PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Spartan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charles Morris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Spartan
vs
Morris

184 cm
24
195 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

183 cm
25
186 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Likes musicals

The Big Kabosh

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Spartan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Charles Morris!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morris throws a head kick that half lands.

Spartan fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Morris, pushing him back against the cage.

Spartan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Spartan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Morris tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Spartan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Morris connects with a body shot that sends Spartan's belly button to the back.
A slapping leg kick lands for Morris.

Spartan shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Morris is trying to defend but Spartan finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Morris wants to improve his position but Spartan is controlling well.
Morris trying to control but Spartan postures up.
Morris is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spartan seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Spartan decides to stand up.
Morris misses with a wild body shot.
Morris circles away from the clinch attempt.

Spartan moves into the clinch.
Morris misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Spartan.
Spartan taking a breather.
Morris jumps guard but Spartan stands there with Morris around his waist. Morris gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Morris is looking to break free of the clinch but Spartan has double underhooks.
Spartan slows down the pace here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've been hearing reports that Spartan has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Spartan prevents a body shot from Morris.
Nice body punch from Spartan - that landed with a thud.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Spartan just misses with a elbow thrown towards Morris's brow.
Morris wants to break free but Spartan has control.
Morris is looking for a takedown.

Spartan gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Spartan stands up from guard. Let's bang!
A punch combination from Spartan misses.
Spartan stuffs the takedown.
John Spartan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Charles Morris.

Morris gets caught napping as Spartan dives in and scores a takedown. Morris manages to retain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spartan stopping the sweep attempt from Morris.
Spartan would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Spartan gets to his feet - Morris follows without any prompting.
Morris throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Spartan's waist but Spartan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Morris off to one side.
Morris lets loose with a powerful body kick. Spartan will feel that in the morning.
Morris swinging wildly here.

Spartan dives in and scores a takedown into Morris's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spartan postures up.
Spartan has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Morris is proving hard to escape from.
Spartan won't allow Morris to get back to his feet.

Morris is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Spartan is looking to stand up but Morris won't let him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Spartan stopping the sweep attempt from Morris.

Morris has his foot on Spartan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Spartan works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Spartan dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Horrible takedown by Spartan or perhaps it was just good defense by Morris which made him look bad.
Spartan with a jab.
Spartan fails with the takedown.
Morris keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Spartan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morris tries to clinch up but Spartan circles away and keeps his distance.
Spartan leaves Morris with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Spartan dives in for a single leg takedown but Morris sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Spartan is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Morris is defending well for now.
Spartan works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Spartan drops down looking for an ankle pick but Morris pulls his leg out and moves away.
A nice inside leg kick there by Morris. That's going to slow Spartan down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morris pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Spartan gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Morris leaning against his opponent.
A hook to the body from Spartan.
Morris lands a nice elbow.

Spartan drags the fight down to the ground.
Morris postures up in Spartan's guard and throws a big left but Spartan blocks it.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Morris working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Morris is stalling in the full guard.
Morris wants to control from the top but Spartan keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spartan wants to stand but Morris is controlling the position.

Morris is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Spartan is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Spartan has escaped and now he's on top!
Morris looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spartan wants to stand but Morris has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Morris not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Morris is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Spartan decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Morris, up you get!
Morris tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Spartan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Morris shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Spartan as he jumps to the side.
Spartan has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
John Spartan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Morris is breathing heavily.
Morris shoots in for a double leg but Spartan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Some wild striking there from Morris.
Spartan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
John Spartan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Spartan changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Morris looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Morris wants to get back to his feet but Spartan drags him back down.
John Spartan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Spartan decides to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Spartan clinches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Spartan pushes Morris back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Morris breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Spartan clinches up against the cage.
Morris is working for takedown but Spartan is calmly controlling the position for now.
Spartan lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Spartan decides to pull guard.
Morris won't allow Spartan to get back to his feet.
Morris trying to control the position from guard on top but Spartan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Morris postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Spartan is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Spartan dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Morris fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Spartan moves in looking to clinch but Morris pushes him off.
Morris tries to close the distance and clinch up but Spartan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Morris looks for a takedown but Spartan sprawls well.
Morris tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Spartan paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Morris clinches.
The referee is keeping an eye on Spartan - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Morris looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Morris tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Spartan just stands there and leans against the cage.
John Spartan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Charles Morris.
Spartan working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Morris fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Morris takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spartan scores with a nice hook to the head.
Morris tries for a takedown but Spartan manages to get underhooks.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Morris lands a hook that snaps the head of Spartan backwards.
Morris tries to pull guard but Spartan forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Spartan lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Morris backwards.

Morris is rocked!

Spartan lands a takedown into guard.
Morris is still in real trouble! Can Spartan finish him?

Spartan stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Spartan lands a huge takedown. Morris is out but the ref is slow to react and Spartan lands 3 more undefended punches before the fight is stopped. Brutal finish. Morris lies on the canvas for a good minute before the doctors bring him round. Good to see he's OK.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). John Spartan!
After the fight, John Spartan was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.