PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Ares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gerard Morstan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ares's entrance music is Baby. A fine choice. Gerard Morstan has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with John Ares's chin.

Ares
vs
Morstan

185 cm
21
177 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Ares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gerard Morstan!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Dmitry Maklakov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ares avoids a punch combination nicely.
A combination from Morstan does no damage.
Ares shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Morstan eats them both and turns towards Ares to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

It looks like Gerard Morstan has been cut.
Morstan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Morstan throws a right and a left that Ares avoids nicely.
Morstan throws a series of punches but Ares avoids them all with ease.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ares.
Ares throws a series of punches but Morstan moves out of range.
Ares throws a right hand that Morstan ducks under and follows up with a left that Morstan also avoids with ease.
Ares moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
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!
Sloppy strikes from Morstan. Those never looked like landing.
Morstan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ares moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Morstan lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Ares misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Morstan misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ares doesn't manage to clinch there - Morstan circles away.
Morstan fails to land with a series of punches.
Ares tries to clinch but Morstan moves away
and Morstan counters with a left and a right that stings Ares.

Ares drops Morstan with a nice combination! Ares dives into Morstan's guard, looking to finish!
Morstan looks gassed!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morstan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ares.
Ares throws a big right hand that misses.
Ares trying to control the position from guard on top but Morstan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ares loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morstan is looking to stand up but Ares isn't so interested in that idea.

The ref stands the fighters back up. John Ares wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Ares slips a jab and a cross from Morstan.
Ares rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Morstan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ares looks for a takedown but Morstan sprawls well.
Ares lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Morstan circles away quickly and effectively.
Morstan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Morstan misses with the combination.
Ares throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ares misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Ares. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morstan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Morstan stuffs the takedown attempt from Ares. Ares gets slowly back to his feet.
Ares is looking to clinch but Morstan is avoiding it.
Ares showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Morstan.
Morstan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ares misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Morstan looks to land a combination but Ares avoids it well.
Morstan swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ares counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ares misses with a wild combination.
Ares scores with a one two! Morstan had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Gerard Morstan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Morstan misses with a jab, cross combination.
Morstan swinging wildly here.
Morstan misses with a combination
and Ares counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That has opened up Gerard Morstan's cut even more.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A combination from Ares does no damage.
Morstan throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ares counters with a two punch combo.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Morstan throws a right hand that Ares ducks under and follows up with a left that Ares also avoids with ease.
Ares avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ares tries to clinch but Morstan is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Ares dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gerard Morstan's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ares throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Morstan.
Ares works Morstan's body with a nice hook.
A left lands for Ares.
Morstan throws a combination that misses
and Ares makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Ares drops Morstan with a nice combination! Ares dives into Morstan's guard, looking to finish!

Morstan is rocked!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ares wants to control from the top but Morstan keeps moving.
Morstan is still in real trouble! Can Ares finish him?

Ares is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Morstan seems to have recovered his senses.
Ares working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ares wanted to stand there but Morstan had control of the position.
Ares throwing strikes from guard but Morstan blocks nicely.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Morstan can do anything to dispel that myth.

Ares decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Ares looks to land a combination but Morstan avoids it well.
Morstan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
No joy there for Ares, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morstan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ares counters with a two punch combo.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Morstan!
Ares is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Morstan can do to turn this around?
Morstan misses with a series of wild punches.
Morstan is breathing heavily.

Ares closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ares keeps control of Morstan as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Morstan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ares misses with the combination.
John Ares is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ares throws a one two combo.

The cut above Gerard Morstan's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ares is looking to clinch but Morstan is avoiding it.
John Ares seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ares moves to clinch but Morstan breaks away
and Morstan counters with a one-two to the body.
Morstan misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morstan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ares throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ares wants to clinch up but Morstan keeps it at a distance.
Morstan falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ares counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ares fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Morstan throws a combination that misses
and Ares cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ares dodges the punch combination from Morstan.
Morstan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ares tries to clinch up but Morstan circles away and keeps his distance.
Sloppy strikes from Ares. Those never looked like landing.
Morstan throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Ares to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morstan showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ares.
Ares looks to land a combination but Morstan avoids it well.
Ares tries to clinch
and Morstan counters with a three punch combo that has Ares backing up. Ares nods at Morstan to acknowledge the strikes.
A combination from Morstan does no damage.
A right-left combo lands from Ares.
Ares throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Morstan's waist but Morstan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ares off to one side.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Morstan swinging wildly here.
Ares looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A right-left combo lands from Morstan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Ares dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gerard Morstan's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ares misses with a two punch combination.
Ares swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ares misses with a wild combination.
Ares showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Morstan.
Morstan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ares looks to land a combination but Morstan avoids it well.
Ares misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ares throws a left and a right that both miss
and Morstan counters with a series of strikes. Ares will be more careful next time no doubt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ares cracks Morstan with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Morstan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Morstan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ares.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morstan takes one to the side of the head.
Morstan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ares tries to clinch there but Morstan circles away.
Ares slips a jab and a cross from Morstan.
Ares misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ares misses with a double jab.
A punch combination from Morstan misses.
Ares tries to clinch
and Morstan counters with a three punch combo that has Ares backing up. Ares nods at Morstan to acknowledge the strikes.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Ares!
Morstan keeps the fight on the outside.
Morstan tries to bum rush Ares with a series of wild strikes but Ares uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ares throws a right and a left that Morstan avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morstan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ares counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Morstan throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ares counters with a series of strikes. Morstan will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ares tries to close the distance and clinch up but Morstan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Morstan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Ares instigates a clinch.
Ares keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Morstan's efforts to push away.
A frustrated look appears on Morstan's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Morstan is looking to break free of the clinch but Ares has double underhooks.
Morstan tries to break free but Ares pushes him back against the cage.
Morstan tries to circle away but Ares has him pinned against the cage.
Ares keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Morstan's efforts to push away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Morstan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ares has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morstan looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ares is looking to take this one to the mat.
Morstan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ares has him pressed against the cage.
Morstan has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Morstan wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Ares's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Morstan wants to break free but Ares has control.
Morstan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ares has him pressed against the cage.
Ares tries to stall but Morstan uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ares has Morstan pressed against the cage, preventing Morstan from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ares prevents Morstan from breaking the clinch.
Morstan is looking to break free of the clinch but Ares has double underhooks.
Morstan looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Morstan tries to break the clinch but Ares is controlling the position.
Morstan can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morstan wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ares working hard to break the clinch.
Morstan has had enough of the clinch but Ares keeps him there for the moment.

Ares breaks from the clinch.
John Ares is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ares throws a series of punches but Morstan avoids them all with ease.
Morstan misses with a wild combination.
Ares throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Morstan.
Morstan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ares is working the combinations to good effect here.
A left and a right from Morstan both land. Nice combination.
Ares lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Morstan circles away quickly and effectively.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morstan misses with a series of wild punches.
Ares misses with the combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Gerard Morstan.
I think Ares 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Ares!
Our winner, John Ares, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.