PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Xavior Matt (ranked 6327 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Morgan (ranked 6328 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.

Matt
vs
Morgan

180 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

210 cm
20
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Xavior Matt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Matt Morgan!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Richard Clark and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Morgan darts in and clinches Matt up against the cage.

Morgan has hold of one of Matt's legs. Matt is fighting the takedown attempt but Morgan gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Morgan is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Matt looking to hit a scissor sweep but Morgan is one step ahead there.
Matt might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Matt looking to control.
Matt bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Morgan's guard.

Morgan is adopting a defensive guard.
Morgan is continuing to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matt trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Morgan tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Morgan working for a triangle but Matt defends it easily.
Matt makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Morgan wants to sweep here but Matt controlling him for the moment.

Morgan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Matt gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Matt won't allow Morgan to sweep him here.
Matt has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Morgan keeping moving, preventing Matt from controlling successfully.
Morgan pulls Matt in to control the position.
Matt looking to sit in guard and control but Morgan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Matt is trying to control the position but Morgan postures up.
Morgan tries to stand but Matt is controlling from the bottom.
Morgan won't allow Matt to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Morgan drops back looking for a leg! Matt is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Matt manages to kick Morgan off! Morgan jumps back into Matt's guard.
Morgan stays in close to Matt's body and controls the position.

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

Morgan shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Matt's guard.
Matt looking to control.
Morgan passes Matt's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matt makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Morgan closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Matt is looking to get back to his feet here but Morgan is keeping cool and he's managed to take Matt's back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matt tries to break free.
Morgan gets his hands free as Matt looks to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Morgan is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Morgan looking to break Matt's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Matt remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Morgan will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Morgan dominated that round.
That's time! Matt's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Matt wants to clinch.
Morgan wants to counter the offense by Matt and move into the clinch position.

Morgan closes the distance and pushes Matt back into the cage.
Morgan is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Matt is defending well.
Morgan tries to score a body lock takedown but Matt shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Morgan stops a takedown attempt from Matt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matt wants to take the fight to the mat but Morgan manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Morgan manages to break the clinch.
Matt goes for a double leg but Morgan avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Morgan continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavior Matt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A punch combination from Matt misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matt shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Morgan gets a clinch.
Matt is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Morgan to keep the fight standing.
Morgan prevents Matt from breaking the clinch.
Morgan drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Matt working hard to break the clinch.

Morgan manages to break the clinch.

Morgan closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Morgan lands in his opponent's guard.
Matt wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Morgan manages to pass to side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Morgan is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Matt tries to get to full guard but Morgan has control of the leg.
Morgan is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Morgan uses his free foot to push down on Matt's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Matt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan controlling the position easily from mount.
Matt Morgan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Morgan avoids the attempt from Matt to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Morgan sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Matt wants to hold on but Morgan pushes him away.

Morgan has hold of Matt's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Matt manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Morgan sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Morgan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Matt's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

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

Matt working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Morgan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Morgan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Morgan forces his way into half guard.
Morgan is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morgan takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Morgan is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan is in the full mount, landing strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matt in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Morgan controlling from the full mount.
Morgan looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

It looks like Xavior Matt has been cut.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Morgan content just to control the position here.

Matt defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Morgan.
Morgan postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Matt looks a forlorn figure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Morgan takes Matt's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Matt is in trouble.

Matt is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Morgan gets his way!
Matt is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Morgan looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Morgan has good solid back control here.

Morgan has managed to slip his arm under Matt's chin. This could be all over... yep, Matt is tapping out! Submission win for Morgan.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Matt Morgan!