PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hans Morton (ranked 5248 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Cormier (ranked 5907 p4p, 0 weight class). Hans Morton has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Morton
vs
Cormier

194 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hans Morton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jon Cormier!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cormier fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jon Cormier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cormier tries to keep at a distance but Morton has taken the fight into the clinch.

Morton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Morton slips a jab and a cross from Cormier.
Morton tries to close the distance and clinch but Cormier swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Cormier shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cormier showed some decent athleticism there.
Cormier wants to stand up but Morton manages to regain full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cormier trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Morton is on top in guard.

Morton stopping the sweep attempt from Cormier.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morton postures up.
Morton wanted to stand there but Cormier had control of the position.
Morton wants to stand and escape but instead Cormier has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Cormier preventing the sweep.
Cormier trying to control the position from guard on top but Morton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cormier wants to stand and escape but instead Morton has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morton is in close to Cormier's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Cormier is trying to keep Morton in close.
Morton wants to stand but Cormier has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Cormier trying to keep a closed guard but Morton is proving a slippery customer.
Morton in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Morton decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cormier, up you get!

Cormier closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Morton quickly recovers to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morton is trying to maintain the position but Cormier is very close to passing his half guard.
Morton is not content to let Cormier control the position.
Cormier wants to pass to mount but Morton is defending the position.
Cormier wants to lay and pray for a moment but Morton keeps working.
Morton is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Morton is working hard here to advance position.
We've been informed that Cormier has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Morton is defending against the submission attempts here by Cormier.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Cormier looks to throw a body kick

and Morton counters by clinching up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Morton tries to pull guard but Cormier holds him up against the cage and eventually Morton drops back down to his feet.

Cormier gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Morton regains guard.
Cormier looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jon Cormier will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cormier wants to clinch.
Cormier throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Cormier looking to score a takedown here. Morton is defending well but Cormier drives through and ends up in Morton's guard.
Morton wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Cormier manages to pass to side control.

Cormier throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morton gets back to full guard.
Morton bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cormier's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cormier is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Morton wants to stand but Cormier has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Cormier looking to control.

Morton gets to his feet - Cormier follows without any prompting.

Cormier closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Morton quickly recovers to half guard.

Morton kicks Cormier off and gets back to his feet.

Cormier scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Morton tries to bench press Cormier off him but Cormier keeps the position.
Cormier wants to stand but Morton has his arm trapped.
Cormier working the strikes but Morton uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Cormier trying to pass the guard but Morton defending well.
Morton is trying to get back to full guard.
Cormier is looking to advance position but Morton won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier wants to control but Morton is keeping him busy.
Cormier content to control rather than advance.

Morton is defending against the submission attempts here by Cormier.
Morton moves into full guard.

That's four 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.
Cormier controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Jon Cormier has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cormier trying to control but Morton is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Cormier looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Morton is not content to let Cormier control the position.
Cormier perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jon Cormier will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Cormier throws an overhand right that lands on Morton's shoulder, as Morton tries to avoid the shot.

Cormier drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Morton will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cormier trying to control the position from guard on top but Morton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morton keeping full guard, as Cormier tries to pass.
Morton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Morton bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cormier's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cormier wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Morton is now in half guard.
Cormier is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morton tries to stand and escape but Cormier is controlling the position.

Morton is trying to work for a kimura but Cormier is defending well.

Morton stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Cormier to get to his feet.

Morton darts in and clinches Cormier up against the cage.

Cormier pulls guard effortlessly.
Cormier trying to keep a closed guard but Morton is proving a slippery customer.
Morton is looking to stand up but Cormier won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cormier tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Morton trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cormier's guard.
Cormier is wriggling around but Morton manages to pass to half guard.

Morton is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cormier is just riding it out for now. Morton eventually gives up the hold.
Cormier keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Morton working over Cormier with some ground and pound. Cormier looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Cormier is doing well to control the position and prevent Morton from advancing to side control.
Cormier wants to get back to full guard.

Morton stands up and beckons Cormier to join him on the feet.

Morton moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morton is trying to break the clinch but Cormier is controlling him.
Stalling in the clinch from Morton.

Cormier jumps guard.

Morton gets to his feet. Cormier looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Morton gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Morton wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cormier has him pressed against the cage.

Cormier has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Morton is trying to keep an underhook but Cormier manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Cormier controlling the action here.
Cormier tries to stand and escape but Morton is controlling the position.
Hans Morton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jon Cormier is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cormier with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hans Morton showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cormier has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Jon Cormier!