PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Maurício Aurelio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Aurelio
vs
Morgan

177 cm
27
165 lbs
19 - 8 - 0

195 cm
34
165 lbs
22 - 11 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

MayheM sportswear
FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Sun-Tzu

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 19 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maurício Aurelio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 11 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andrew Morgan!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Alyssa Summers and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morgan misses with a wild combination.
Morgan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A slow jab from Morgan misses its intended target.
Aurelio throws a big shot that misses.
Morgan needs to keep his hands up - Aurelio had a free shot at his head there.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Morgan has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Aurelio ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Aurelio 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.
Morgan takes one to the side of the head.
Morgan misses with a body shot.
Aurelio walks into a straight right hand from Morgan.
Morgan slips under a jab.
Morgan takes one on the button.
Morgan scores with a sloppy right hand. Aurelio should have avoided that one.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Aurelio connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Morgan is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Aurelio slips under a jab.
Morgan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Aurelio.
Aurelio throws a nice looking combination but Morgan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Morgan loads up on a big right hand but Aurelio slips the punch.
Aurelio drops down looking for a counter takedown but Morgan sprawls and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aurelio will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Morgan throws out a counter right but Aurelio avoids it with no problem.
Aurelio misses the shot to the body.
Aurelio loads up on a big right hand but Morgan slips the punch.
Morgan misses with a looping right.
Aurelio half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Andrew Morgan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Morgan throws a hook but Aurelio blocks it.
Aurelio changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Aurelio throws a looping overhand right but Morgan ducks down to avoid it.
Morgan tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Morgan loads up on a big right hand but Aurelio slips the punch.
Aurelio drops down looking for a counter takedown but Morgan sprawls and moves away.
Morgan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Morgan throws out a counter right but Aurelio avoids it with no problem.
Morgan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Aurelio moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Aurelio keeps Morgan at a distance using the push kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Morgan checks a leg kick.
Morgan looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Morgan misses with a looping right.
Aurelio stuns Morgan with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Morgan misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Aurelio.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Morgan moves out of range of the strikes.
Morgan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Aurelio dips to his left and cracks Morgan with an uppercut!
Morgan misses with a double jab.
Morgan stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Aurelio.
Aurelio ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Aurelio lands with a right hand.
Morgan misses with a hook. Aurelio ducked under it nicely.
Maurício Aurelio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Morgan misses with a double jab

and Aurelio counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Aurelio slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morgan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Aurelio is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aurelio sitting in guard here, content to control.
Morgan wants to get back to his feet but Aurelio is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Morgan is looking to stand back up but Aurelio counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Morgan.
Aurelio is trying to control the action in half guard but Morgan is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

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.
Aurelio looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Aurelio is working for a submission of some sort.
Morgan is trying to stand up here but Aurelio is controlling him well.
Aurelio wants to lay and pray for a moment but Morgan keeps working.

Morgan manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Aurelio keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Morgan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Aurelio staying out of range there.
Aurelio uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Morgan.

Aurelio gets a takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maurício Aurelio dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Morgan misses with a straight left.
Andrew Morgan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Morgan misses with a wild combination.
Morgan misses with a lunging right hand

and Aurelio counters with a shoot takedown. Morgan fights it but they end up in guard.
Morgan keeping moving, preventing Aurelio from controlling successfully.
Aurelio slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Aurelio prevents Morgan from escaping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aurelio happy to just control the position for now.

Aurelio tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Aurelio has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Aurelio is looking to take a break and control but Morgan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Aurelio controlling the position from side mount.

Aurelio is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Morgan knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Aurelio wants to control but Morgan is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Aurelio in side control, throwing shots but Morgan defends.

Aurelio wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Morgan, who protects the arm well.
Aurelio controlling the position from side mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aurelio prevents Morgan from escaping the position.
Aurelio wants to control but Morgan is keeping him busy.
Aurelio slows the pace down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aurelio tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Morgan wants to get back to his feet but Aurelio drags him back down.

