PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jessup Pike (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Morales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Pike
vs
Morales

184 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jessup Pike!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jose Morales!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Chris Edwards and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pike shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Pike stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Morales swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pike is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Pike stops Morales from standing up.
Morales looking to control.
Morales is looking to stand up but Pike isn't so interested in that idea.
Pike stays in close to Morales's body and controls the position.
Morales is trying to control the position but Pike postures up.
Pike controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morales looking for a sweep. Not yet Morales, not yet.
Pike sitting in guard here, content to control.
Pike trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pike missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pike trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Pike stands up from Morales's guard - Pike perhaps looking for a knockout.

Pike gets the takedown into side control.
Morales looks gassed!

Pike is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Morales has escaped the position, nice work there.
Pike controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pike gets to mount! Morales was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Pike looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pike looking to finish Morales with some ground and pound. This is bad for Morales!
Pike content just to control the position here.

Pike get's back to his feet.

Pike shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Pike lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morales wants to improve his position but Pike is controlling well.

Morales kicks off Pike and gets to his feet.
Pike avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Morales throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Morales misses with a takedown attempt

and Pike counters by moving into the clinch.
Morales wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pike tries to score a body lock takedown but Morales shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Pike wants to stall.

Morales gets a trip takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pike wants to improve his position but Morales is controlling well.
Pike on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Pike is trying to maintain the position but Morales is very close to passing his half guard.
Pike gets full guard.
Morales stopping the sweep attempt from Pike.
Pike has his hands on Morales's head, controlling the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pike has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jessup Pike dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Pike tries to land a front kick but Morales steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Pike drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Pike taking a breather here.

Pike is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Morales knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Morales is trying to control Pike's posture but Pike avoids it.
Morales tries to buck Pike off but Pike is having none of it.
Morales being controlled for a moment.
Morales is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Jessup Pike just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Morales chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Jose Morales seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Morales is looking to clinch but Pike is avoiding it.

Morales gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Pike jumps guard.
Pike looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Pike lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Morales!
Morales is trying to escape the mount.
Pike controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pike working the ground and pound effectively.

Pike gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Pike changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Morales looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Morales regains half guard.
Morales trying to hold on to Pike's head to control him but Pike postures up.
Morales wants to get back to full guard.
Morales is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Pike is trying to work for a kimura but Morales is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morales landing a few short strikes.
Pike is taking a breather. Morales says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Pike is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Morales defends it well.
Pike stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jessup Pike dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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.

Pike closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Pike is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Pike sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Jessup Pike just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Pike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pike just content to control the position.
Morales is looking for a sweep.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Morales wants to control but Pike postures up.

Pike decides to stand up, so the ref orders Morales to his feet.

Pike bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pike working the strikes but Morales uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Pike trying to mount his opponent but Morales defends it.
Pike is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Morales has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pike is working away from the top position though.
Pike controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pike is looking to advance position but Morales won't allow it.
Pike slows the pace down in half guard.

Pike is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Pike is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Morales reverses the position - he's now on top in Pike's guard.
Morales is fighting to break Pike's control of his arms but Pike is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Jessup Pike overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Pike has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Morales should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Pike has tightened it up now! Morales should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Jessup Pike!