PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Chico Morales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Paulson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Morales
vs
Paulson

178 cm
22
148 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

174 cm
23
153 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Supreme Nutrition

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chico Morales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joe Paulson !
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morales looks to throw the jab but Paulson is out of range.
Morales throws a lazy uppercut
and Paulson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Paulson slips a straight right by Morales.
Paulson lands a nice looking body shot.

Morales takes the fight into the clinch.
Paulson wants to break free but Morales has control.
Morales is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Paulson is defending well for now.

Morales breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Morales swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Paulson to counter with a crisp jab.
Paulson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Paulson looks to land a left hand but Morales moved out of range nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morales takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Morales lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Paulson circles away quickly and effectively.
Nice uppercut lands for Morales. That snapped Paulson 's head back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A jab from Paulson misses.
Morales misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morales wants to clinch up but Paulson keeps it at a distance.
Morales misses with a right hand
and Paulson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've been told by Morales's head coaches at Bobby B's Gem that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Morales tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Paulson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Morales tries to clinch but Paulson moves out of range.
Morales swings widly with a right hand
and Paulson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Morales changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Paulson takes a jab right on the kisser.
Morales drops his hands momentarily and Paulson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Morales misses with a combination
and Paulson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Morales lands with a thumping leg kick.
No joy there for Paulson , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
No joy there for Paulson , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Morales connects with a high kick.
Morales misses with an uppercut
and Morales takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morales stuns Paulson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Paulson looks winded!
Morales throws a head kick that Paulson semi-blocks.
Paulson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Morales throws the left hand but Paulson avoids the punch easily.
Morales fails with an attempt to clinch.
Morales lands a two punch combo.
Paulson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Morales cracks the inside of Paulson 's front leg.
Morales throws a right and a left that both miss.
Morales misses with a jab, cross combination.
Morales lands a jab to Paulson 's midsection.
Morales tests Paulson 's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Morales. Paulson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Paulson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulson takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Morales lands an overhand right.
Paulson takes a kick to the side of the head.
Paulson throws a hook but Morales avoids it easily.
Paulson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Morales sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Paulson tests Morales's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Paulson misses with a wild body shot.
Morales is looking to clinch but Paulson is avoiding it.
Morales misses with a looping left.
Morales misses with an uppercut
enabling Paulson to counter with a crisp jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Morales. Paulson does a little dance to reset his feet.

Morales has Paulson up against the cage in a clinch.
Paulson avoids a wild elbow strike from Morales.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morales throws an elbow that misses.
Paulson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Morales gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Paulson is looking to break free of the clinch but Morales has double underhooks.
Morales lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Morales tries to land knees in the clinch but Paulson avoids the damage to the body.
Paulson takes an elbow to the forehead.
Paulson managing to block the knees to the body from Morales.
Paulson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Morales has him pressed against the cage.
Morales lands an elbow that stopped Paulson in his tracks for a moment.
Morales looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Morales throws an elbow but it misses.
Morales trying to land knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Morales.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morales lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Paulson avoids the elbow strike from Morales, against the cage.
Paulson is trying to break the clinch but Morales has him pressed against the cage.
Morales throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chico Morales dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Morales looks to score with a jab to the body but Paulson is just out of range.
Paulson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Morales.
Morales lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Paulson slips under a jab from Morales.
Morales slips a jab and a cross from Paulson .
Paulson might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Paulson moves out of range of the strikes.
Morales thuds his shin into the meat of Paulson 's side.
Paulson lands with a nice body punch.
Morales throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Morales lands a jab to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morales pushes Paulson away with a front kick.
Morales looks to score with a jab to the body but Paulson is just out of range.
No joy there for Paulson , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Morales misses with a looping right.
A swing and a miss from Paulson .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morales with a hook.
Chico Morales is winning the standup battle so far.
Paulson on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Paulson is breathing heavily.
Paulson moves out of range as Morales strikes.
Paulson misses with a series of wild punches.

