PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dexter Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mohamed al Hadj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). al Hadj has chosen Hypnotized Lebanon as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Morgan
vs
al Hadj

188 cm
26
203 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

191 cm
33
200 lbs
22 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

The Big Kabosh

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dexter Morgan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mohamed al Hadj!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Morgan.
Morgan connects with a body shot that sends al Hadj's belly button to the back.
Morgan avoids the head kick by al Hadj.
Morgan misses with a wild body shot.
Decent striking displayed by Morgan there.

Morgan looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Morgan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. al Hadj is keeping the position for now.
Morgan is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Dark Horse MMA Academy that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
al Hadj tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Morgan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Morgan is looking to work some ground and pound but al Hadj has wrist control.
Morgan postures up in al Hadj's guard and throws a big left but al Hadj blocks it.
al Hadj wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan throws a strike but al Hadj rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Morgan wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and al Hadj is now in half guard.
Morgan is looking for a sweep. al Hadj is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
al Hadj prevents Morgan from standing back up.
Morgan trying to get back to full guard but al Hadj takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Morgan keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

al Hadj stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Morgan connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

al Hadj tries to sprawl but Morgan drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Morgan throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Morgan drops an elbow to the side of al Hadj's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Morgan is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Morgan not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Morgan throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing al Hadj to regain full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morgan looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan throwing strikes from guard but al Hadj blocks nicely.
Morgan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Morgan wants to pass the guard but al Hadj is keeping the position.
al Hadj is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Morgan looking to pass the guard.
Morgan trying to control the position from guard on top but al Hadj is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Morgan trying to control but al Hadj is working from the bottom.
al Hadj working a defensive guard here.
al Hadj 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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
al Hadj is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Morgan is controlling him.
al Hadj controls Morgan momentarily but Morgan frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dexter Morgan dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

al Hadj throws the left hand but Morgan avoids the punch easily.
al Hadj throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Morgan stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
The fight stays on the outside here - al Hadj looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
al Hadj lands a right hook to the body.
Morgan throws a series of punches but al Hadj moves out of range.
al Hadj lets loose with a powerful body kick. Morgan will feel that in the morning.

Morgan fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. al Hadj sprawls well initially but Morgan persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
al Hadj felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Morgan missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Morgan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. al Hadj defending well though.
al Hadj regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Morgan.
Morgan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as al Hadj works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan throws a big right hand that misses.
al Hadj pulls Morgan in to control the position.
Morgan is looking to work some ground and pound but al Hadj has wrist control.
Morgan chips away with some ground and pound.
Morgan throws a strike but al Hadj rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
al Hadj wanted to stand there but Morgan had control of the position.
Morgan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Morgan trying to control the action but al Hadj is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan thows a huge punch but al Hadj dodges it nicely.
al Hadj is refusing to be controlled, as Morgan sits in half guard.
Morgan thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
al Hadj has hold of Morgan's hands but Morgan slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Well, if Morgan is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Morgan is thwarting al Hadj's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan throwing shots but al Hadj is blocking nicely.
al Hadj is trying to control but can't.
Morgan trying to control from half guard but al Hadj is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morgan tries to pass to full mount but al Hadj defends it.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Morgan is working hard here to advance position.
Morgan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing al Hadj to regain full guard.
Morgan content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Morgan keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of al Hadj's head.
Dexter Morgan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Morgan trying to control the position from guard on top but al Hadj is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

al Hadj has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Morgan has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Morgan has al Hadj pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Morgan pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending al Hadj tumbling to the mat - Morgan dives into al Hadj's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now al Hadj is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dexter Morgan dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

al Hadj uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Morgan.
Morgan throws a right and a left that al Hadj avoids nicely.
Dexter Morgan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Morgan closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
al Hadj is trying to control Morgan's posture but Morgan avoids it.
Sloppy strikes there by Morgan.
al Hadj is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Morgan's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Morgan tries to pass to full mount but al Hadj defends it.
Morgan scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
al Hadj keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Morgan not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
al Hadj wants to improve his position but Morgan is controlling well.
Morgan is trying to control the action in half guard but al Hadj is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Morgan prevents al Hadj from improving his position.
Morgan lands with a punch from half guard.
Morgan thows a huge punch but al Hadj dodges it nicely.
al Hadj is looking for a sweep. Morgan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
al Hadj is looking to control Morgan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can al Hadj avoid being mounted?
Morgan throwing shots but al Hadj is blocking nicely.
Morgan prevents al Hadj from improving his position.
Morgan wants to lay and pray for a moment but al Hadj keeps working.
Morgan is looking to stall here but al Hadj recovers full guard.
Morgan throws a strike but al Hadj rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Mohamed al Hadj has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Morgan is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because al Hadj is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

al Hadj drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Morgan dives on top into guard.

al Hadj is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Morgan is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan trying to control the position from guard on top but al Hadj is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morgan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Morgan looking to sit in guard and control but al Hadj gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Morgan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Morgan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. al Hadj gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Morgan holds on and takes a little breather.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dexter Morgan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Morgan has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dexter Morgan!
During a confident post fight interview, Dexter Morgan thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.