PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sam Shield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dexter Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Shield
vs
Morgan

182 cm
31
165 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

178 cm
30
164 lbs
12 - 7 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sam Shield!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dexter Morgan!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Tiny Johnson and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Shield. Morgan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Morgan looks to score with a jab to the body but Shield is just out of range.
Shield lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

It looks like Dexter Morgan has been cut.
Shield takes a jab right on the kisser.
Morgan takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Shield stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Shield wants it to stay on the feet.
Morgan avoids the head kick by Shield.
Morgan wants to clinch.
Shield throws a right and a left that both miss.
Shield tries to move into range but Morgan moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
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!

Morgan shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Shield manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Morgan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Morgan being controlled here momentarily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Morgan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shield keeping moving, preventing Morgan from controlling successfully.
Morgan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Morgan trying to control the position from guard on top but Shield is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dexter Morgan was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Morgan throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A head kick misses from Shield.
Morgan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan avoids a kick to the body.

Morgan scores with a takedown into Shield's guard.
Shield is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Morgan trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Shield manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Morgan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Morgan throws his legs up looking for a submission but Shield uses it to pass to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Morgan's face as Shield controls the position.
Morgan is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Shield off and has taken his back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shield wants to control his opponent's hands but Morgan gets his hands free.
Shield's corner are yelling at him, telling him to just focus on controlling Morgan's hands.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Shield covering up well under a series of strikes from Morgan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shield trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Shield avoids the strikes from Morgan.

Morgan is persistently looking for the submission but Shield is defending it well.
Shield trying to control the hands but Morgan won't let him.
Morgan wants to control but Shield is keeping busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shield tries to escape the position.
Shield looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dexter Morgan will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dexter Morgan's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Morgan shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Shield manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Morgan throws a strike but Shield rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Morgan working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Shield has passed into half guard!
Well, if Shield 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan trying to hold on to Shield's head to control him but Shield postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Sam Shield just wasn't active enough.
Shield throws a right hand that Morgan ducks under and follows up with a left that Morgan also avoids with ease.
Shield tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Shield has Morgan up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shield throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Shield tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Morgan avoids it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Shield.
Shield tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Shield fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Shield effectively controlling the action here.
Morgan lands with a right to the head.
Shield misses with a body punch.
Morgan tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Shield smiles and moves away.
Shield throws a head kick but Morgan moves out of range.
Sam Shield is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shield moves out of range as Morgan strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Shield throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Shield lands a high kick!
Morgan closes this distance looking for a takedown but Shield circles away.
Morgan scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Morgan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shield lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Morgan throws a lazy body kick
and Shield counters with a head kick.
Shield misses with a double jab
and Shield takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Morgan shoots in looking for a takedown. Shield tries to sprawl out of it but Morgan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shield manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sam Shield has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dexter Morgan.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shield thows a left - swing and a miss!
Shield thows a body shot but no joy.
Morgan throws a lazy uppercut
and Shield counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shield bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Morgan lands the left hand.
Shield pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shield. Morgan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Crunch! Shield slams his shin into Morgan's torso.
Shield stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Shield thumps Morgan with a low kick.
Morgan swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Morgan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Shield tries to clinch there but Morgan circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Morgan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shield throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Morgan shoots in for a takedown but Shield shows good takedown defense.
Shield doesn't manage to clinch there - Morgan circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Shield dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dexter Morgan's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Shield throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Morgan avoids a punch combination nicely.
Morgan throws a good cross that connects.
Shield throws a front kick that sends Morgan stumbling back into the cage.

Shield tries to keep at a distance but Morgan has taken the fight into the clinch.

Shield manages to break the clinch.
Shield misses with the body kick
and Morgan counters with a solid body kick.
Shield throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Shield throws a head kick that misses.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Shield.
Shield scores with a jab to the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Morgan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Shield throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shield scores with a kick to the midsection.
Shield lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Shield is looking to score with low kicks.

Shield closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Shield swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shield is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Morgan is defending well for now.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Shield.
Morgan throws a head punch that misses.
Morgan is trying to break the clinch but Shield is controlling him.

Morgan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shield throws a head kick that misses
and Morgan counters with a nice uppercut.
Shield misses with the combination.
Morgan looks for the body kick but Shield saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shield throws a head kick that misses.
Shield ducks under a wild hook from Morgan.
Morgan scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Morgan blocks a head kick by Shield.
Shield lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shield lands an overhand right.
Shield thows a leg kick but Morgan checks it
and Shield takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Shield tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Morgan stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Shield.
Shield looks to score with a jab to the body but Morgan is just out of range.
A head kick misses from Morgan.

Shield has managed to clinch.
Shield's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Shield can't find room to land a body shot as Morgan controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shield doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Morgan has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Shield.
Morgan lands with a right to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Morgan.
Morgan avoids a wild elbow strike from Shield.
Shield tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Morgan takes a shot to the head.

Morgan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shield tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Morgan was well out of range. Poor timing from Shield.
Shield is looking to land body kicks.
Shield goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Morgan looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Morgan has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Shield.
Shield tries to clinch but Morgan is having none of it.
Sam Shield is winning the standup battle so far.
Shield fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan throws a sloppy head kick and Shield moves out of range easily.
Shield walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Shield keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Morgan lands a nice shot that snaps Shield's head back.
Shield keeps Morgan at a distance using the push kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shield ducks under a wild hook from Morgan.
Morgan throws a leg kick that is checked
and Shield counters with a nice body shot.
Morgan misses with a straight right.
Morgan misses with an uppercut. Shield saw that one coming.
Shield buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shield fails in his attempt to clinch.
Morgan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shield.
Shield wants to clinch up but Morgan keeps it at a distance.
A nice inside leg kick there by Shield. That's going to slow Morgan down.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Shield showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shield has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Shield!