PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Leonardo Moraes (ranked 3832 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khon Saroth (ranked 7227 p4p, 0 weight class). Leonardo Moraes has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Moraes
vs
Saroth

175 cm
25
157 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

172 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Leonardo Moraes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Khon Saroth!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Columbo Gatti and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saroth shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Moraes as he jumps to the side.
Saroth shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Moraes holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Moraes has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Saroth clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Saroth trying to control the hands but Moraes won't let him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saroth turns into Moraes and is now in his guard.

Saroth stands up and waves to Moraes to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Saroth.
A big left from Moraes misses.

Moraes has closed the distance and engaged Saroth in a clinch.
Saroth fails to pull guard.
Leonardo Moraes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khon Saroth.

Moraes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Saroth shoots in for a takedown but Moraes shows good takedown defense.
A head kick misses from Moraes.
A combination from Moraes does no damage.
Saroth shapes to counter with a head kick.

Moraes closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Moraes controlling the pace.
Saroth pushes Moraes off looking to stand but Moraes dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saroth trying to control but Moraes postures up.
Moraes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Moraes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Moraes prevents Saroth from improving his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Saroth fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Moraes shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Moraes was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Saroth looks winded!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
You can see the frustration on Saroth's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saroth tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Saroth regains half guard.
Saroth trying to hold on to Moraes's head to control him but Moraes postures up.
Saroth wants to improve his position but Moraes is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Moraes takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Moraes is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Moraes gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Saroth gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Moraes counters by clinching up.
Saroth is trying to push Moraes away but Moraes has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Moraes has hold of one of Saroth's legs. Saroth is fighting the takedown attempt but Moraes gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Moraes throwing strikes from guard but Saroth blocks nicely.
Saroth is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Moraes shoots in and bounces Saroth off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Saroth is trying to control the position but Moraes postures up.

Saroth has his foot on Moraes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Moraes works his way back into a safe position though.
Moraes scoring with punches to the head and body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saroth wants to sweep but no luck.
Saroth bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Moraes's guard.

Moraes trying to control the position here.
Saroth wants to control from the top but Moraes keeps moving.
Saroth is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moraes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Saroth is controlling him.
Moraes wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Moraes keeping moving, preventing Saroth from controlling successfully.
Saroth is pushing down on Moraes's leg trying to pass to half guard. Moraes is fighting to maintain full guard but Saroth has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two 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.

Saroth decides to stand and escape the position.
Moraes blocks the body kick.

Moraes has taken the fight to the clinch.
Saroth is looking to break free of the clinch but Moraes has double underhooks.
Saroth wants to stall.

Moraes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Saroth takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Saroth connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Moraes drives through with a takedown into Saroth's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Saroth manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saroth tries to keep at a distance but Moraes has taken the fight into the clinch.

Moraes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Moraes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Saroth throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Moraes throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Saroth was covering up waiting for the punch and Moraes finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Moraes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saroth works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Saroth trying to control the position.
Moraes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Saroth on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Saroth is looking for a triangle here but Moraes uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Saroth trying to remain calm as Moraes controls from the top position.
Moraes scores with punches from side control.
Saroth can't do much from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Moraes controlling the position.
You can see the frustration on Saroth's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonardo Moraes dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Saroth fails with the takedown

and Moraes holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Saroth tries to pull guard but Moraes forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Saroth is looking to control Moraes's arms but Moraes gets an underhook and turns him. Now Saroth has his back to the cage.

Moraes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A combination from Saroth does no damage.
Saroth avoids a punch combination nicely.
Saroth unleashes a big counter combination but Moraes bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Moraes is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Saroth's half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moraes is keen to just control but Saroth is a slippery customer.
Moraes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saroth can do to turn this around?
Saroth takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moraes is controlling the pace.
Saroth trying to control here.
Moraes keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
It looks like Moraes is going to stand back up.

Moraes is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Saroth is just riding it out for now. Moraes eventually gives up the hold.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

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.
Moraes content to control rather than advance.

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

Saroth gets caught flat footed, as Moraes shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Saroth looking for a sweep. Not yet Saroth, not yet.
Moraes is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moraes's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Leonardo Moraes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Saroth working for a triangle but Moraes defends it easily.
Moraes sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Saroth controls Moraes momentarily but Moraes frees himself.

That's four 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.
Saroth is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Moraes closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Saroth's guard.
Saroth wants to get back to his feet but Moraes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Moraes throws a big right hand that misses.
Khon Saroth has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leonardo Moraes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Moraes has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Moraes looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leonardo Moraes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Moraes has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonardo Moraes!