PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Samuri Sikura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dexter Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sikura comes into the arena with Liquid Swords-GZA blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Morgan's choice of entrance music: Johnny Cash - Hurt. 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.

Sikura
vs
Morgan

196 cm
23
190 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

185 cm
29
194 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

BeastMode

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Samuri Sikura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dexter Morgan!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morgan is looking to score with low kicks.

Sikura closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Morgan is not content to let Sikura control the position.
Sikura will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Morgan prevents Sikura from improving position.
Morgan is pushing Sikura's head away, looking to escape. Sikura manages to hold on to the position though.
Morgan dodges the ground and pound from Sikura.
Morgan is looking for a sweep.
Sikura trying to control the action but Morgan is working from the bottom.
Morgan takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan regains half guard there - taking advantage of Sikura's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Morgan looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sikura 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.
Still in half guard, Sikura seems content to control.
Sikura prevents Morgan from standing back up.

Morgan is defending against the submission attempts here by Sikura.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sikura is looking to take a break and control but Morgan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sikura not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Morgan pushes Sikura off looking to stand but Sikura dives back in and keeps control.
Sikura looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Well, if Sikura 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.
Morgan tries to kick Sikura off but Sikura keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sikura with the ground and pound but Morgan uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Sikura working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sikura trying to control the position from guard on top but Morgan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sikura is looking to work some ground and pound but Morgan has wrist control.
Sikura trying to control but Morgan is working from the bottom.
Sikura is looking to work some ground and pound but Morgan has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sikura loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sikura loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sikura throws a big right hand that misses.
Sikura throwing strikes from guard but Morgan blocks nicely.
Morgan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sikura postures up in Morgan's guard and throws a big left but Morgan blocks it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sikura cracks Morgan with a solid left hand.
Sikura throws an elbow that misses. Morgan uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sikura's guard. Nice move by Morgan!
Morgan preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samuri Sikura dominated that 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.

Morgan moves into the clinch.
Sikura avoiding damage as Morgan throws knees to the body.

Sikura gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Morgan regains guard.
Sikura is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morgan controlling the position.
Morgan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Morgan wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Sikura is now in half guard.
Morgan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sikura.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sikura stops Morgan from getting back to his feet.
Morgan trying to control from the bottom.
Sikura missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sikura seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sikura thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Morgan's head.
Morgan is trying to maintain the position but Sikura is very close to passing his half guard.
Sikura thows a huge punch but Morgan dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan wants to control but Sikura is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sikura looks to land a strike but Morgan avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Sikura looking to sit in guard and control but Morgan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sikura trying to control the position here.
Morgan not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sikura holds on and takes a little breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sikura looking to hit a scissor sweep but Morgan is one step ahead there.
Morgan tries to free his leg and advance position but Sikura is retaining full guard.
Morgan trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sikura's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Dexter Morgan.
A clash of legs there as Sikura blocks the low kick.
Sikura throws a looping overhand right but Morgan ducks down to avoid it.
Morgan slips under a jab from Sikura.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sikura shoots in but Morgan avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Morgan rushes Sikura and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sikura goes for a takedown attempt but Morgan pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sikura tries to clinch up but Morgan circles away and keeps his distance.
Sikura fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuri Sikura. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sikura blocks the body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Morgan checks a leg kick.
Morgan lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Morgan throws a quick inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dexter Morgan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Sikura avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sikura tries to clinch up but Morgan circles away and keeps his distance.
Morgan lands with a kick to the ribs.
Sikura misses with a looping right.
Morgan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sikura was well out of range. Poor timing from Morgan.
Sikura throws out a leg kick but Morgan moves out of range and Sikura only half commits.
The fighters circling - Sikura throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Morgan scores with a hook to the body. Sikura takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Sikura swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sikura takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Morgan jabs Sikura to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Sikura pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A cross from Morgan lands.
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!
Sikura lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sikura tries to score a power double leg takedown but Morgan sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sikura somewhat.
Sikura tries to clinch but Morgan moves away
and Morgan counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sikura misses with a lunging right hand
and Morgan counters with an outside leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Morgan lands a nice hook to Sikura's body. Sikura takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Sikura misses the jab.
Sikura shoots for a double leg takedown but Morgan sprawls well. He's pushed Sikura's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Morgan has Sikura up against the cage in a clinch.
Morgan can't find room to land a body shot as Sikura controls the action.
Morgan tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Morgan lands a knee to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Morgan breaks from the clinch.

Morgan moves into the clinch.
Morgan stalls.
Sikura avoiding damage as Morgan throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Morgan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Morgan lands with a thumping leg kick.
Morgan fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Sikura has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Morgan tries to close the distance and clinch but Sikura swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Morgan connects with a nice looking jab.
Sikura throws a hook but Morgan blocks it.
Sikura shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Morgan but Morgan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuri Sikura. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Morgan, right into the meat.
Morgan scoring well with a low kick there.
Morgan scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Both fighters circling a little - Morgan finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Morgan. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Morgan.
A slapping leg kick lands for Morgan.

Morgan drives through and clinches with Sikura against the cage.
Sikura drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Morgan lands a shot to the body.
Morgan connects with a knee to the head.
Morgan connects with a knee to the head.

Morgan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sikura with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Morgan to score with a decent uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Morgan moves into the clinch.

Morgan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sikura doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sikura takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan is looking to clinch but Sikura is avoiding it.
Sikura shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Morgan as he jumps to the side.
Decent striking displayed by Morgan there.
Morgan fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sikura looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Dexter Morgan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sikura tries for a takedown but Morgan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Morgan is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Sikura rather than just go for the knockout.

Morgan darts in and clinches Sikura up against the cage.

Morgan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Morgan slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Morgan lands a leg kick that knocks Sikura off balance momentarily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Morgan fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sikura, pushing him back against the cage.
Sikura throws a punch but it's blocked by Morgan.
Sikura looking for a takedown.
Knees in the clinch landing for Morgan.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dexter Morgan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!