PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dmitriy Shapoval (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Freddy Morris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Morris is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Where I'm Going? by Kottonmouth Kings. Dmitriy Shapoval has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Shapoval
vs
Morris

175 cm
21
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

198 cm
25
178 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dmitriy Shapoval!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Freddy Morris!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, John Kavanagh and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Morris scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Shapoval can't do much from the bottom here.
Morris is trying to move to mount but Shapoval reverses beautifully and ends up in Morris's guard.
Morris wants to sweep but no luck.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shapoval accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Morris wants to stand up but Shapoval is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Shapoval drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Shapoval jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Shapoval missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Shapoval won't allow Morris to get back to his feet.
Morris is pulling down on Shapoval's head to control his posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shapoval tries to free his leg and advance position but Morris is retaining full guard.
Shapoval won't allow Morris to get back to his feet.
Shapoval tries to stand but Morris is controlling from the bottom.
Shapoval prevents Morris from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Shapoval looking to pass the guard.
Morris is looking to stand up but Shapoval isn't so interested in that idea.
Morris looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shapoval is one step ahead there.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Shapoval fails with the takedown

and Morris counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Morris.
Morris is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Morris throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shapoval works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shapoval trying to control the position.
Morris working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morris scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Morris's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Morris really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shapoval. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Shapoval is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shapoval might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Shapoval is breathing heavily.
Morris throws a strike but Shapoval rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Morris seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Morris wants to sweep here but Shapoval controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Morris trying to control the position here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Freddy Morris has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Shapoval has his takedown stuffed

and Morris counters with a nice double leg into side control. Shapoval won't be happy with that.
Morris is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morris landing strikes.
Morris scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Shapoval to see if he's OK.
Morris cracks Shapoval with a big right hand but Shapoval just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Morris landing a few strikes.
Morris creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Morris landing a few strikes.
Morris trying to control the action but Shapoval is working from the bottom.
Morris lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Shapoval down.
Morris lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Shapoval down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morris in side control lands a decent elbow.
Shapoval is not content to let Morris control the position.
Morris scoring with punches from side control.
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!
Morris grinds an elbow into Shapoval's temple.
Morris lands an elbow.
Morris lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Shapoval down.
Morris scores with a couple of short elbows.
Morris landing strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shapoval takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Morris is chipping away with strikes.
Morris working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Morris decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Morris thows a huge punch but Shapoval dodges it nicely.
Shapoval is looking to improve his position.
Shapoval is trying to control but can't.
Morris with the ground and pound but Shapoval uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Morris postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Shapoval keeping moving, preventing Morris from controlling successfully.
Morris seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Morris is in close to Shapoval's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morris keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Shapoval's head.
Morris working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Shapoval's head.
Morris stands up over Shapoval, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Morris lands a couple of elbows.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Morris's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Morris is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Morris chips away with some ground and pound.
Morris lands a couple of digs.
Morris content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Morris stands up over Shapoval, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Freddy Morris has got the better of the ground game so far.
Morris is working Shapoval over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Morris landing with the ground and pound.
Shapoval keeping moving, preventing Morris from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morris works over Shapoval with some ground and pound from guard.
Morris makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Morris makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Morris working some strikes from top position.
Morris is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Morris lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Morris trying to control the position from guard on top but Shapoval is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morris with a nice head shot there.
Morris landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morris wants to control from the top but Shapoval keeps moving.
Morris postures up and lands a big shot to Shapoval's brow.
Morris cracks Shapoval with a solid left hand.
Morris working some strikes from top position.
Shapoval is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Morris passes Shapoval's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Shapoval on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Morris working Shapoval over with strikes.
Morris lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morris lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Shapoval tries to get to full guard but Morris has control of the leg.
Morris lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Morris lands strikes from half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shapoval blocking the ground and pound attempt from Morris.
Morris seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Shapoval does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Morris working over Shapoval with some ground and pound. Shapoval looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Morris looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Freddy Morris showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Morris drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Morris makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Morris makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Morris postures up and lands a big shot to Shapoval's brow.
Morris distracts Shapoval with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Morris lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Morris throws a big right hand that misses.
Morris connects with a couple of short punches.
Morris stands up over Shapoval, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Morris postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Morris is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Morris postures up in Shapoval's guard and throws a big left but Shapoval blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morris scoring with some ground and pound.
Morris with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Shapoval trying to control the position.
Morris scoring with some ground and pound.
Shapoval has momentary wrist control but Morris slips an elbow through the middle.
Morris pushing down on Shapoval's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Nice strikes from Morris there.
Ground and pound from Morris.
Shapoval is refusing to be controlled, as Morris sits in half guard.
Morris takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Freddy Morris is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morris is taking a breather. Shapoval 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.
Morris's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Shapoval has hold of Morris's hands but Morris slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Morris is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Morris has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Freddy Morris hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Morris throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Shapoval was covering up waiting for the punch and Morris finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morris slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Morris is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four 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.
Morris looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Morris loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Morris controls from within his opponent's guard.
Shapoval preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Morris is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Morris thows a big elbow that misses.
Dmitriy Shapoval has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Morris content to stall in guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Freddy Morris comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Morris has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 25:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 24:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Freddy Morris!