PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jason Maher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miguel Morales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Miguel Morales told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Maher
vs
Morales

165 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
19
147 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jason Maher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Miguel Morales!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Donald Grub and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morales blocks a head kick by Maher.
Maher cracks Morales with an open hand slap.
Maher looks to throw the jab but Morales is out of range.
Morales shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Maher as he avoids it easily.
Morales blocks a head kick by Maher.
Maher misses with a wild combination.
Maher misses with a leg kick

and Morales decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Maher's guard.
Maher wants to sweep but no luck.
Morales's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Morales thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Maher trying to strike off his back.
Morales must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Morales lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Maher is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Maher pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Morales is keeping the position for now.

Maher drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Morales manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Maher has Morales in his guard.

Morales makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Morales drops back looking for a leg! Maher is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Maher manages to kick Morales off! Morales jumps back into Maher's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maher manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Morales manages to get himself to full guard.

Morales trying to control the position here.

Maher decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Morales tries for a takedown but Maher sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Maher lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

Morales drives through and clinches with Maher against the cage.

Maher manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morales passes into half guard.

Maher is defending against the submission attempts here by Morales.
Maher is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Morales jumps into side control!
Maher is trying to get back to half guard.

Morales working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maher tries to improve position but can't.
Maher wants to control but Morales postures up.
Maher tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Morales wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maher is trying to control Morales's posture but Morales avoids it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morales controls the position from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jason Maher will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Morales shoots in but Maher avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Morales throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Maher tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Morales is in Maher's guard.

Maher escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Morales gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Morales working some strikes from top position.
Maher looking to hit a scissor sweep but Morales is one step ahead there.
Morales lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maher has momentary wrist control but Morales slips an elbow through the middle.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morales is adopting a defensive guard.
Maher is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Maher drops back, looking for a kneebar! Morales looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Morales looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Morales!

Maher is trying to control Morales's posture but Morales avoids it.

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.
Maher gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Maher regains full guard. Nicely done.
Morales trying to control but Maher is working from the bottom.
Maher working a defensive guard here.
Morales trying to control the position from guard on top but Maher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maher throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Maher wants to control but Morales passes easily into half guard.

Morales is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maher is looking to improve his position.
Morales seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Maher does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Morales is trying to work for a kimura but Maher is defending well.
Maher on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four 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.
Maher manages to get to full guard.

Maher is looking for a triangle but Morales pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Morales not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Maher is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Morales is controlling Maher's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Maher is stalling here. Morales is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Maher seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Morales has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Morales showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Maher tries to close the distance and clinch up but Morales swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Miguel Morales seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Maher.
Morales shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Maher counters with a nice uppercut.

Morales looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Morales is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Maher has managed to free his arm - good work.
Maher is not content to let Morales control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Morales wants to work for an arm triangle but Maher is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Maher tries to get to full guard but Morales has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maher wants to control but Morales is keeping busy.
Maher is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Morales lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Morales landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Morales lands with a punch from half guard.
Morales is trying to control the action in half guard but Maher is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Maher moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Morales lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Morales trying to control the position from guard on top but Maher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morales stays in close to Maher's body and controls the position.
Morales takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Morales trying to control the position from guard on top but Maher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A good leg kick by Maher.
Maher scores with a nice right hand.
Maher connects with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morales darts in looking for a takedown but Maher gets double underhooks and turns Morales into the cage.
Maher changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Maher fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Maher enables Morales to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Maher manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Maher looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Maher keeping full guard, as Morales tries to pass.
Morales scoring with punches to the head and body.

Maher has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Morales doesn't defend quickly enough and Maher has managed to lock this one up! Can Morales escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Maher on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Jason Maher!