Morales has taken the fight to the clinch.
Morales lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Morales throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A frustrated look appears on Paulson 's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Morales landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Morales landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Morales looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Morales breaks from the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Morales. Those never looked like landing.
Paulson is looking for the big counter here.
Paulson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Morales circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Morales throws a right and a left that Paulson avoids nicely.
Morales moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by Morales!
Morales cracks Paulson with an open hand slap.
Morales is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Paulson can do to turn this around?
Morales throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Paulson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Paulson has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Chico Morales seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Morales rushes Paulson and presses him up against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Morales.
Morales misses with an elbow over the top.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Morales lands an elbow inside.
Morales gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Knees to the body from Morales.
Paulson blocks an elbow strike from Morales.
Morales lands a nice elbow.
Morales creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Paulson 's defenses.
Paulson takes an elbow to the temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morales tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Paulson avoids it.
Morales lands a good knee to the midsection. Paulson won't want to take too many of those.
Morales keeps control of Paulson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Morales landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Morales is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Morales crunches a lovely knee into Paulson 's ribcage.
Paulson blocks an elbow strike from Morales.
Morales lands a nice elbow.
Paulson blocks an elbow strike from Morales.
Paulson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Paulson avoids the elbow strike from Morales, against the cage.
Morales blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Paulson takes an elbow to the temple.
Chico Morales has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A knee to the head by Morales.
Morales tries to land knees in the clinch but Paulson avoids the damage to the body.
Morales lands an elbow that stopped Paulson in his tracks for a moment.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morales lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulson tries to circle away but Morales has him pinned against the cage.
Morales creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Paulson 's defenses.
Paulson tries to break the clinch but Morales is controlling the position.
Paulson can't break the clinch.
Morales lands an elbow that stopped Paulson in his tracks for a moment.
Paulson avoiding damage as Morales throws knees to the body.
Morales misses with an elbow over the top.
Morales is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Paulson is defending well for now.
Morales trying to land knees to the body.
Paulson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Morales tries a knee to the head but Paulson blocks it.
Morales working Paulson over with knees to the body.
Morales trying to land knees to the body.

Morales's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A slapping body kick lands there for Morales.
Paulson takes one on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chico Morales dominated that second round.
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 throws a head kick that Paulson semi-blocks.
Paulson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Paulson lands a head shot.
Morales swings away with a body shot that misses
and Paulson counters with a straight right hand.
Morales scores with a crisp jab that stopped Paulson in his tracks.
Paulson 's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Morales connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Paulson scrambles back to his feet.
Morales is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Paulson .
Morales keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Morales throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
It seemed like Paulson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Morales lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Paulson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Morales.

Paulson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Morales, pushing him back against the cage.

Morales escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Morales throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulson misses with a body shot.
Paulson avoids the body shot from Morales.
Morales throws out a loose jab but Paulson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Morales takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Paulson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Morales misses with a jab, cross combination.
Paulson slips under a jab.
Morales displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Paulson throws out the jab.
Paulson walks into a left hand.
Paulson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Morales.
Morales lands with a straight right. Paulson didn't see that one coming.
Morales misses with a straight left.
Paulson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Joe Paulson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Morales scores with a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Paulson .
Paulson punishes Morales's body with a nice straight punch.
Morales works the jab nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Paulson swats away the attempt to clinch by Morales.
Morales closes the distance but Paulson moves to the side
enabling Paulson to counter with a crisp jab.
Morales connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Morales just misses with a punch to the body.
Paulson thinks about the counter body kick.
Morales keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Morales. Paulson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Morales throws a nice looking combination but Paulson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Morales throws a hook but Paulson avoids it easily.
Chico Morales is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Morales, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Morales waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Paulson .
Morales moves into range and connects with a jab.
A jab from Morales misses.
Morales throws a jab but it's blocked by Paulson .
Morales misses with a two punch combination.
Morales misses with a jab, cross combination.
Paulson appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Paulson goes for a double leg but Morales avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Morales continues to drive forward.
Paulson ducks under a wild hook from Morales.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Paulson ! But no joy.
Morales misses with a looping right.
Joe Paulson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Paulson clinches up with Morales and pushes him back against the cage.
Paulson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Morales.
Paulson working hard to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morales missing with knees to the body.
Morales landing knees to the head.
Morales tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Paulson avoids it.
Morales misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Paulson .

Morales breaks the clinch.
Paulson slips under a jab.
Paulson doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Morales misses with a few strikes there.
Morales misses with a series of wild punches.
Paulson throws a counter combo.
Paulson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Nice takedown defense from Morales. No joy for Paulson on that attempt.
Morales displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Paulson throws out the jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chico Morales showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Morales has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chico Morales!
Chico Morales thanked the fans post fight for their support.