PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gregory Morris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Haymax (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Morris
vs
Haymax

209 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

189 cm
25
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gregory Morris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Paul Haymax!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haymax fails with a takedown attempt.
Morris changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Haymax tries to avoid it but Morris manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Haymax to the ground. Haymax escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Haymax tries for a takedown but Morris circles away easily
and Morris counters with a series of strikes. Haymax will be more careful next time no doubt.
Morris fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Haymax avoids it really well and circles away.
Haymax is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Morris. No joy for Haymax on that attempt.
Gregory Morris has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Haymax.
Haymax doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Morris counters with a series of strikes. Haymax will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haymax shoots in looking for a takedown but Morris manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Haymax's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Morris shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Haymax defends it nicely.
Horrible takedown attempt by Morris or perhaps it was just good defense by Haymax, which made it look bad.
Haymax throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Morris counters with a one-two to the body.
Haymax looks for a takedown but Morris sprawls well.
Morris is looking for a counter combo.
Haymax shoots in for a double leg but Morris sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haymax with a lazy takedown attempt

and Morris counters with a takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Haymax is looking for a sweep.
Haymax pushes Morris away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Morris gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haymax is trying to get back to half guard.
Haymax can't do much from the bottom here.
Haymax gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
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!
Haymax wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haymax controlling the position well.
Morris knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Haymax on the ground.
Haymax is trying to control but can't.
Haymax is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Morris jumps into side control!
Haymax tries to improve position but can't.
Haymax keeps trying to improve his position.

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.
Haymax is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Morris off and has taken his back!
Morris tries to escape the position.
Haymax somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Haymax trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Morris doesn't escape.

Morris preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Haymax.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Morris tries to escape but Haymax has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gregory Morris dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Haymax is looking to slow Morris down with leg kicks.
Haymax shoots in and drives through. Morris sprawls well.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Haymax.
Morris misses with a jab, cross combination.
Haymax wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haymax throws a series of punches but Morris avoids them all with ease.
Morris drops down looking for a counter takedown but Haymax sprawls and moves away.
Haymax fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Morris is out of range.
Morris appears to be looking for a big counter.
Haymax throws a body kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haymax shoots in for a double leg but Morris sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Morris was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Gregory Morris has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Haymax.
Haymax swats away the attempt to clinch by Morris.
Morris really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Morris fails with the takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Morris. No joy for Haymax on that attempt.
Morris seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Morris leaves Haymax with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Haymax is breathing heavily.
Morris goes for a double leg but Haymax avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Haymax continues to drive forward.
Haymax fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Morris tries to counter by clinching up but Haymax breaks away and moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Morris scores with a four punch combination!
Morris slaps away a takedown attempt from Haymax, before circling back to the center of the mat.
No luck for Morris with that takedown attempt.
Morris fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haymax fails with the takedown.
Morris is looking for a counter combo.
Gregory Morris is winning the standup battle so far.
Haymax throws a sloppy head kick and Morris moves out of range easily.
Haymax throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Morris's waist but Morris gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Haymax off to one side.
Morris tries to counter with a takedown but Haymax is quick to defend against it.
Morris dives in and grabs Haymax's left leg, looking for a takedown. Haymax pushes down on Morris's head and hops out.
Haymax fails to land the takedown.
Morris misses with a two punch combination.
Morris has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morris keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Haymax shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Morris as he avoids it easily.
Morris closes the distance and clinches up with Haymax, looking for a takedown. Morris pushes Haymax against the cage but Haymax circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Morris throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Haymax holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Morris is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Haymax manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Haymax has Morris pulled in close to control his posture.
Morris throws an elbow that misses. Haymax uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Morris's guard. Nice move by Haymax!

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Paul Haymax will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes 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.

Haymax looks for a takedown but Morris sprawls well.
Haymax shoots in looking for a takedown but Morris manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Haymax's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Morris tries to counter with a takedown but Haymax is quick to defend against it.
Morris blocks a head kick by Haymax.
As Haymax tries to get set, Morris tries to push him back and clinch up but Haymax manages to avoid the attempt.

Haymax has taken the fight to the clinch.

Haymax pulls guard.
Haymax trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morris wanted to stand there but Haymax had control of the position.
Haymax looking to control.
Morris has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Haymax takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Haymax escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Morris gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Haymax has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Morris can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Haymax is striking from the bottom but Morris uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Haymax keeping hold of Morris's head, controlling as best he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Haymax wants to control but Morris is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Morris blocks the strikes from Haymax.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Haymax rushes Morris and presses him up against the cage.
Morris fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Haymax's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Morris scores with a hook to the body. Haymax takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Haymax shoots in for a double leg but Morris sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gregory Morris has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Haymax.
Haymax shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Morris sprawls well. Morris wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Haymax gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morris fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Haymax darts in looking for a takedown but Morris gets double underhooks and turns Haymax into the cage.

Haymax darts in and clinches Morris up against the cage.
Morris is trying to drag Haymax to the mat but Haymax just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Morris has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Haymax avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Haymax breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Haymax or perhaps it was just good defense by Morris, which made it look bad.
Morris keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Morris tries to counter with a takedown but Haymax is quick to defend against it.
Gregory Morris is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Haymax misses with a takedown

and Morris decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Haymax's guard.
Haymax wants to stand but Morris is controlling the position.
Morris is looking to stand up but Haymax won't let him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Morris postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gregory Morris.
I think Morris has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Gregory Morris!