PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vinicius Morales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vinicius Morales has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Alexander Hardy's chin.

Hardy
vs
Morales

187 cm
24
279 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

195 cm
21
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alexander Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vinicius Morales!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Leandro Rodrigues and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy fails with the takedown

and Morales counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Morales.

Hardy breaks the clinch.
Hardy has a takedown stuffed.

Morales scores with a takedown into Hardy's guard.

Hardy has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Morales is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Hardy.
Morales content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Morales thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Check out the look on Morales's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

It looks like Alexander Hardy has been cut.
Morales advances nicely into full mount.

Morales working for a submission but Hardy is keeping him at bay.
Morales avoids the attempt from Hardy to control.
Hardy really wants to buck Morales off and get back to his feet.
Hardy could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Morales sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morales can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hardy is looking to escape.
Morales avoids the attempt from Hardy to control.
Morales sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morales's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Vinicius Morales has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Hardy has closed the distance and engaged Morales in a clinch.
Morales keeps control of Hardy as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hardy wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hardy is trying to break the clinch but Morales has him pressed against the cage.
Hardy is trying to break the clinch but Morales has him pressed against the cage.
Hardy wants to get back to striking at distance but Morales won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Morales successfully pulls guard.
Morales has a closed guard, preventing Hardy from standing up.
Morales is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hardy being controlled here momentarily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Vinicius Morales hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Hardy tries for a takedown but Morales circles away easily

so Morales counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vinicius Morales dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Hardy's cut.
That's time! Hardy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Morales clinches.

Morales gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Hardy regains guard.
Morales content to stall in guard here.
Morales wants to control from the top but Hardy keeps moving.

Hardy looking for a guillotine here but Morales defends easily.
Morales slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Morales trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Vinicius Morales.
Morales tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Hardy moves into the clinch.

Morales has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Hardy regains guard immediately.
Morales throwing strikes but missing.
Morales wants to control from the top but Hardy keeps moving.
Hardy trying to keep a closed guard but Morales is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morales engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Vinicius Morales wasn't active enough on the ground.

Morales drives through with a takedown into Hardy's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Morales sitting in guard here, content to control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hardy controls Morales momentarily but Morales frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Morales. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Morales showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Alexander Hardy has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Hardy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Morales paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Morales moves in looking to clinch but Hardy pushes him off.

Morales has closed the distance and engaged Hardy in a clinch.

Morales escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Morales gets the takedown into side control.
Morales scoring with punches from side control.
Hardy is being controlled here.
Vinicius Morales has got the better of the ground game so far.
Morales tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Hardy seems a little lost for a moment, as Morales dominates the positioning.

Morales is trying to get an arm triangle but Hardy is defending well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Morales wants to control but Hardy is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vinicius Morales showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Alexander Hardy's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Morales gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Morales jumps into guard, dragging Hardy to the mat.

Hardy avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Morales has control of Hardy's left arm, preventing Hardy from doing any damage.
Hardy trying to stand up but can't free himself from Morales's guard.

Hardy drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hardy jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Morales is working an open guard so Hardy takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morales closes the distance and pushes Hardy back into the cage.
Morales taking a breather.

Morales lands a takedown into guard.
Hardy is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hardy keeping moving, preventing Morales from controlling successfully.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Hardy wants to get back to his feet but Morales is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy being controlled here, momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Vinicius Morales.

Morales throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Hardy tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Morales is in Hardy's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hardy keeping moving, preventing Morales from controlling successfully.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morales controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hardy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morales wants to control from the top but Hardy keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Vinicius Morales was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Hardy looks for a takedown but Morales sprawls well.

Morales shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hardy manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Morales takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Morales trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morales is looking to advance position but Hardy has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Hardy is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Morales is surviving well by controlling Hardy's body position as best he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morales is looking to improve his position but Hardy isn't that keen on the idea.

Hardy stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Hardy blocks a head kick by Morales.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Morales fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hardy to the ground. Morales is now in Hardy's guard.
Alexander Hardy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vinicius Morales is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hardy looking for a guillotine here but Morales defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vinicius Morales comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Morales has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vinicius Morales!