PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joaquin Morales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and aj Rex (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.

Morales
vs
Rex

204 cm
24
151 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

155 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joaquin Morales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, aj Rex!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Sosuke Kotani and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rex misses with a right hand
enabling Morales to counter with a crisp jab.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Rex has eaten all the pies!

Rex gets the takedown into side control.
Morales keeping his opponent close.
Morales manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rex's best efforts.
Rex not doing much here.
Morales is looking for a sweep. Rex is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rex stands up and beckons Morales to join him on the feet.

Rex scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rex stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morales is refusing to be controlled, as Rex sits in half guard.
Morales trying to control but Rex postures up.
Morales is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rex is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rex prevents Morales from improving his position.
Morales has his hands clasped together around Rex's back. He's all about the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Rex is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rex not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Morales has a hand on Rex's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Rex takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Morales bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Morales throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rex works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Rex looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Morales throwing strikes from guard but Rex blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rex is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Morales is controlling him.

Rex kicks Morales off and gets to his feet.

Rex closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Morales did well to prevent Rex getting side control.
Rex tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Morales.
Rex missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Morales regains full guard. Nicely done.
Morales working a defensive guard here.
Morales looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morales avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rex pushes down on Morales's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Rex missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rex content to control rather than advance.
Morales wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rex controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

aj Rex dominated that round.
That's time! Morales's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rex misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Rex closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Morales quickly recovers to half guard.
Morales trying to hold on to Rex's head to control him but Rex postures up.
Morales desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Morales is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rex gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
aj Rex is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rex shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rex slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Morales will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Morales 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.
Rex stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Morales swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rex sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Morales looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rex is one step ahead there.
Morales keeping moving, preventing Rex from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Morales is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Morales really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rex wants to control from the top but Morales keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Rex clinches.

Morales pulls guard.
Morales has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Morales looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rex is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rex not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rex passes Morales's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rex is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Rex not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rex content to control rather than advance.
aj Rex has got the better of the ground game so far.
Morales is not content to let Rex control the position.
Morales trying to control from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Morales tries to get to full guard but Rex has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

aj Rex showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Rex gets a takedown into half guard.
Rex throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Morales trying to control but Rex postures up.
Morales tries to get to full guard but Rex has control of the leg.
Morales is working hard here to advance position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rex looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Morales is looking for a sweep. Rex is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rex controlling the action here.
Morales tries to roll over but Rex keeps him under control.
Rex is trying to control the action in half guard but Morales is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Morales makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Morales.
Morales looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two 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.
Rex trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Morales keeping moving, preventing Rex from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Morales gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rex seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Morales is on top in guard.

Morales trying to control but Rex is working from the bottom.
Rex has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morales preventing the sweep.
Morales postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Morales slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Morales trying to control the position from guard on top but Rex is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morales sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rex controlling the position.
Morales trying to control but Rex is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rex has control of Morales's left arm, preventing Morales from doing any damage.
Rex is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rex content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rex prevents Morales from improving his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Morales keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
aj Rex comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rex winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... aj Rex!