PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andrew Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joel Romero Basquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Morgan's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Wither - Tech N9ne. On his way into the cage it seems that Andrew Morgan has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Andrew Morgan seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Morgan
vs
Romero Basquez

180 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Hates pizza

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Can Moonwalk

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Andrew Morgan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joel Romero Basquez!
The judges for this bout are Ron Honeybunn, Francis DeMontford and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Morgan rushes Basquez and presses him up against the cage.
Basquez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Morgan has him pressed against the cage.

Morgan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Morgan has taken the fight to the clinch.

Morgan manages to break the clinch.
Morgan dives in and grabs Basquez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Basquez pushes down on Morgan's head and hops out.
Basquez goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Morgan is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Basquez.

Basquez closes the distance and clinches.
Morgan avoiding damage.
Basquez tries to break free but Morgan pushes him back against the cage.
Morgan blocks an uppercut.
Basquez is looking for a takedown.
Basquez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Morgan has him pressed against the cage.
Basquez looking to throw knees to the head but Morgan is blocking nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morgan keeps control of Basquez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Morgan can't break the clinch.

Morgan breaks from the clinch.
Basquez tries to clinch up.
Basquez lands a head kick!
The fight stays on the outside here - Morgan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basquez with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Basquez tries to clinch there but Morgan circles away.
It looked like Morgan was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Basquez throws a quick inside leg kick.

Morgan rushes Basquez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Morgan is trying to push Basquez away but Basquez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Basquez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Morgan has him pressed against the cage.

Morgan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Basquez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Morgan.
Basquez unleashes a big counter combination but Morgan bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Morgan is breathing heavily.
Basquez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Morgan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Morgan fails to land with a series of punches.
Basquez misses with a head kick.
Morgan wants to clinch up but Basquez keeps it at a distance.
Morgan ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Basquez misses with a few strikes there.
A head kick from Basquez lands but Morgan takes it in his stride.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Morgan tries a head kick but it misses.
Basquez throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Basquez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
No luck for Morgan with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrew Morgan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Basquez looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Basquez lands with a kick to the temple. Morgan shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Basquez scores with a kick to the midsection.
Morgan has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Basquez.
Basquez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Basquez is looking to slow Morgan down with leg kicks.
Basquez lands a head kick!
Basquez misses with a looping right.
Basquez throws a right hand that Morgan ducks under and follows up with a left that Morgan also avoids with ease.
Morgan seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Basquez is looking to land body kicks.
Morgan looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Basquez moves out of range of the leg kick from Morgan.

Morgan gets in close and instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joel Romero Basquez dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Morgan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Basquez moves in looking to clinch but Morgan pushes him off.
Basquez scores with a nice body kick.
Basquez is looking to clinch.

Morgan is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Basquez's half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Basquez is trying to maintain the position but Morgan is very close to passing his half guard.
Morgan stops Basquez from getting back to his feet.

Morgan is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Basquez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Morgan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Basquez tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Morgan prevents Basquez from standing back up.
Morgan tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Basquez.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basquez wants to control but Morgan is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Basquez is looking for a sweep. Morgan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Basquez missing with punches from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Basquez lands with a slapping head kick.
Basquez fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Morgan tries a head kick but it misses.
Morgan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Basquez.
Basquez throws a sloppy head kick and Morgan moves out of range easily.
Morgan sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Basquez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Basquez moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Morgan has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Basquez.
Basquez fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Morgan has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Basquez fails with a takedown attempt.
Morgan lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Basquez lands a head kick!
Basquez connects with a high kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morgan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Basquez avoids it really well and circles away.
Basquez dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Morgan. That did some damage!
Basquez lands with a slapping head kick.

