PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Harrison Morales (ranked 2378 p4p, 4788 weight class) and Malam Sambu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Harrison Morales has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Morales
vs
Sambu

180 cm
25
150
2 - 5 - 0

169 cm
25
153
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Harrison Morales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Malam Sambu!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Peter Branson and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Sambu. Morales does a little dance to reset his feet.
Harrison Morales seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sambu avoids a punch combination nicely.

Morales drives through and clinches with Sambu against the cage.

Sambu has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Morales is trying to keep an underhook but Sambu manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Sambu landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nice strikes from Sambu there.
Morales has hold of Sambu's hands but Sambu slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sambu working over Morales with some ground and pound. Morales looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Nice strikes from Sambu there.
Sambu landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Morales on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Morales wants to control but Sambu is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sambu connects with a nice short shot to Morales's temple.
Sambu looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Morales with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Morales is looking to improve his position.
Sambu lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sambu lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sambu scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sambu passes to full mount!
Sambu cracks Morales with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Sambu has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sambu content just to control the position here.
Sambu lands a nice shot to the head.
Sambu tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sambu unloading with bombs!
Sambu content just to control the position here.
Sambu raining down hammerfists from mount.
Sambu controlling the position easily from mount.
Sambu lands a big elbow.
Sambu takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Sambu cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Sambu landing strikes from the mount and Morales is in trouble!
Sambu working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morales takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Sambu looking to control and managing it successfully.
Let's hope that Sambu has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Sambu has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Morales's face.
Sambu punishing his opponent with strikes.
Sambu looking to control and managing it successfully.
BOOM! Sambu connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sambu is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Morales can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Sambu dominating with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sambu lands a big elbow.
Sambu landing strikes from the mount and Morales is in trouble!
Morales is bucking up trying to escape but Sambu cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Sambu lands a nice shot to the head.
Sambu with the ground and pound from mount.
Sambu lands a big shot there that rocks Morales but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
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!
Sambu is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Morales is breathing heavily.
Sambu lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Sambu lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sambu looking to finish Morales with some ground and pound. This is bad for Morales!
Sambu dominating with strikes here.
Morales is trying desperately to improve position.
Sambu is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Morales can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sambu drives through with a takedown into Morales's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Sambu postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Morales can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sambu controls the pace.
Sambu is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Morales knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sambu on the ground.
Morales is trying to keep Sambu in close.
Sambu scoring with some ground and pound.
Sambu pushes down on Morales's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sambu lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sambu lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nice strikes from Sambu there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sambu takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Sambu looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Morales with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sambu lands strikes from half guard.
Sambu is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sambu working Morales over with strikes.
Sambu landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Sambu landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Morales is looking to control Sambu's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Morales avoid being mounted?
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sambu controlling the pace.
Sambu 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.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sambu in particular looking to stall.
Sambu lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morales trying to hold on to Sambu's head to control him but Sambu postures up.
Morales has hold of Sambu's hands but Sambu slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sambu content to control rather than advance.
Sambu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sambu drops an elbow to the side of Morales's head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sambu lands a nice short elbow.
Morales is looking to escape.
Sambu working Morales over with strikes.
Sambu scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Still in half guard, Sambu seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sambu working Morales over with strikes.
Morales is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sambu scores with a couple of nice shots.
Malam Sambu has got the better of the ground game so far.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sambu connects with a nice short shot to Morales's temple.

Morales is defending against the submission attempts here by Sambu.
Sambu looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Morales with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Morales has hold of Sambu's hands but Sambu slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sambu connects with a nice short shot to Morales's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morales has hold of Sambu's hands but Sambu slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Morales is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sambu scores with a couple of nice shots.
Sambu looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Morales with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sambu connects with a nice short shot to Morales's temple.
Sambu lands strikes from half guard.
Sambu is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sambu takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Sambu lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sambu works his foot free and advances to mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sambu breaks from Morales's wrist control and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malam Sambu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Morales takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sambu slips a jab and a cross from Morales.

Morales gets caught flat footed, as Sambu shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sambu content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Morales has momentary wrist control but Sambu slips an elbow through the middle.
Sambu working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Morales's head.
Sambu lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sambu scoring with punches to the head and body.
Morales being controlled here, momentarily.
Sambu slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sambu advances to full mount.
Sambu landing strikes from the mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sambu looking to secure an arm triangle but Morales defends it well.
Morales tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sambu lands a couple of good shots and Morales has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Sambu lands with a hammerfist to the side of Morales's head.
Sambu has good solid back control here.
Sambu lands a shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sambu trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Morales doesn't escape.
Sambu scores with strikes from the back.
Sambu is working the ground and pound. Can Morales escape?
Sambu has Morales flattened out and is raining down punches.
Sambu throwing damaging strikes from the back! Morales could be in trouble here!
Morales takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Can Morales hold on?! Sambu is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Morales is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Sambu.
Sambu connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Morales to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sambu scores with punches and elbows.
Sambu lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Morales hold on?!
Sambu is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Sambu has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Morales.
Sambu just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

Sambu looking for the RNC.
Morales takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Sambu lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Sambu. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Sambu throwing damaging strikes from the back! Morales could be in trouble here!
Sambu is punishing Morales with strikes - can he finish him?!
Morales is trying to remain composed but Sambu is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sambu is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Sambu is working the ground and pound. Can Morales escape?
A bit of a pause in the action here. Sambu controlling the positon.
Sambu is punishing Morales with some ground and pound.
The referee is taking a good look at Morales as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Sambu!
Malam Sambu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sambu controlling from the back.
Harrison Morales has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Malam Sambu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sambu winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 25:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 25:30
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malam Sambu!