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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Fantinaz Del Norte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Virgil Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Del Norte comes to the cage accompanied by La Coka Nostra - Malverde Market. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
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| 165 cm
35
138 lbs
21 - 9 - 1 |
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169 cm
30
146 lbs
22 - 8 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
21 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fantinaz Del Norte!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
22 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Virgil Morgan!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Del Norte. Morgan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Del Norte walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nice takedown defense from Morgan. No joy for Del Norte on that attempt.
We've been hearing reports that Del Norte has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Morgan loads up on a big right hand but Del Norte slips the punch.
Del Norte shoots in looking for a takedown but Morgan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Del Norte's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Morgan with a nice cross.
Morgan moves into the clinch.
Del Norte blocks an uppercut.
Morgan lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Del Norte lands a shot to the body.
Morgan misses with a hook to the ribs.
Del Norte leaning against his opponent.
Morgan scores with a nice hook to the head.
Del Norte tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Del Norte is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Morgan is keeping busy.
Morgan blocks an uppercut.
Del Norte breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Del Norte closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Morgan did well to prevent Del Norte getting side control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Del Norte tries to pass to full mount but Morgan defends it.
Morgan desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Del Norte tries to pass to full mount but Morgan defends it.
Del Norte prevents Morgan from improving his position.
Morgan keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Del Norte with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Del Norte wants to lay and pray for a moment but Morgan keeps working.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morgan makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Morgan.
Morgan controlling Del Norte's posture.
Del Norte postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Del Norte trying to control the position from guard on top but Morgan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Del Norte avoids the body shot from Morgan.
Morgan throws out a loose jab but Del Norte uses good head movement to avoid it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Del Norte does no damage.
Virgil Morgan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Morgan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Del Norte.
Morgan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Del Norte jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Morgan tries a quick counter leg kick but Del Norte is wise to it.
Morgan lands a nice shot that snaps Del Norte's head back.
Del Norte missing with a left hand there. Morgan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Morgan takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Horrible takedown attempt by Del Norte or perhaps it was just good defense by Morgan, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fantinaz Del Norte. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morgan cracks a nice hook into Del Norte's ribs.
Del Norte slips a straight right by Morgan.
Morgan throws a front kick aimed at Del Norte's knee but Del Norte avoids it well.
Del Norte scores with a jab to the jaw.
Del Norte keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Del Norte gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Morgan counters with a stiff right hand.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan lands a jab-cross combination.
Del Norte lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Morgan stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Del Norte is trying to pull guard but Morgan has him pressed against the cage.
Morgan misses with a punch to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Morgan.
A right hand to the body from Morgan.
Del Norte throws a punch but it's blocked by Morgan.
Morgan tries to work over Del Norte's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Morgan misses with a body punch.
A hook to the body from Morgan.
Morgan tries to work over Del Norte's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Good body shot from Del Norte.
Del Norte misses with a knee strike.
Morgan lands a hook to the side of the head.
A nice left hand lands by Morgan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Virgil Morgan dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.
Del Norte fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Morgan avoids it really well and circles away.
Morgan just misses with a punch to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Morgan.
Del Norte throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Del Norte throws a hook to the side of Morgan's head but Morgan sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Morgan only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Morgan scores with a leg kick.
Morgan lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Del Norte.
Morgan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Del Norte.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Del Norte throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Morgan stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Del Norte on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Morgan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Del Norte misses with a hook
and Morgan counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Del Norte shoots in and drives through. Morgan sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fantinaz Del Norte. That's going to take a lot out of him.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Del Norte keeps the fight on the outside.
Del Norte gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Morgan.
Del Norte scores with a body shot.
Morgan connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Del Norte momentarily.
Del Norte loads up on a big right hand but Morgan slips the punch.
Del Norte shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Morgan but Morgan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Del Norte blocks a head kick by Morgan.
Morgan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Del Norte takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Del Norte moves out of range of the leg kick from Morgan.
Del Norte takes a swing at Morgan's ribcage but misses.
Morgan fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Del Norte is out of range.
Del Norte cracks Morgan with a good jab.
Morgan misses with a body shot.
Del Norte blocks a head kick by Morgan.
Morgan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Del Norte.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan misses the shot to the body.
Morgan has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Morgan misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Morgan feints and then cracks Del Norte's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Del Norte down.
Morgan scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Morgan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Del Norte.
A cross from Del Norte lands.
Del Norte's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Morgan connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Del Norte scrambles back to his feet.
Del Norte shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Morgan pinned against the cage. Morgan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Morgan misses with a low kick.
A big right from Morgan misses.
Del Norte closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Morgan to the mat! Morgan manages to get full guard.
Del Norte wants to control from the top but Morgan keeps moving.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Del Norte connects with a couple of short punches.
Del Norte trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Morgan is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Morgan is continuing to stall.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Del Norte trying to control but Morgan is working from the bottom.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Del Norte misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Morgan avoids the body shot from Del Norte.
Del Norte takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Morgan throws a hook but Del Norte avoids it easily.
Morgan connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Del Norte keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Morgan fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Del Norte throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Morgan.
Morgan lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Del Norte has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Morgan finds it's way round the side to connect with Del Norte's head.
Morgan scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Virgil Morgan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Morgan has closed the distance and engaged Del Norte in a clinch.
Morgan pushes Del Norte back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Morgan lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Del Norte is looking to control Morgan's arms but Morgan gets an underhook and turns him. Now Del Norte has his back to the cage.
A right hand to the body from Del Norte.
Del Norte tries to throw a body punch but Morgan avoids it by throwing Del Norte back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Morgan fails to land.
Del Norte using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Morgan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Del Norte looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Del Norte misses with a hook to the ribs.
Del Norte throws a head punch that misses.
Del Norte misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Morgan.
Del Norte is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Morgan lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Del Norte backwards.
Del Norte scores with a nice hook to the head.
Morgan goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Morgan goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Del Norte with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Morgan.
Morgan goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Morgan is leaning against Del Norte and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Morgan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Del Norte is trying to pull guard but Morgan has him pressed against the cage.
Del Norte swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Morgan lands a nice shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A head punch on the inside from Morgan fails to land.
Del Norte tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A right hook to the body lands for Morgan.
Morgan working aggressively here.
Del Norte is trying to break the clinch but Morgan has him pressed against the cage.
Del Norte takes a shot to the head.
Morgan lands with a short shot to the head.
Del Norte looking to stall.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Del Norte jumps guard but Morgan stands there with Del Norte around his waist. Del Norte gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Del Norte fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A left hand lands to the body for Morgan.
A nice right hand lands inside from Morgan.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Morgan.
Del Norte is rocked!
Del Norte taking a breather.
Oh Del Norte is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Virgil Morgan seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Morgan creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Morgan.
Del Norte throws a head punch that misses.
Del Norte looking to slow down the pace here.
Morgan lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Morgan lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Morgan throws a big uppercut that drops Del Norte! More strikes from Morgan and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Del Norte lies dazed against the cage as Morgan celebrates with his cornermen!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Virgil Morgan!
Virgil Morgan is the new bantamweight champion!
Virgil Morgan was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
The defeated Fantinaz Del Norte had this to say: 'Great job Bjorn, one hell of a fight :)'.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
52% |
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