PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Grigori Golov (ranked 2954 p4p, 2376 weight class) and Alexander Morrison (ranked 357 p4p, 306 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Golov
vs
Morrison

178 cm
27
160
3 - 2 - 0

175 cm
27
160
4 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Grigori Golov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Morrison!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Yves DeLean and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morrison avoids the body shot from Golov.
Morrison takes a swing at Golov's ribcage but misses.
Golov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Despite the aggression on Morrison's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Golov connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Golov misses the shot to the body.
Golov moves in looking to clinch but Morrison pushes him off.

Golov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Golov showed some decent athleticism there.
Morrison is refusing to be controlled, as Golov sits in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morrison avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Golov.
Morrison blocking the ground and pound attempt from Golov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Golov throwing shots but Morrison is blocking nicely.
Golov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Morrison can do anything to dispel that myth.
Morrison is looking to improve his position.
Morrison regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Golov.
Morrison is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morrison being controlled here, momentarily.
Golov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Morrison looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

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.
Morrison looking to control.
Golov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Golov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Golov misses with an uppercut. Morrison saw that one coming.
Morrison throws a counter combo.
Morrison throws a jab when Golov was well out of range.
Golov doesn't manage to clinch there - Morrison circles away.
Morrison looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Golov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Golov lands a lovely overhand right.
Jab from Golov.
Golov throws a low kick but it's checked well by Morrison.

Golov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Golov wants to control from the top but Morrison keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrison avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Morrison tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Morrison keeping moving, preventing Golov from controlling successfully.
Morrison controlling Golov's posture.
Morrison keeping full guard, as Golov tries to pass.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Golov throwing strikes from guard but Morrison blocks nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Golov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Golov lands some shots froms side control.
Golov throwing strikes but Morrison manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Morrison wants to stand but Golov is controlling his arm.
Morrison controls the position.
Morrison trying to control the position but Golov is working away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Golov is looking to regain half guard here but Morrison keeps moving and retains side control.
Morrison tries to stand but Golov is controlling his head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Grigori Golov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Golov throws a lazy uppercut
and Morrison counters with a two punch combo.
Golov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Morrison can do to turn this around?
Golov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Morrison counter with a right hand.
Golov throws the left hand but Morrison avoids the punch easily.
Golov tries to clinch
and Morrison counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Grigori Golov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Golov misses with a looping right.
Morrison looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Golov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Morrison ducks under a wild hook from Golov.
It seemed like Morrison was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Golov misses with a looping left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morrison defending well as Golov loads up on a big left hand.
Golov moves in looking to clinch but Morrison pushes him off.
Morrison slips a jab from Golov.
Golov lands the left hand.
Golov throws a poor cross that misses
and Golov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Golov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Morrison as he avoids it easily.
Morrison avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A nice side step and Morrison releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Golov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Golov has Morrison up against the cage in a clinch.
Morrison throws a punch but it's blocked by Golov.
Morrison blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Golov misses with a punch on the inside.
Morrison misses with a body punch.
Golov misses with a punch on the inside.
Golov lands a body punch in the clinch.
Golov is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grigori Golov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Morrison breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No joy there for Morrison, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Golov fails in his attempt to clinch.
It seemed like Morrison was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Golov misses with a hook
and Golov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Morrison throws a series of punches but Golov moves out of range.
Golov misses the shot to the body.
Golov has a takedown stuffed.
Morrison is looking for the big counter here.
Morrison circles away from the clinch attempt.
Golov misses with a hook to the body
letting Morrison counter with a right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Golov has his takedown stuffed
enabling Morrison to counter with a crisp jab.
Golov misses with an uppercut.
Golov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Morrison momentarily.
Alexander Morrison is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Golov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Morrison manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Golov misses with a combination
and Morrison counters with a stiff right hand.
Golov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Morrison counters with a one-two to the body.
Morrison slips under a jab from Golov.
Golov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Morrison doesn't seem bothered though.
Golov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Morrison takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Morrison scores with a jab. Golov acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Golov swings away with a body shot that misses
and Morrison counters with a nice uppercut.
Golov takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Golov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Morrison counters with a stiff right hand.
Alexander Morrison seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Morrison scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Golov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Morrison avoids it really well and circles away.
Golov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Morrison.
Golov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Morrison counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Golov tries to clinch up
and Morrison counters with a three punch combo that has Golov backing up. Golov nods at Morrison to acknowledge the strikes.
Morrison digs a good body shot into Golov's ribs.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Morrison showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Morrison misses with a wild combination.

Golov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Morrison lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Morrison struggles to land a body shot inside as Golov controls his hands.
Morrison gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Golov.
Morrison blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Golov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Golov has a couple of punches blocked by Morrison.
A short right from Morrison.
A short right from Morrison on the inside.
Golov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nice body punch from Morrison.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Golov is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grigori Golov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Golov misses with a punch to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Morrison.

Morrison manages to break the clinch.
A low kick from Golov misses
and Morrison connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Golov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Morrison!
Golov is chipping away with strikes.
Morrison is looking to regain half guard here but Golov keeps moving and retains side control.
Morrison is trying to control Golov's posture but Golov avoids it.
Morrison on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Golov is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Morrison wants to control but Golov postures up.
Golov postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Golov with the ground and pound but Morrison regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morrison is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morrison is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Golov scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrison is not content to let Golov control the position.
Golov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Golov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Golov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Golov throwing shots but Morrison is blocking nicely.
Golov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Golov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Golov is trying to control. Morrison wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Golov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Golov thows a huge punch but Morrison dodges it nicely.
Grigori Golov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Golov is nestled in close to Morrison, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Golov is nestled in close to Morrison, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Morrison blocking the ground and pound attempt from Golov.
Golov looks to land a strike but Morrison avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Golov lands a couple of elbows.
Golov postures up and lands a big shot to Morrison's brow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Golov postures up in Morrison's guard and throws a big left but Morrison blocks it.
Golov throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Grigori Golov.
I think Golov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight for Alexander Morrison!
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight for Alexander Morrison!
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight for Alexander Morrison!

Alexander Morrison wins by unanimous decision!
Alexander Morrison spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.