PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lyle Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Burton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lyle Morgan had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Morgan
vs
Burton

175 cm
20
151 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

178 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lyle Morgan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johnny Burton!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burton works Morgan's body with a nice hook.
Johnny Burton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burton tries to clinch up

and Morgan counters with a nice double leg into side control. Burton won't be happy with that.

Burton throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Burton gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Burton breaks the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Burton instigates a clinch.
Morgan goes for a takedown in the clinch but Burton prevents it.

Burton gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Burton is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morgan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Burton can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Morgan working a defensive guard here.
Burton engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Burton trying to control the position from guard on top but Morgan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Burton won't allow Morgan to sweep him here.

Morgan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Burton gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Morgan is looking to stand up but Burton isn't so interested in that idea.
Burton's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two 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.
Morgan is trying to keep Burton in close.

Burton stands and steps away. Morgan gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Morgan gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Burton to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Morgan manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Burton as the two fighters clinch.

Burton jumps guard and drags Morgan to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Burton is looking for a triangle but Morgan pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burton wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Burton looks winded!

Morgan stands up and waves to Burton to follow him.

Burton dives in and scores a takedown into Morgan's guard.
Burton wants to control from the top but Morgan keeps moving.

Burton drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Burton jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Morgan is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Burton pulls guard successfully.

Morgan stands up and waves to Burton to follow him.

Morgan moves into range and clinches up with Burton.
Morgan blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Burton has picked Morgan up - he's going for a ride! Burton dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Morgan keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Burton dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Morgan moves into the clinch.

Burton lands a takedown into guard.

Morgan is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Morgan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Burton drives through with a takedown into guard.

Morgan is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Burton presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Burton is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Morgan is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Burton is defending well.
Morgan goes for a takedown attempt but Burton pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Burton shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Morgan is trying to defend but Burton finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Morgan has one foot on Burton's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morgan scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Burton wants to get back to his feet but Morgan is dominant here and he's now got Burton's back!
Morgan avoiding Burton 's attempts to control his hands.
Burton tries to escape but Morgan has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan has Burton flattened out and is raining down punches.

Morgan is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Burton has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Burton looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
You can see the frustration on Burton's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Morgan has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Burton has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Morgan's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Morgan is punishing Burton with strikes - can he finish him?!
You can see the frustration on Burton's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Morgan is punishing Burton with some ground and pound.
Morgan is landing with strikes. Burton can't take much more of this.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Burton doesn't escape.
Morgan lands a shot to the body.
Morgan has the hooks in. Burton is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Morgan controlling from the back.
Morgan lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Morgan is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Burton. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyle Morgan dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Morgan has taken the fight to the clinch.
Morgan tries to score a body lock takedown but Burton shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Morgan wants a takedown but no success here.
Burton tries to circle away but Morgan has him pinned against the cage.

Burton drags the fight down to the ground.

Burton pushes Morgan off and gets back to his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Burton.

Morgan bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Burton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burton looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Morgan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Burton is controlling him.

Morgan looking for a guillotine here but Burton defends easily.

Burton decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Burton closes the distance looking to clinch

and Morgan counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Morgan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Burton's head.
Morgan prevents Burton from getting back to his feet.
Burton controls Morgan momentarily but Morgan frees himself.
Morgan trying to control but Burton is working from the bottom.
Morgan preventing the sweep.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Morgan is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan is in close to Burton's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Morgan decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Burton, up you get!
Nice sprawl there from Burton as Morgan shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lyle Morgan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Morgan forces Burton back against the cage and clinches.

Burton tightens his grip and picks Morgan up, before dumping him to the ground. Morgan manages to land in guard.

Morgan is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Morgan manages to pull guard.
Burton must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Burton trying to control but Morgan is working from the bottom.
Lyle Morgan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burton wanted to stand there but Morgan had control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morgan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Morgan trying to keep a closed guard but Burton is proving a slippery customer.
Morgan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Burton's guard.

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Morgan stands up and waves to Burton to follow him.

Morgan rushes Burton and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Morgan manages to pull guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyle Morgan showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Morgan 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyle Morgan!