Aurelio tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
An elbow from Aurelio crashes against the mat.
Morgan is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Aurelio has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Aurelio connects with a body shot that sends Morgan's belly button to the back.
A big left from Morgan misses.
Aurelio looks to throw the jab but Morgan is out of range.
Morgan throws a hook but Aurelio avoids it easily.
Aurelio attempts a counter takedown but Morgan avoids it well and moves away.
Aurelio scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Morgan doesn't seem bothered though.
Aurelio misses with an uppercut. Morgan saw that one coming.
Aurelio moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Morgan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Aurelio moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Morgan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice cross by Aurelio.
Aurelio is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Morgan can do to turn this around?
Aurelio throws the left hand but Morgan avoids the punch easily.
Morgan 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aurelio scores with a jab. Morgan acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Morgan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Morgan walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Aurelio lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maurício Aurelio dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Aurelio shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Morgan eats them both and turns towards Aurelio to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Aurelio lands a slapping body shot.
Aurelio waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Morgan.
It seemed like Morgan was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Aurelio defending well as Morgan loads up on a big left hand.
Aurelio walks into a left hand.
Aurelio feints a jab promting Morgan to slip. Aurelio then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Morgan slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Morgan chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Aurelio can pounce on him.
Morgan lands a right hook to the body.
Aurelio looks to throw the jab but Morgan is out of range.
Morgan takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Morgan misses with a series of wild punches.
Aurelio appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Nice cross by Morgan.
Morgan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Aurelio manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aurelio uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Morgan.
Aurelio uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Morgan.
Morgan lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Aurelio goes for a double leg but Morgan avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Morgan continues to drive forward.
Aurelio throws a series of punches but Morgan moves out of range.
Morgan throws a left and a right that both miss

and Aurelio counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Morgan tries to kick Aurelio off but Aurelio keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Morgan manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Aurelio keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Morgan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Aurelio moves out of range of the strikes.
Aurelio throws a body punch but Morgan moves out of range.
Aurelio dives in for a single leg takedown but Morgan sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Despite the aggression on Morgan's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Morgan scores with a body shot.
Aurelio 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.
Aurelio moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aurelio misses with a jab, cross combination.
Morgan is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Aurelio with a body shot.
Morgan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jab, jab by Morgan - just one landing.
Morgan throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Aurelio misses with a looping right.
A jab from Aurelio misses.
Morgan misses with a looping left.
A swing and a miss from Morgan.
The fighters circling - Morgan throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Aurelio changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Aurelio moves out of range of the strikes.
Morgan with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Aurelio to score with a decent uppercut.
Morgan misses with a hook.
Aurelio slips under a jab.
Aurelio connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Morgan throws a hook to the side of Aurelio's head but Aurelio sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A left lands for Morgan.
Morgan avoids the head kick by Aurelio.
Aurelio uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Morgan.
Maurício Aurelio is winning the standup battle so far.
Morgan misses with a jab to the body

and Aurelio counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Morgan won't allow Aurelio to pass to mount.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Aurelio seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Morgan for as long as he can get away with.
Aurelio trying to control the action but Morgan is working from the bottom.
Aurelio not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Morgan kicks Aurelio off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Morgan misses the target.
Aurelio tries to counter with a takedown but Morgan is quick to defend against it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aurelio lands a jab.
Morgan loads up on a big right hand but Aurelio slips the punch.
Morgan gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Morgan throws a shot from downtown. Aurelio moves away and avoids it.
Morgan takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Morgan jabs Aurelio to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Jab from Aurelio.
Morgan misses with an uppercut.
Aurelio takes a swing at Morgan's ribcage but misses.
Aurelio uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Morgan.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morgan lands with a nice combination. Aurelio backs away looking to recover.
Aurelio throws a hook to the side of Morgan's head but Morgan sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Andrew Morgan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maurício Aurelio is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Some wild striking there from Morgan.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Andrew Morgan.
Well Aurelio 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maurício Aurelio!
Maurício Aurelio seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
In defeat, Andrew Morgan stepped up to the mic, saying 'Congratulation to my opponent .... I ain't done. I will be back .. SOON ! '.