PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gord Downey (ranked 2792 p4p, 2500 weight class) and Morgan Freeman (ranked 231 p4p, 210 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Downey
vs
Freeman

178 cm
26
145
4 - 6 - 1

188 cm
26
150
4 - 3 - 2

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

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 4 - 6 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Gord Downey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 2, fighting out of The Island, Morgan Freeman!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Michael Johnstone and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Freeman misses the jab.
Downey attempts a counter takedown but Freeman avoids it well and moves away.

Downey fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Freeman to the ground. Downey is now in Freeman's guard.
Freeman trying to control the position here.
Downey scoring with some ground and pound.
We've been hearing good reports from Downey's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Downey trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Downey postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Downey throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Downey trying to control the position from guard on top but Freeman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Downey in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Downey trying to control the position from guard on top but Freeman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Downey throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Freeman works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Freeman avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Freeman holds on and takes a little breather.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Freeman is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Downey preventing the sweep.

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

Downey darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Downey drops an elbow to the side of Freeman's head.
Downey trying to mount his opponent but Freeman defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Downey is keen to just control but Freeman is a slippery customer.
Downey keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Freeman holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Downey is nestled in close to Freeman, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Freeman is looking for a sweep. Downey is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Downey content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Freeman looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Downey scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Downey controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downey sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Freeman defending well though.
Downey slips a nice elbow through Freeman's hands, connecting with Freeman's forehead.
Downey seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Downey trying to control the action but Freeman is working from the bottom.
Freeman is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Downey winds up and cracks Freeman with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nice strikes from Downey there.
Downey seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Freeman does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Freeman wants to control but Downey is keeping busy.
Downey wants to control but Freeman is keeping him busy.
Freeman works his way to full guard. Good work.
Downey trying to control but Freeman is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Downey is working Freeman over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Downey looking to sit in guard and control but Freeman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gord Downey dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Downey shoots in and bounces Freeman off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Downey trying to control but Freeman is working from the bottom.
Downey postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Downey throws a strike but Freeman rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Freeman being controlled here momentarily.
Downey trying to keep a closed guard but Freeman is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman is fighting to break Downey's control of his arms but Downey is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Freeman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Downey swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Freeman slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Freeman is fighting to break Downey's control of his arms but Downey is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Downey is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Downey looking for a sweep. Not yet Downey, not yet.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Freeman pushing down on Downey's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Freeman trying to mount his opponent but Downey defends it.
Freeman is taking a breather. Downey says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Downey looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Freeman wants to control but Downey is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downey sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Freeman defending well though.
Downey wants to take a breather but Freeman is having none of it.
Downey throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Downey is looking to take a break and control but Freeman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Downey not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Freeman is not content to let Downey control the position.

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

Downey dives in and scores a takedown into Freeman's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Downey wants to control from the top but Freeman keeps moving.
Downey trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Downey trying to control the position from guard on top but Freeman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Downey has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Freeman is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Downey stands up over Freeman, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Freeman trying to control the position here.
Downey lands a couple of digs.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gord Downey dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Downey displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Freeman.
Morgan Freeman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Downey is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Freeman can do to turn this around?

Downey shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Downey wants to control but Freeman is keeping him busy.
Freeman is pressing down on Downey's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Downey postures up in Freeman's guard and throws a big left but Freeman blocks it.
Downey trying to control the position from guard on top but Freeman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freeman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Freeman wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman keeping moving, preventing Downey from controlling successfully.
Downey scoring with punches to the head and body.
Downey controlling from the top position.
Freeman lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Downey wants to sweep but no luck.
Downey keeping full guard, as Freeman tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freeman is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Freeman postures up.
Freeman is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from Downey as Freeman shoots in.

Freeman looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Downey seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Downey is trying to control the position but Freeman postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman won't allow Downey to sweep him here.
Downey controlling the position.
Downey trying to control the position.
Freeman slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Downey is trying to keep Freeman in close.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

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.

Downey drives through with a takedown into Freeman's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Downey wants to control from the top but Freeman keeps moving.
Freeman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Downey stands over his opponent and dives in with a flying punch! Freeman throws up his legs and catches Downey in a triangle! Oh this looks tight! Downey tries to escape but he's forced to tap! Wow, fantastic work there by Freeman! That came out of nowhere!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Morgan Freeman!