PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Argivas Kerenzikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Morgan is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Kerenzikov
vs
Morgan

178 cm
26
198 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

180 cm
26
200 lbs
13 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
KO power

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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Argivas Kerenzikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Morgan!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Wesley Smith and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kerenzikov gets tackled into the cage by Morgan. Morgan maintains the clinch.
Kerenzikov avoiding damage as Morgan throws knees to the body.
Kerenzikov has Morgan pressed against the cage.
Morgan lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Morgan lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Argivas Kerenzikov has been cut.
Morgan missing with knees to the body.
Morgan throws an elbow that misses.
Morgan pushes off an throws an elbow but Kerenzikov leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Morgan wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kerenzikov takes an elbow to the forehead.
Morgan misses with a knee to the head.
Morgan is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kerenzikov is defending well for now.
Morgan pushes off an throws an elbow but Kerenzikov leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Kerenzikov misses with a body punch.
Kerenzikov stalling in the clinch.
Kerenzikov trying to land knees to the body.
Morgan is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kerenzikov is defending well for now.
Kerenzikov managing to block the knees to the body from Morgan.
Kerenzikov taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan lands a knee to the body.

Morgan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Morgan throws out a powerful jab.
Morgan throws a lazy right hand but Kerenzikov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

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

Kerenzikov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kerenzikov in side control, throwing shots but Morgan defends.
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.
Kerenzikov postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerenzikov trying to control the position but Morgan is working away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kerenzikov fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Kerenzikov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Morgan is not content to let Kerenzikov control the position.
Kerenzikov throws a strike aimed at the side of Morgan's head but Morgan avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan dodges the ground and pound from Kerenzikov.
Morgan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kerenzikov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Kerenzikov goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Morgan rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Kerenzikov's guard! Nice work there by Morgan!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morgan stopping the sweep attempt from Kerenzikov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Kerenzikov is pulling down on Morgan's head. It's preventing any offense from Morgan, at least for the moment.
Morgan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morgan wanted to stand there but Kerenzikov had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James Morgan will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Argivas Kerenzikov's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Morgan looks to throw the jab but Kerenzikov is out of range.
Kerenzikov takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Morgan throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kerenzikov on the side of the head.
Morgan misses with an attempted mid kick.
Morgan throws a body kick that misses.
Kerenzikov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Morgan.
Morgan misses with a body shot.
Morgan just misses with a punch to the body.
Morgan lands a leg kick that knocks Kerenzikov off balance momentarily.
Kerenzikov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Morgan delivers a nice body kick.
Morgan lands a leg kick that knocks Kerenzikov off balance momentarily.
Kerenzikov on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Morgan looks to land a body kick but Kerenzikov moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kerenzikov gets a clinch.
Kerenzikov swings wildly with an uppercut but Morgan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Morgan lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kerenzikov backwards.
Kerenzikov has Morgan pushed against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Morgan throws an elbow but misses.
Kerenzikov trying to land knees to the body.
Morgan digs a right hand underneath Kerenzikov's ribcage. Kerenzikov let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kerenzikov blocks an elbow strike from Morgan.
Morgan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kerenzikov has him pressed against the cage.

Morgan breaks the clinch.
Morgan lands with a nice body kick.
James Morgan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Morgan throws the left hand but Kerenzikov avoids the punch easily.
Kerenzikov blocks the body kick.
Morgan misses with a body shot.
James Morgan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Morgan.
No joy there for Morgan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Morgan scores with a sloppy right hand. Kerenzikov should have avoided that one.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Morgan throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kerenzikov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Morgan lands a body shot.
Kerenzikov throws a hook but Morgan blocks it.
Morgan scores with a push kick.
Morgan misses with a kick to the body.
Morgan throws a wild body kick that Kerenzikov sees coming a mile off.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Morgan - that will leave a mark!
Morgan throws a hook but Kerenzikov avoids it easily.
Morgan is looking to score with low kicks.
Morgan lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kerenzikov at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan misses with the combination.
Morgan pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Morgan drives through and clinches with Kerenzikov against the cage.
Kerenzikov pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Kerenzikov trying to control the position but instead, Morgan has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kerenzikov into the cage.
Kerenzikov is trying to drag Morgan to the mat but Morgan just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Morgan working hard to break the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Morgan as Kerenzikov tries to tie him up.
Morgan misses with a body punch.
Morgan lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kerenzikov backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kerenzikov throws an elbow that misses.
Morgan working aggressively here.
Morgan lands a body punch in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kerenzikov blocks an uppercut.
Knees to the body from Morgan.

Morgan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Morgan connects with an inside leg kick.
Kerenzikov ducks right into an uppercut from Morgan.
Morgan lands with an uppercut that bounces Kerenzikov off the cage and back into range.
Kerenzikov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kerenzikov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kerenzikov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Morgan cracks a nice hook into Kerenzikov's ribs.
A cross from Morgan lands.
James Morgan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kerenzikov blocks the body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Morgan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Argivas Kerenzikov's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Morgan throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kerenzikov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Morgan scores with a nice head shot.
Kerenzikov on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Morgan connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Morgan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Morgan throws a wild body kick that Kerenzikov sees coming a mile off.
Kerenzikov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Morgan's waist but Morgan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kerenzikov off to one side.
Morgan throws a leg kick
and Kerenzikov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kerenzikov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kerenzikov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kerenzikov ducks right into an uppercut from Morgan.
Morgan tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kerenzikov is able to avoid easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kerenzikov on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Morgan misses

and Kerenzikov counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Morgan!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kerenzikov sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Morgan is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Kerenzikov cracks Morgan with an elbow. That is naaassty.
You can see the frustration on Morgan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kerenzikov cracks Morgan with a big elbow.
Kerenzikov creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Morgan sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kerenzikov misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan defending against the ground and pound.
Kerenzikov with the ground and pound but Morgan regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

Kerenzikov seems to be working for a kimura but Morgan defends the submission attempt.
Kerenzikov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kerenzikov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan tries to get to full guard but Kerenzikov has control of the leg.

Kerenzikov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Morgan tries to get to full guard but Kerenzikov has control of the leg.
Argivas Kerenzikov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Morgan gets full guard.
Kerenzikov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kerenzikov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Morgan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Kerenzikov has gone for a leg lock! Morgan slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kerenzikov's guard.
Kerenzikov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Morgan!
James Morgan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Morgan is in all sorts of trouble here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Argivas Kerenzikov.
I think Morgan has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Morgan!