PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dexter Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Zanotto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zanotto has chosen Ben Zanotto -by- Rancid as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Ben Zanotto was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Morgan
vs
Zanotto

188 cm
29
203 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

183 cm
33
195 lbs
24 - 13 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

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 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dexter Morgan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ben Zanotto!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Steven Brown and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zanotto fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Morgan avoids it really well and circles away.
Morgan throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zanotto's waist but Zanotto gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Morgan off to one side.
Morgan on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Zanotto drives through with a takedown into Morgan's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
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.
Morgan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zanotto postures up.
Zanotto content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Zanotto with a nice head shot there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zanotto throws a big right hand that misses.
Morgan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zanotto missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Morgan is pulling down on Zanotto's head to control his posture.
Zanotto lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
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.
Zanotto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Morgan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Morgan is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Zanotto lands a couple of digs.
Morgan working a defensive guard here.

Morgan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zanotto can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Morgan seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Zanotto keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Morgan's head.
Zanotto trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Morgan is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Zanotto presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Morgan works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Morgan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zanotto wants to sweep but no luck.
Morgan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Morgan is looking to work some ground and pound but Zanotto has wrist control.
Morgan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Morgan throws an elbow that misses. Zanotto uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Morgan's guard. Nice move by Zanotto!

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
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.
Morgan is working hard here to advance position.
Zanotto throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zanotto makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Zanotto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Morgan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan is pulling down on Zanotto's head to control his posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Morgan is on top in guard.

Zanotto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Morgan.
Zanotto controlling the position.
Morgan working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Zanotto is pulling down on Morgan's head to control his posture.
Morgan trying to control the position from guard on top but Zanotto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morgan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Morgan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zanotto managing to control the position.
Morgan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zanotto looking to hit a scissor sweep but Morgan is one step ahead there.
Morgan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Morgan preventing the sweep.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Morgan throws a jab when Zanotto was well out of range.
Morgan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zanotto moves away.
Zanotto shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Morgan on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
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 Dexter Morgan will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Morgan is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Zanotto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Zanotto decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Zanotto lands strikes from half guard.
Zanotto takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Zanotto lands strikes from half guard.
Morgan tries to roll over but Zanotto keeps him under control.
Morgan trying to control from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morgan is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Morgan is holding on to half guard well.
Zanotto controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morgan has one foot on Zanotto's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Morgan is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Zanotto's half guard.
Dexter Morgan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zanotto is looking to control Morgan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zanotto avoid being mounted?

Morgan seems to be looking for submissions.
Morgan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zanotto's head.
Zanotto trying to hold on to Morgan's head to control him but Morgan postures up.
Morgan landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Morgan throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Zanotto to regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan throws a strike but Zanotto rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Zanotto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Morgan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Morgan lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morgan lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Morgan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Morgan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zanotto looking for a sweep. Not yet Zanotto, not yet.
Zanotto wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Morgan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zanotto is keeping the position for now.
Morgan postures up in Zanotto's guard and throws a big left but Zanotto blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zanotto working a defensive guard here.
Morgan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Morgan trying to control but Zanotto is working from the bottom.
Morgan stopping the sweep attempt from Zanotto.
Morgan postures up in Zanotto's guard and throws a big left but Zanotto blocks it.
Morgan stopping the sweep attempt from Zanotto.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Zanotto has momentary wrist control but Morgan slips an elbow through the middle.
Morgan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zanotto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Morgan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zanotto is pulling down on Morgan's head. It's preventing any offense from Morgan, at least for the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Morgan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zanotto.
Zanotto jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zanotto works Morgan's body with a nice hook.
Zanotto connects with a crisp jab.
Zanotto tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Morgan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zanotto steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Morgan.
A little jabbing left from Zanotto on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Zanotto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Morgan dives in for a single leg takedown but Zanotto sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Zanotto comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Morgan cracks Zanotto with an open hand slap.
Nice uppercut lands for Zanotto. That snapped Morgan's head back.
Morgan throws a hook but Zanotto blocks it.
Zanotto is looking to score with low kicks.

Morgan drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dexter Morgan dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

A looping hook to the body misses from Zanotto. Morgan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Morgan staying out of range there.
Morgan lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Morgan throws a jab but it's blocked by Zanotto.

Morgan scores with a takedown into Zanotto's guard.
Morgan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zanotto looking to control.
Zanotto bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Morgan's guard.

Zanotto missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morgan working a defensive guard but Zanotto passes into half guard.
Zanotto seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Morgan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Morgan works his way to full guard. Good work.
Morgan wants to sweep here but Zanotto controlling him for the moment.
Zanotto controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zanotto throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zanotto preventing the sweep.
Zanotto throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zanotto trying to control the position from guard on top but Morgan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zanotto working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Morgan has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Zanotto is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two 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.
Zanotto tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Morgan defends well and Zanotto ends up having to push Morgan into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Zanotto takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Morgan swings for the body but Zanotto moves out of range.
Zanotto scores with a punch to the head.
Morgan shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zanotto defends it nicely.
Zanotto shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Morgan fails to land the takedown.
Zanotto throws out a powerful jab.
Morgan takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Morgan shoots in looking for a takedown. Zanotto tries to sprawl out of it but Morgan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zanotto manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ben Zanotto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dexter Morgan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zanotto scores with a hook.
Morgan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zanotto throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Morgan on the side of the head.
Zanotto shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Morgan pinned against the cage. Morgan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Morgan closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Morgan throws a jab but it's blocked by Zanotto.
Morgan lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Ben Zanotto seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Zanotto closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Morgan to the mat! Morgan manages to get full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zanotto throwing strikes but missing.
Morgan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zanotto is one step ahead there.
Zanotto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Morgan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zanotto trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Morgan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Morgan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morgan working a defensive guard here.
Zanotto won't allow Morgan to sweep him here.
Zanotto throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Zanotto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Morgan 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dexter Morgan!
Dexter Morgan decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.