Morgan gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Basquez is looking to break free of the clinch but Morgan has double underhooks.
Morgan lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Basquez working hard to break the clinch.
Morgan softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Basquez pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joel Romero Basquez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Basquez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Morgan.
Morgan throws a head kick but Basquez moves out of range.
Morgan takes a kick to the side of the head.
Basquez tries to clinch but Morgan moves out of range.
Basquez shoots in for a double leg but Morgan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Morgan is looking for a counter combo.
Basquez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Basquez connects with a high kick.
Basquez misses with a head kick.
Morgan swats away the attempt to clinch by Basquez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slapping body kick lands there for Basquez.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Basquez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Morgan scores with a head kick. Basquez tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Morgan rushes Basquez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basquez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Morgan has him pressed against the cage.
Basquez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Morgan lands a nice uppercut.
Morgan wants to break free but Basquez has control.
Morgan goes for a takedown in the clinch but Basquez prevents it.
Basquez jumps guard but Morgan stands there with Basquez around his waist. Basquez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Basquez jumps guard but Morgan stands there with Basquez around his waist. Basquez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Andrew Morgan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joel Romero Basquez.
Morgan working hard to break the clinch.
Basquez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Morgan has him pressed against the cage.
Morgan has Basquez pressed against the cage, preventing Basquez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Basquez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Morgan is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Basquez with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Morgan tightens his grip and picks Basquez up, before dumping him to the ground. Basquez manages to land in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Basquez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Basquez has a closed guard, preventing Morgan from standing up.
Our spies down at at Cozad MMA Sydney inform us that Basquez has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Basquez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Basquez throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Basquez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Morgan defends well.
Basquez wants to stand up but Morgan is controlling him.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Morgan clearly takes that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Horrible takedown attempt by Morgan or perhaps it was just good defense by Basquez, which made it look bad.
Morgan misses with a head kick.
Morgan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Basquez fails with a takedown attempt.
Basquez wants to clinch.
Morgan shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Basquez defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morgan takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Morgan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Nice body kick there by Basquez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basquez connects with a high kick.
Andrew Morgan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Basquez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Basquez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Basquez connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Basquez throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Joel Romero Basquez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Basquez blocks a head kick by Morgan.
Basquez throws a right and a left that Morgan avoids nicely.
Morgan avoids the head kick by Basquez.
Basquez throws a head kick but Morgan moves out of range.
Morgan blocks a head kick by Basquez.
Basquez feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Morgan's calf.
Basquez connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A head kick misses from Morgan.
Morgan is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Basquez plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Basquez misses with a head kick.
Basquez is looking to clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Basquez lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Basquez looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Morgan throws a big counter combination but Basquez scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Morgan takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Morgan drives through with a takedown into guard.
Basquez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Morgan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Morgan being controlled here momentarily.
Basquez wants to stand up but Morgan is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joel Romero Basquez dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Both fighters circling a little - Basquez finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Basquez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Morgan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Basquez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Basquez slips under a jab from Morgan.
Basquez swats away the attempt to clinch by Morgan.
Basquez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Morgan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Basquez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Basquez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Morgan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Basquez tries to clinch but Morgan moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morgan throws a push kick but Basquez slaps the foot to one side.
A head kick misses from Basquez.

Morgan moves into the clinch successfully.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Morgan is trying to break the clinch but Basquez has him pressed against the cage.
Basquez wants to get back to striking at distance but Morgan won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basquez is trying to pull guard but Morgan has him pressed against the cage.

Morgan has picked Basquez up - he's going for a ride! Morgan dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Basquez is looking to improve his position.
Basquez pushes Morgan off looking to stand but Morgan dives back in and keeps control.
Basquez is trying to get back to full guard.
Basquez is trying to stand back up but Morgan is controlling him
Morgan is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Basquez looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan is looking to take a break and control but Basquez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Basquez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Morgan throws a quick counter head kick but Basquez was just out of range.
Basquez throws a head kick that misses.
No luck for Morgan with that takedown attempt.
Basquez with the counter takedown but Morgan avoids it easily.
Basquez darts in looking for a takedown but Morgan gets double underhooks and turns Basquez into the cage.
Basquez throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Morgan gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Basquez wants to get back to striking at distance but Morgan won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Basquez misses with a short punch on the inside.

Morgan drags the fight down to the ground.
Andrew Morgan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joel Romero Basquez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Basquez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Andrew Morgan.
I think Basquez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 47:48
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 47:48
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joel Romero Basquez!
Andrew Morgan spoke after the fight, saying 'He got lucky.. The SHOW is NEVER OVER!!!'.