PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marc Sandal (ranked 25471 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Morgan (ranked 5810 p4p, 0 weight class). Marc Sandal has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Sandal
vs
Morgan

180 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

175 cm
21
170 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Marc Sandal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Xavier Morgan!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Eliza Hachem and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morgan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Morgan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sandal.

Sandal has taken the fight to the clinch.

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

Sandal moves into the clinch.
Sandal leaning against his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sandal pulls Morgan into guard.
Sandal looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Morgan looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sandal has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Morgan has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Sandal leaning his opponent against the cage.
Morgan prevents the takedown attempt.

Sandal manages to break the clinch.
Sandal tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Morgan defends well and Sandal ends up having to push Morgan into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Morgan looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marc Sandal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sandal tries to close the distance and clinch but Morgan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sandal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Morgan does it's job there.
Sandal looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Morgan is fending him off so far but Sandal persists. Nope, Morgan circles away and we're back to standing.
And Morgan tries to counter it with a takedown but Sandal pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Morgan fails with a takedown attempt.
Sandal fails to land the takedown.
Morgan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sandal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Morgan feints and as Sandal raises his hands in defense, Morgan changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Morgan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sandal is keeping the position for now.
Morgan is still trying to improve position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morgan pushes down on Sandal's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sandal tries to get to full guard but Morgan has control of the leg.
Morgan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sandal keeps working.

Morgan seems to be working for a kimura but Sandal defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sandal knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Morgan is keen to just control but Sandal is a slippery customer.
Morgan is pressing down on Sandal's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sandal is holding on for now.
Morgan passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Sandal!
Morgan tries to control but Sandal wriggling away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sandal wants to control but Morgan is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Xavier Morgan will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sandal closes the distance and clinches.

Sandal manages to break the clinch.
Sandal is looking to clinch.

Sandal has closed the distance and engaged Morgan in a clinch.
Sandal tries to score a body lock takedown but Morgan shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Morgan is pressed up against the cage. Sandal has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Morgan down to the mat. Morgan avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Marc Sandal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sandal closes the distance and pushes Morgan back into the cage.
Morgan gets underhooks to prevent Sandal's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marc Sandal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sandal tries to pull guard but Morgan forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Sandal breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sandal clinches up against the cage.
Sandal leaning his opponent against the cage.
Sandal misses with a hook to the ribs.
Morgan tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sandal lands with a light punch inside.
Sandal lands a knee to the head.
The referee calls for Sandal to work.
Sandal gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Morgan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sandal scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Xavier Morgan has been cut.
Sandal landing some nice looking knees to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Sandal prevents the takedown attempt.
Morgan is pressed up against the cage. Sandal has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Morgan down to the mat. Morgan avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Morgan tries for a takedown but Sandal sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
It looked like Sandal wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Morgan circles away from the clinch attempt.

Sandal closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan can't get the takedown.
Sandal makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Morgan has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sandal is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Morgan stops a takedown attempt from Sandal.
Sandal lands with a right to the head.
Morgan jumps guard but Sandal turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Sandal changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Morgan fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sandal looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sandal is looking to clinch but Morgan is avoiding it.
Sandal is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Morgan can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sandal tries to clinch up but Morgan circles away and keeps his distance.
Sandal with a poor takedown

and Morgan counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

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

Morgan is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sandal sees it coming and defends easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Morgan frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Morgan mounts Sandal! Really nice guard pass there!
Morgan sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Morgan looking to secure an arm triangle but Sandal defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marc Sandal dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Xavier Morgan's cut.
That's time! Sandal's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sandal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sandal fails in his attempt to clinch.
Morgan avoids the head kick by Sandal.
Morgan changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Morgan tries to keep at a distance but Sandal has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sandal scores a nice knee to the body.

Sandal jumps guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morgan wants to control from the top but Sandal keeps moving.
Morgan postures up.
Sandal wants to get back to his feet but Morgan is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan passes into half guard.
Morgan performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Morgan looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Morgan trying to control from half guard but Sandal is working away.
Xavier Morgan has got the better of the ground game so far.

Morgan wants to work for an arm triangle but Sandal is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Sandal is defending against the submission attempts here by Morgan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sandal has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Morgan is working away from the top position though.
Morgan is keen to just control but Sandal is a slippery customer.
Sandal wants to improve his position but Morgan is controlling well.
Morgan works his way into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Morgan is looking to take a break and control but Sandal is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sandal is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Sandal is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Morgan is looking to advance position but Sandal won't allow it.

Sandal manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Morgan keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Morgan tries for a takedown but Sandal manages to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Morgan manages to pull guard.

Sandal is posturing up here but Morgan has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Sandal tries to roll out but it's too tight and Sandal has to tap! Slick submission there by Morgan!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Xavier Morgan!