PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eliott Leighton (ranked 2128 p4p, 1580 weight class) and Chase Morgan (ranked 287 p4p, 219 weight class). Leighton comes to the cage accompanied by Bad to the Bone - George Thorogood. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Leighton
vs
Morgan

191 cm
31
204
13 - 14 - 0

185 cm
33
214
16 - 15 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite 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 13 - 14 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Eliott Leighton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chase Morgan!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Sergei Dronov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leighton steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Morgan.
A big left from Morgan misses.
Leighton wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Leighton avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Morgan takes a swing at Leighton's ribcage but misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Morgan misses the target.
Morgan clobbers Leighton with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A jab from Morgan misses.
Leighton tries to counter with a takedown but Morgan is quick to defend against it.
Morgan scores with a spinning back kick!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morgan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Leighton.
Leighton appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Morgan has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Morgan lands a jab to Leighton's midsection.
Morgan scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leighton steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Morgan.
A shot to the liver by Morgan. Beautiful body shot.
Morgan lands with a right hand.
Leighton looks for a takedown but Morgan sprawls well.
Morgan jabs at Leighton's body.
Morgan misses with a wild combination.

Leighton closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Morgan's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leighton trying to control but Morgan is working from the bottom.

Morgan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Leighton doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Leighton manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Leighton won't allow Morgan to sweep him here.
Morgan keeps trying to improve his position.
Leighton wants to control from the top but Morgan keeps moving.
Leighton looking to sit in guard and control but Morgan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Morgan wants to pass the guard but Leighton is keeping the position.
Morgan trying to control the position from guard on top but Leighton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Leighton is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Morgan is aware though and is defending well.
Leighton striking off his back but it's not causing Morgan any problems.
Morgan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Morgan works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Morgan tries to pass to full mount but Leighton defends it.
Morgan working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Leighton is staying active underneath Morgan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan is looking to advance position but Leighton won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morgan scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Morgan is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Leighton is refusing to be controlled, as Morgan sits in half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Morgan lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Leighton gets full guard.

Morgan got a little sloppy there for a moment and Leighton has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Morgan has managed to get both his arms back between Leighton's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chase Morgan dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Morgan is looking to score with low kicks.
Leighton half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Morgan lands a really nice looking cross but Leighton seems unphased.
Morgan looks to score with a jab to the body but Leighton is just out of range.
Leighton tries to counter with a takedown but Morgan is quick to defend against it.
Leighton shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Morgan sprawls well. Morgan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Leighton gets slowly back to his feet.
Leighton shoots for a double leg takedown but Morgan sprawls well. He's pushed Leighton's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morgan lands a really nice looking cross but Leighton seems unphased.
Morgan fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Leighton looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Morgan throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Leighton attempts a counter takedown but Morgan avoids it well and moves away.
Leighton dodges the punch combination from Morgan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leighton shoots in looking for a takedown but Morgan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Leighton's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eliott Leighton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morgan looks to land a combination. Leighton sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Leighton shoots in for a takedown but Morgan shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Leighton walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Leighton fails with the takedown.
Morgan bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Morgan jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Leighton.
Morgan lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Morgan misses with a hook

and Leighton moves into the clinch.
Leighton managing to block the knees to the body from Morgan.
Leighton drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Morgan gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Morgan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morgan lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Leighton shoots in for a takedown but Morgan shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Leighton gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Morgan wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan throws a body shot but no joy.
Leighton takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Morgan scores with a nice right hand.
The fighters circling - Morgan throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Leighton blocks a leg kick.
Leighton half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Morgan misses the jab.
Leighton appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Leighton uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Morgan.
Leighton attempts a counter takedown but Morgan avoids it well and moves away.
Morgan swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Leighton decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Morgan's guard.

Leighton drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Leighton jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Morgan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Leighton defends well.
Leighton trying to control the position from guard on top but Morgan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Morgan has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Leighton should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Morgan has tightened it up now! Leighton should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Chase Morgan!
Chase Morgan thanked the fans post fight for their support.