PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Burley Haines (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ceasar Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Morgan is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Fat Lip. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Haines
vs
Morgan

177 cm
27
152 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

175 cm
28
145 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very quick

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Burley Haines!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ceasar Morgan!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Jonathan Paton and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morgan keeps the fight on the outside.

Morgan closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Haines tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Haines is working hard here to advance position.
Haines regains half guard there - taking advantage of Morgan's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

Morgan is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Morgan wants to free his trapped foot but Haines is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Haines is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at 11th Planet MMA, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Haines is looking for a sweep. Morgan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haines trying to hold on to Morgan's head to control him but Morgan postures up.
Haines is not content to let Morgan control the position.
Haines gets full guard.
Morgan trying to control the position from guard on top but Haines is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morgan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Haines is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Morgan defends well.
Haines trying to keep a closed guard but Morgan is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Haines throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Haines looking to control.
Haines working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Morgan.
Morgan is looking to pass into half guard but Haines pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Haines is in guard.
Haines tries to free his leg and advance position but Morgan is retaining full guard.
Morgan is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
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 keeping moving, preventing Haines from controlling successfully.
Morgan keeping full guard, as Haines tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haines working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Morgan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Haines can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Morgan wants to stand but Haines is controlling the position.
Morgan working a defensive guard but Haines passes into half guard.
Morgan works his way to full guard. Good work.

Morgan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Haines throws a big right hand that misses.
Morgan is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Haines is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Morgan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Haines is one step ahead there.
Morgan is trying to control the position but Haines postures up.
Haines trying to control but Morgan is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Morgan checks the leg kick nicely there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Haines misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Burley Haines will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Morgan is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Haines's half guard.
Haines is not content to let Morgan control the position.

Morgan is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Haines defends it well.
Morgan trying to control from Haines's half guard. Haines has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Haines looking for a sweep. Not yet Haines, not yet.
Morgan trying to control the position from guard on top but Haines is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haines working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morgan engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ceasar Morgan wasn't active enough on the ground.
Morgan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Haines tries to clinch there but Morgan circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Morgan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've been informed that Morgan has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Morgan shoots for a double leg takedown but Haines sprawls well. He's pushed Morgan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Haines gets a takedown into half guard.
Haines is thwarting Morgan's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haines wants to pass the guard but Morgan is defending well.

Haines is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Haines works his foot free and advances to mount.
Morgan tries to lock up and control but Haines gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Haines trying to mount his opponent but Morgan defends it.
Nice strikes from Haines there.
Morgan wants to control but Haines is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Morgan gets back to full guard.
Morgan keeping moving, preventing Haines from controlling successfully.
Haines is really struggling to control Morgan but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Morgan keeping full guard, as Haines tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haines stops Morgan from standing up.
Morgan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Morgan keeping moving, preventing Haines from controlling successfully.
Haines trying to move into half guard but instead Morgan has managed to sweep!
Haines keeping moving, preventing Morgan from controlling successfully.
Haines wants to control but Morgan passes easily into half guard.
Morgan wants to pass to mount but Haines is defending the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morgan is looking to take a break and control but Haines is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Burley Haines will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Morgan looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Haines is looking to control Morgan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Haines avoid being mounted?
Morgan looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Haines is staying active underneath Morgan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Haines looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ceasar Morgan has got the better of the ground game so far.

Haines is defending against the submission attempts here by Morgan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haines is trying to maintain the position but Morgan is very close to passing his half guard.
Haines is not content to let Morgan control the position.
Haines is trying to stand.
Morgan is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Haines!
Haines is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Morgan takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Burley Haines is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Haines is looking to escape.
Haines tries to hold on but Morgan pushes him away.
Haines is looking to get to half guard.
Haines gets back to half guard.
Haines gets back to full guard.
Haines keeping moving, preventing Morgan from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ceasar Morgan was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Haines tries for a takedown but Morgan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Morgan fails to land the takedown.

Morgan gets a double leg takedown into Haines's guard.

Haines has his feet on Morgan's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Haines throws a leg kick but Morgan sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Morgan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Haines wants to clinch up but Morgan keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Morgan blocks the low kick.
Morgan fails with the takedown

and Haines counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Haines.
Burley Haines has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ceasar Morgan.

Haines manages to pull guard.
Morgan wants to control from the top but Haines keeps moving.
Haines keeping full guard, as Morgan tries to pass.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Haines is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Ceasar Morgan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Haines is trying to keep Morgan in close.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ceasar Morgan.
I think Haines 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!