PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dexter Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesse Blake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Morgan might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Johnny Cash - Hurt. Blake has chosen The Pretty Reckless - Take me down as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Morgan
vs
Blake

185 cm
43
194 lbs
33 - 16 - 2

185 cm
26
201 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Dexter Morgan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jesse Blake!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Trevor Gratis and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blake gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Blake takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Blake tries to clinch but Morgan moves out of range.
Morgan takes one to the chin there.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Blake has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Jesse Blake seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Morgan throws a body punch but Blake moves out of range.
Blake tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Morgan defends well and Blake ends up having to push Morgan into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A head kick misses from Blake.
Nice body kick there by Blake.
Morgan tried to score with a low kick but Blake checks it.
Morgan takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Morgan connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Morgan gets caught flat footed, as Blake shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
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.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blake pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Morgan is keeping the position for now.
Blake slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Morgan is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan wants to stand up but Blake is controlling him.
Blake being controlled here momentarily.
Morgan keeping full guard, as Blake tries to pass.
Morgan trying to keep a closed guard but Blake is proving a slippery customer.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Blake stands up over Morgan, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blake controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Blake looking to pass the guard.
Blake is in close to Morgan's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Morgan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Blake.
Morgan has Blake pulled in close to control his posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Morgan connects with the punch.
Blake is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Morgan scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Blake misses with a kick to the body.
Morgan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Morgan is looking to chop away at Blake's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
A nice leg kick lands there from Morgan.
Morgan throws a looping overhand right but Blake ducks down to avoid it.
Blake avoids a punch combination nicely.
Morgan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice takedown defense from Morgan. No joy for Blake on that attempt.
It looked like Morgan wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Morgan on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Blake. Blake obviously looking to wear him down.
Blake tries to clinch up
and Morgan counters with a one-two to the body.
Blake throws a lazy head kick
and Morgan counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Blake swinging wildly here.
As Blake looks to move away, Morgan throws a big counter combo but Blake just gets out of the way.
Blake looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan avoids a kick to the body.
Morgan finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Morgan darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Blake misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Morgan throws a looping overhand right but Blake ducks down to avoid it.
Blake shoots in looking for a takedown but Morgan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Blake's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Dexter Morgan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesse Blake.
Morgan checks a leg kick.
Morgan slaps away a takedown attempt from Blake, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nice shot by Morgan.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Blake.
Morgan scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Morgan lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Blake shoots for a double leg takedown but Morgan sprawls well. He's pushed Blake's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Blake tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dexter Morgan dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Morgan throws a body punch but Blake moves out of range.
Blake will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Blake misses with the combination.
Morgan lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Blake backs up against the cage.

It looks like Jesse Blake has been cut.
Blake misses with a low kick as Morgan jumps back.
Blake tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Morgan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Blake can do to turn this around?
Blake shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Morgan eats them both and turns towards Blake to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Blake throws a head kick that misses
and Morgan makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Morgan misses with a hook.
Blake tries to clinch there but Morgan circles away.
Morgan throws a body shot but no joy.
Morgan sizes up Blake with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Morgan stuffs the takedown attempt from Blake. Blake gets slowly back to his feet.
Blake throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blake lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Morgan misses with a low kick as Blake jumps back.
Dexter Morgan is winning the standup battle so far.
Blake shoots in and drives through. Morgan sprawls well.
It looked like Morgan was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Blake.
Dexter Morgan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesse Blake.
Morgan comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Blake is breathing heavily.
Blake throws out a leg kick but Morgan moves out of range and Blake only half commits.
Morgan appears to be looking for a big counter.
Morgan's corner calls for a 1-2. Morgan obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Morgan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Blake was well out of range. Poor timing from Morgan.
Blake misses with a wild combination.
Morgan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Blake misses with an attempted mid kick.
Blake throws a right and a left that Morgan avoids nicely.
Morgan turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd cheers as Morgan lands an impressive looking overhand right. Blake doesn't seem phased though.
Morgan lands with a straight right. Blake didn't see that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morgan scores with a nice strike.

Blake is rocked!
Blake fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Morgan swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Morgan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Blake was well out of range. Poor timing from Morgan.
Blake waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Morgan.
Morgan was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
That kick from Morgan tenderised Blake's leg. Blake is trying to keep his angry face on.

Blake gets a takedown into half guard.

Blake is looking for a kimura but Morgan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Blake to get the leverage.
Morgan wants to control but Blake is keeping busy.

Blake stands up out of the half guard.
Blake jabs Morgan to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Dexter Morgan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan just misses with a punch to the body.
Morgan looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Morgan throws a leg kick but Blake sees it coming and moves out of range.
Jesse Blake is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Morgan looks to score with a jab to the body but Blake is just out of range.
Morgan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Blake.
Blake keeps Morgan at a distance using the push kick.
Morgan tries to land a leg kick but Blake saw it coming and moves away.
Blake is looking for the big counter here.
Danga de danga de dang - Morgan scores with a four punch combination!
Blake throws a low kick but Morgan avoids it.
Blake cracks Morgan with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
An inside leg kick from Morgan misses.
Blake looks to land a body kick but Morgan moved away.
Morgan was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Blake has a takedown stuffed.
Nice takedown defense from Morgan. No joy for Blake on that attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blake closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morgan sneaks back into half guard.
Blake is pressing down on Morgan's thigh, looking to free his foot. Morgan is holding on for now.
Morgan wants to get back to full guard.
Morgan looks like he's trying to stand up.

Blake escapes and gets back to his feet.
Blake throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Morgan stuffs the takedown attempt from Blake. Blake gets slowly back to his feet.
Morgan appears to be looking for a big counter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dexter Morgan dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jesse Blake's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Blake throws a wild body kick that Morgan sees coming a mile off.
Morgan listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Blake has Morgan up against the cage in a clinch.
Morgan scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Blake manages to break the clinch.

Blake shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Morgan uses the cage to get back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Blake scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Morgan manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Blake keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Blake breaks the clinch.
Morgan lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Blake at a distance.
Blake takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Morgan wants to slow Blake down by chopping away at his legs.
Blake uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Morgan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan misses with a straight left.
A punch lands to the side of Blake 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Morgan scores with the left hand. Blake knows he should have avoided that one.
Blake tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Blake misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Morgan swats away the attempt to clinch by Blake.
Blake throws a solid leg kick but Morgan takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Blake.
Blake ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Morgan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
No joy there for Morgan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Morgan throws the kick towards the body but Blake avoids it.
Blake shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Blake displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Morgan throws out the jab.
Morgan misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Jesse Blake has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Blake slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Blake looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Morgan!
Morgan is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Blake is controlling him well.
Morgan wants to control but Blake postures up.
Blake looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Morgan is avoiding damage well.

Blake thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Blake is staying tight to Morgan's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan is pushing Blake's head away, looking to escape. Blake manages to hold on to the position though.
Blake trying to control the action but Morgan is working from the bottom.
Morgan is trying to buck Blake off.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Blake looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blake prevents Morgan from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Blake tries for a kimura but Morgan is defending well.

Blake is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Morgan knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Dexter Morgan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
You can see the frustration on Morgan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Blake is looking to take a break and control but Morgan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Blake shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Morgan napping and manages to drive through into side control!

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Dexter Morgan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Morgan, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:26
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dexter Morgan!
Dexter Morgan took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'Tonight I satisfied the urges of my dark passenger. It's not a want...but a need. I believe I can follow the code all the way to the title. Thanks to Harry and Nights Watch MMA Academy for all the support!'.