PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ross Morrow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Xavier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carlos Xavier will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Morrow
vs
Xavier

165 cm
18
161 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
163 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ross Morrow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Carlos Xavier!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morrow misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Xavier misses with a takedown attempt
and Morrow counters with a nice uppercut.
Xavier fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Morrow appears to be looking for a big counter.

Morrow shoots in and gets a takedown into Xavier's guard.
Xavier is trying to keep Morrow in close.
Xavier has control of Morrow's left arm, preventing Morrow from doing any damage.
Xavier avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xavier controls Morrow momentarily but Morrow frees himself.
Morrow with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morrow drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Xavier manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Morrow has Xavier in his guard.
Morrow is looking to stand up but Xavier isn't so interested in that idea.
Morrow throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Morrow working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Xavier.
Morrow is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Morrow wants to stand but Xavier is controlling the position.
Xavier stopping the sweep attempt from Morrow.
Morrow pulls Xavier in close to prevent any damage.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Morrow could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Xavier trying to control the position from guard on top but Morrow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Morrow has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Xavier is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xavier tries to pull guard but Morrow forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ross Morrow has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlos Xavier.
Xavier has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Morrow after a bit of a struggle.
Xavier wants to stall.
Xavier struggles to land a body shot inside as Morrow controls his hands.
Xavier is trying to drag Morrow to the mat but Morrow just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Xavier slowing the pace effectively.

Morrow successfully pulls guard.
Morrow seems keen to control Xavier's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrow bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Xavier's guard.

Morrow stopping the sweep attempt from Xavier.
Morrow has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Xavier is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Xavier looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Xavier has his hands on Morrow's head, controlling the position.
Morrow trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Morrow postures up.
Xavier really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Morrow. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Xavier wants to improve his position but instead Morrow has moved into half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Xavier is looking to get back to full guard here but Morrow has managed to pass to side control instead.

Morrow wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Xavier, who protects the arm well.
Xavier is trying to improve his position.
Check out the look on Morrow's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Morrow tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Xavier tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ross Morrow dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Xavier shoots for a takedown but Morrow saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Morrow throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Xavier's waist but Xavier gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Morrow off to one side.
Xavier jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Morrow shoots in and drives through. Xavier sprawls well.
Xavier shoots in looking for a takedown but Morrow manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Xavier's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
As Xavier looks to move away, Morrow throws a big counter combo bu Xavier just gets out of the way.
Xavier misses with a wild combination.
Xavier fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ross Morrow has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlos Xavier.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Morrow forces Xavier back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xavier has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Morrow after a bit of a struggle.

Xavier ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Xavier no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Xavier is trying to control the position but Morrow postures up.
Morrow is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Morrow is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Xavier can do to turn this around?
Morrow chips away with some ground and pound.
Xavier not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Morrow sitting in guard, not really doing much.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Xavier holds on and takes a little breather.
Ross Morrow overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Morrow wants to stand but Xavier is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morrow keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Xavier's head.

Morrow is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Xavier is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Xavier has escaped and now he's on top!

Morrow pushes Xavier off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Nice takedown defense from Morrow. No joy for Xavier on that attempt.
Xavier throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
It looked like Morrow was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Xavier closes this distance looking for a takedown but Morrow circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrow stuffs the takedown.
Xavier is breathing heavily.
Morrow displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Xavier.
Xavier fails to land the takedown.
Morrow is looking for a counter combo.
Xavier shoots in but no luck this time.
Xavier tries to close the distance and clinch up but Morrow swats him away and circles back towards the center.
No luck for Morrow with that takedown attempt.
Ross Morrow is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A big left from Xavier misses.
Xavier closes this distance looking for a takedown but Morrow circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Xavier.

Morrow gets the takedown into side control.
Morrow takes a little break here. Xavier wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Morrow lands a decent elbow from side control.
Xavier tries to control but Morrow manages to take his back.
Morrow has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Xavier's body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Xavier is looking to escape here. Oh dear - Morrow has locked on a rear naked choke here! Xavier is tapping out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Ross Morrow!