PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ludwig Manres (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manres kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Aqualung - Jethro Tull. Morgan has chosen Sherry Monocle as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Manres
vs
Morgan

182 cm
45
186 lbs
34 - 37 - 1

160 cm
37
171 lbs
24 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 34 - 37 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Ludwig Manres!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Simon Morgan!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Wagner Zegers and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manres misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Manres shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Morgan's guard.

Morgan had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Manres defends it easily.
Manres looking to pass the guard.
Manres slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Morgan told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manres tries to free his leg and advance position but Morgan is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manres trying to control but Morgan is working from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Manres's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Manres wants to control from the top but Morgan keeps moving.
Manres landing with the ground and pound.
Manres postures up and lands a big shot to Morgan's brow.
Morgan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Morgan being controlled here, momentarily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Manres accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Morgan wants to get back to his feet but Manres is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Manres throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Morgan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manres works over Morgan with some ground and pound from guard.
Manres stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Morgan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Morgan looking to control.
Manres looking to pass the guard.
Morgan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Morgan wants to sweep here but Manres controlling him for the moment.
Manres is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Manres keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Morgan's head.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Manres loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Morgan is looking to stand up but Manres isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Manres accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Manres wants to pass the guard but Morgan is keeping the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Morgan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Manres moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Morgan trying to control the position from guard on top but Manres is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morgan wants to get up but he can't break Manres's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Manres is keeping the position for now.
Manres is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Morgan is looking to pass into half guard but Manres pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Manres is in guard.

Morgan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Manres is one step ahead there.
Morgan trying to keep a closed guard but Manres is proving a slippery customer.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Manres working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ludwig Manres dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Manres shoots in and drives through. Morgan sprawls well.
Morgan throws a body shot but no joy.
A combination from Manres does no damage.
Morgan just misses with a punch to the body.
Morgan throws a body shot but no joy.
Morgan stuffs the takedown attempt from Manres. Manres gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manres throws a right and a left that Morgan avoids nicely.
Manres blocks a head kick by Morgan.
A head kick misses from Morgan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan misses with a few strikes there.
Manres avoids a punch combination nicely.

Manres clinches.
Manres is trying to pull guard but Morgan has him pressed against the ropes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ludwig Manres. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manres drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Morgan gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Morgan breaks from the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Morgan. No joy for Manres on that attempt.
Manres doesn't manage to clinch there - Morgan circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manres tries to score a power double leg takedown but Morgan sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Manres somewhat.
Manres slips a jab and a cross from Morgan.
Morgan connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Manres takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ludwig Manres is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A looping hook to the body misses from Morgan. Manres does a little dance to reset his feet.
Manres misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manres fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Simon Morgan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Crunch! Morgan slams his shin into Manres's torso.
Manres throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Morgan's waist but Morgan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Manres off to one side.
Simon Morgan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Morgan lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Manres at a distance.
Morgan turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Manres takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Morgan throws a nice looking combination but Manres bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Morgan looks to land a combination. Manres sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manres shoots in and drives through. Morgan sprawls well.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Morgan! But no joy.
Morgan lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Manres at a distance.
Manres tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Morgan swivels and escapes.
Morgan lands with a shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Manres tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Morgan lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Manres looks for a takedown but Morgan sprawls well.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Morgan! But no joy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Morgan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Manres tries for a takedown but Morgan circles away easily
and Morgan counters with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Morgan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Morgan throws a body shot but no joy.
Morgan stuffs the takedown.
Morgan throws a counter combo.
Manres needs to keep his hands up - Morgan had a free shot at his head there.
Manres shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Morgan sprawls well. Morgan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Manres gets slowly back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Morgan.
Manres appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manres steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Morgan.
Morgan connects with an inside leg kick.
Manres tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan throws a head kick that half lands.
Morgan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Manres circles away quickly and effectively.
Manres is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Morgan.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Manres.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ludwig Manres. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morgan digs a good body shot into Manres's ribs.
Manres lands a nice shot that snaps Morgan's head back.
Morgan throws a series of punches but Manres moves out of range.
Manres throws a big counter combination but Morgan scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Manres on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan stuffs the takedown.
Manres drops his hands momentarily and Morgan takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Morgan throws a right hand that Manres ducks under and follows up with a left that Manres also avoids with ease.
Manres is looking to counter punch.
Morgan scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Morgan throws a leg kick that misses.
Manres seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Morgan is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Manres rather than just go for the knockout.
Manres shoots in looking for a takedown. Morgan tries to sprawl out of it but Manres keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Morgan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Morgan fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Manres has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Manres attempts a counter takedown but Morgan avoids it well and moves away.
Morgan throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Manres blocks a jab.
It looked like Manres was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Morgan checks a leg kick nicely.
A head kick misses from Morgan.
As Morgan tries to get set, Manres tries to push him back and clinch up but Morgan manages to avoid the attempt.
Morgan throws a body punch but Manres moves out of range.
Manres uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Morgan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Morgan. No joy for Manres on that attempt.
Morgan jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Simon Morgan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Morgan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Manres takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Morgan digs a good body shot into Manres's ribs.
Manres fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Morgan lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morgan jabs at Manres's body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Simon Morgan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Morgan has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Simon Morgan!
Simon Morgan took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.