PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Felix Sturm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Morris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Morris looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Sturm
vs
Morris

178 cm
23
166 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Felix Sturm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mike Morris!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Igor Prikhodko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Sturm with that takedown attempt.
Morris looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Sturm shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Morris defends it nicely.
Morris displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sturm.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felix Sturm. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morris shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sturm counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sturm controlling the action here.
Sturm not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sturm wants to take a breather but Morris is having none of it.
Sturm has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sturm not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sturm thows a huge punch but Morris dodges it nicely.
Morris is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sturm scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sturm looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Morris with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sturm is trying to control the action in half guard but Morris is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sturm scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sturm uses his free foot to push down on Morris's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Morris.
The referee warns Morris that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Morris really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sturm. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sturm lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Sturm trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sturm looking to control and managing it successfully.
Sturm looking to finish Morris with some ground and pound. This is bad for Morris!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sturm is landing with some decent strikes but Morris is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Sturm working the ground and pound effectively.
Sturm controlling from the full mount.
Sturm with good strikes from the mount here!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sturm lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Morris hang on?
Sturm with good strikes from the mount here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sturm working Morris over with strikes here.
Sturm lands with some strikes.
Sturm fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Morris in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Sturm breaks from Morris's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sturm landing strikes from the mount and Morris is in trouble!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sturm scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Sturm putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Sturm lands a big shot there that rocks Morris but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Sturm lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Morris hang on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sturm looking to finish Morris with some ground and pound. This is bad for Morris!
Morris wants to hold on but Sturm pushes him away.
Sturm scoring with strikes but Morris is staying in there.
Sturm lands a heavy elbow.
Sturm is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Morris can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Sturm pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Sturm wants to control the pace but Morris is squirming around nicely.
Sturm lands with some strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sturm controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sturm fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Morris displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sturm.
Morris throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sturm.
Morris throws a sloppy head kick and Sturm moves out of range easily.
Sturm shoots for a takedown but Morris saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felix Sturm. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sturm drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sturm scoring with some ground and pound.
Morris utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sturm wants to control from the top but Morris keeps moving.
Sturm lands a couple of elbows.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sturm works over Morris with some ground and pound from guard.
Felix Sturm overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sturm throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sturm trying to control but Morris is working from the bottom.
Sturm passes Morris's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Morris wants to control but Sturm passes into side.
Sturm wants to lay and pray for a moment but Morris keeps working.

That's two 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.
Sturm is putting a hurting on Morris here, landing some big shots from side control.
Sturm controls the position.
Sturm scoring with punches from side control.
Sturm is chipping away with strikes.
Sturm lands some shots froms side control.
Sturm working the ground and pound.
Morris on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Sturm lands an elbow.
Sturm grinds an elbow into Morris's temple.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sturm is looking to take a break and control but Morris is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Morris taking punishment in the form of punches.
Morris is looking to reverse the position.
Sturm lands a few punches from side control.
Sturm connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Morris some visible discomfort.
Sturm lands an elbow.
Sturm scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Morris to see if he's OK.
Sturm lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Morris down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sturm cracks Morris with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Sturm working the head and body with strikes.
Sturm scoring with punches and elbows.
Sturm working the body and head with strikes.
Sturm cracks Morris with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Sturm lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Sturm lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
A lull in the action here as Sturm stalls from top position.
Sturm creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felix Sturm dominated that second 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sturm shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Morris as he jumps to the side.
Sturm shoots in but no luck this time.
No joy there for Morris, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sturm fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felix Sturm. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morris lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Morris shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sturm sprawls well. Sturm wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Morris gets slowly back to his feet.
Sturm shoots in but Morris avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sturm shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Morris defends it nicely.
Mike Morris is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Morris stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Morris wants it to stay on the feet.

Sturm shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Morris's guard.
Sturm working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sturm trying to control but Morris is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sturm landing with the ground and pound.
Sturm scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sturm pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Morris is keeping the position for now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Morris can do anything to dispel that myth.
Morris 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.
Sturm scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

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.
Sturm cracks Morris with a solid left hand.
Sturm with a nice head shot there.
Morris keeping moving, preventing Sturm from controlling successfully.
Morris looking to control.
Sturm showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Mike Morris has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morris keeping moving, preventing Sturm from controlling successfully.
Sturm lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sturm cracks Morris with a solid left hand.
Sturm content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sturm is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sturm throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sturm cracks Morris with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sturm scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sturm is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Morris can do to turn this around?
Sturm working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Morris keeping moving, preventing Sturm from controlling successfully.
Sturm stands up over Morris, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sturm wants to control from the top but Morris keeps moving.
Sturm with a nice head shot there.
Felix Sturm is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sturm content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Felix Sturm showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sturm, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:26
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:26
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Felix Sturm!