juan Morales decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.