PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Duane Morris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aaron Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aaron Smith has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Duane Morris's chin.

Morris
vs
Smith

221 cm
19
161 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
161 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Duane Morris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Aaron Smith!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Chris Dean and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

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

Morris wants the takedown. Smith is fighting it off but Morris persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Smith's guard against the cage.

Smith is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Morris presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Smith ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Smith no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Morris won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morris prevents Smith from getting back to his feet.
Smith being controlled here, momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith controls Morris momentarily but Morris frees himself.
Morris tries to stand but Smith is controlling from the bottom.
Morris is stalling in the full guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Morris will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morris cracks Smith with a solid left hand.
Smith avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Morris postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Aaron Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Smith tries to land a front kick but Morris steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Morris gets tackled into the cage by Smith. Smith maintains the clinch.
Morris is looking to take this one to the mat.
Morris tries to pull guard but Smith won't allow it.
Smith tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Morris's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Smith no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Morris scoring with punches to the head and body.
Smith is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Morris has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Morris working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Morris postures up and lands a big shot to Smith's brow.
Morris prevents Smith from getting back to his feet.
Smith has momentary wrist control but Morris slips an elbow through the middle.
Morris keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Smith's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to keep Morris in close.
Morris sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Morris postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Smith working for a triangle but Morris defends it easily.
Morris distracts Smith with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Morris works over Smith with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Morris is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Morris is working Smith over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Smith has an active guard here but Morris has managed to pass into half guard.
Smith looks winded!
Morris scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Morris scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Morris working the head and body with strikes.
Morris controlling the action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
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 Duane Morris will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Morris moves into the clinch.
Smith gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Morris.
Smith holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Morris jumps guard but Smith stands there with Morris around his waist. Morris gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morris is looking to break free of the clinch but Smith has double underhooks.

Morris ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Morris no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Morris is looking to stand up but Smith isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to control from the top but Morris keeps moving.
Morris striking off his back, scoring a few points.

Morris pushes Smith off and scrambles back to his feet.

Smith closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Morris to the mat! Morris manages to get full guard.

Morris scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Smith decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Morris. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Morris pushes Smith off looking to stand but Smith dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morris trying to control but Smith postures up.

Morris manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Smith rushes Morris and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Morris jumps guard but Smith stands there with Morris around his waist. Morris gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Duane Morris. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morris tries for a takedown. No joy.
Morris avoiding damage as Smith throws knees to the body.
Smith content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Morris is looking to break free of the clinch but Smith has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith gets control of Morris's arms and successfully pulls guard. Smith will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Morris with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Smith trying to control the position.

Morris gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Morris.
Smith with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Morris drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Smith gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Morris has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Smith stops a takedown attempt from Morris.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Morris decides to pull guard.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Morris is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Morris scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Smith clinches up with Morris and pushes him back against the cage.
Morris tries to pull guard but Smith holds him up against the cage and eventually Morris drops back down to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duane Morris dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - 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.

Morris lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Smith backs up against the cage.

Smith forces Morris back against the cage and clinches.
Smith has Morris pushed against the cage.
Morris has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Smith is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Morris tries for a takedown but Smith manages to get underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Smith.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but Morris avoids the damage to the body.
Smith tries to throw a body punch but Morris avoids it by throwing Smith back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith jumps into guard, dragging Morris to the mat.
Morris working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Morris is in close to Smith's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Morris makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Smith has his feet on Morris's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Smith forces Morris back against the cage and clinches.
Morris is trying to push Smith away but Smith has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Smith using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Smith is trying to maintain a safe position but Morris gets an underhook and turns Smith into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith unloads a knee to the mid-section. Morris lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Smith clinches.
Smith keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Morris's efforts to push away.
Smith using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Morris has Smith pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Morris pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Smith tumbling to the mat - Morris dives into Smith's guard.

Smith pushes Morris off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith rushes Morris and presses him up against the cage.
Morris tries to pull guard but Smith forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Duane Morris. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith connects with a nasty looking knee right to Morris's face.

Smith manages to break the clinch.

Smith gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Morris tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

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

Morris tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morris is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Smith is defending well for now.
Aaron Smith seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Morris wants to take the fight to the mat but Smith manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Smith wants the takedown. Morris is fighting it off but Smith persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Morris's guard against the cage.

Morris has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Smith off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Smith gets the takedown into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Morris wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aaron Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Skip Squint scores the fight 29:29
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 29:29
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!