PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hugo Morales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matt Gracie is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Morales
vs
Gracie

175 cm
22
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
179 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hugo Morales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie tries to keep at a distance but Morales has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gracie lands with a light punch inside.
Gracie is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Morales has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Gracie tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Morales's elbow.
Morales is trying to break free.
Gracie tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Gracie manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Gracie controlling the position.
Morales wanted to stand there but Gracie had control of the position.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Morales is one step ahead there.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Morales is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morales stands up from Gracie's guard - Morales perhaps looking for a knockout.
Morales connects with a body shot.
Morales slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Morales looks to land a combination but Gracie avoids it well.
Morales jabs at Gracie's body.
Gracie moves out of range as Morales strikes.
Morales circles away from the clinch attempt.
Morales jabs Gracie to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Morales throws a nice looking combination but Gracie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gracie shoots in but Morales avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A punch combination from Morales misses.

Morales pushes Gracie up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morales is looking to control Gracie's arms but Gracie gets an underhook and turns him. Now Morales has his back to the cage.
Morales has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Morales taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Morales wants to stall.
Gracie can't get the takedown.
Hugo Morales has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Gracie.
Gracie's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie connects with a nasty looking knee right to Morales's face.
Gracie is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Morales is defending well.
Morales throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gracies head.
Gracie tries to score a body lock takedown but Morales shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Gracie looks winded!
Morales lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Gracie.
Morales pushes Gracie back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Morales lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Morales scores with a shoulder strike.
Gracie trying to land knees to the body.
A shot in the inside from Morales.
Morales tries to break the clinch but Gracie is controlling the position.
Morales is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gracie lands a left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morales is leaning against Gracie and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Morales misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Gracie goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Morales lands an uppercut.
Morales lands a left hand.
Gracie is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Morales is defending well.
Morales lands with a right to the head.
Morales is trying to break the clinch but Gracie is controlling him.
Gracie throws an elbow but it misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Gracie as Morales tries to tie him up.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Morales just stands there and leans against the cage.
Morales throws an elbow that misses.
Morales works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Morales is trying to break the clinch but Gracie is controlling him.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Morales.

It looks like Matt Gracie has been cut.
Morales has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Morales scores with a shot to the side of Gracie's head.
Gracie blocks the elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Morales won't allow it.
Morales scores with a shoulder strike.
Gracie is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Morales pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Morales manages to break the clinch.
Morales misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morales ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Morales moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Gracie is looking to clinch but Morales is avoiding it.
Morales looks to land a combination. Gracie sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Morales rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gracie moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gracie fails with an attempt to clinch.
Morales misses with a wild body shot.
Gracie takes one to the side of the head.
Morales misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.
Morales cracks a nice hook into Gracie's ribs.
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugo Morales dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matt Gracie's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Morales fails to land with a series of punches.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Morales enables Gracie to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Morales manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Morales blocks nicely.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Morales here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Gracie with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gracie slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Morales is trying to buck Gracie off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Morales is defending well.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Morales is defending well.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Morales is trying to get back to his feet.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Morales is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a strike aimed at the side of Morales's head but Morales avoids it well.
Gracie working the body and head with strikes.
Gracie tries to move to mount but Morales blocks the move with his legs.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Gracie misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Morales is defending well.
Morales is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Gracie tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Gracie working the ground and pound but Morales is defending the strikes.
Gracie tries to move into full mount but can't pass Morales's legs.
Morales is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Gracie has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gracie working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Morales lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gracie circles away quickly and effectively.
Gracie moves out of range as Morales strikes.
Hugo Morales seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Gracie clinches.
Gracie putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Morales in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Morales misses with a hook from the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Gracie.
Gracie tries a body shot but Morales blocks it.
Gracie lands an elbow inside that Morales shrugs off.

It looks like Hugo Morales has been cut.
Morales tries to break free but Gracie pushes him back against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gracie jumps into guard, dragging Morales to the mat.
Gracie managing to control the position.
Morales stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Morales misses with a few strikes there.
Jab, jab by Morales - just one landing.
Morales lands a nice looking body shot.
Morales is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gracie can do to turn this around?
Morales stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Morales wants it to stay on the feet.
Morales displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gracie.
Morales scores with a jab to the body.
Morales lands a nice looking body shot.
Hugo Morales is winning the standup battle so far.
A decent looking cross lands there for Morales.
A right-left combo lands from Morales.
Morales swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Gracie counters by moving into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Morales blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Morales pushes Gracie back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Morales tries to break the clinch but Gracie is controlling the position.
A nice left hand lands by Morales.
Morales lands a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morales lands with a left to the head.
Morales tries to break free but Gracie pushes him back against the cage.
Morales tries to circle away but Gracie has him pinned against the cage.
Hugo Morales has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Gracie jumps guard but Morales stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hugo Morales has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Gracie.
Morales lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
A shot in the inside from Morales.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Morales lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Morales just misses with a elbow thrown towards Gracie's brow.
Morales lands with a light punch inside.

Gracie has hold of one of Morales's legs. Morales is fighting the takedown attempt but Gracie gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Gracie prevents Morales from getting back to his feet.
Gracie throws a strike but Morales rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Morales decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Morales throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morales uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Gracie has time to react.
Morales throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gracie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Morales is looking to wear down Gracie with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Gracie tries to clinch up.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Morales throws a right and a left that Gracie avoids nicely.
Gracie fails with an attempt to clinch.
Morales misses with a body shot.
Morales fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Morales sprawls well.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Morales swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morales misses with a two punch combination.
A combination from Morales does no damage.
Gracie wants to clinch.
Morales circles away from the clinch attempt
and Morales counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Morales misses with a wild combination.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch but Morales swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Morales uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Gracie has time to react.
Morales rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gracie moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Morales missing with a left hand there. Gracie was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Danga de danga de dang - Morales scores with a four punch combination!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morales with a hook.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Morales as he jumps to the side.
Morales misses with a series of wild punches.
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Morales saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice defenses there by Gracie.
Morales throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Morales shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gracie slips under a jab from Morales.
Morales misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A looping hook to the body misses from Morales. Gracie does a little dance to reset his feet.

Gracie shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Morales manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gracie is looking to work some ground and pound but Morales has wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hugo Morales showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Morales 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hugo Morales!
Hugo Morales decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.