PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Josh Morgan (ranked 1997 p4p, 224 weight class) and Queen Tamar (ranked 1987 p4p, 220 weight class). Tamar comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Super Sako kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Josh Morgan has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Morgan
vs
Tamar

179 cm
25
155 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

165 cm
23
156 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Morgan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Queen Tamar!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Chad Campbell and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morgan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tamar takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Tamar keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Morgan changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Tamar looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Morgan scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Tamar to see if he's OK.

Morgan working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Morgan swings around for an armbar but Tamar sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Morgan's guard.
Tamar postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morgan has an active guard here but Tamar has managed to pass into half guard.
Morgan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Morgan is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Morgan actively working from the bottom here.
Morgan wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Morgan slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Tamar avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Morgan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tamar doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tamar manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Morgan 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.
Morgan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tamar wants to stand but Morgan is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Morgan is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tamar is aware though and is defending well.
Tamar wants to stand but Morgan is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Morgan swings widly with a right hand

and Tamar counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Morgan regains full guard. Nicely done.

Morgan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tamar gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Morgan working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Tamar has passed into half guard!
Tamar wants to stand but Morgan has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tamar is thwarting Morgan's attempts to control the position.
Tamar prevents Morgan from improving his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Queen Tamar will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Morgan throws a jab when Tamar was well out of range.
Morgan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tamar was well out of range. Poor timing from Morgan.
Tamar feints the counter takedown.
Morgan looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Tamar gets caught napping as Morgan dives in and scores a takedown. Tamar manages to retain guard.
Morgan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tamar wants to stand but Morgan is controlling the position.
Morgan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tamar wants to get back to his feet but Morgan is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Morgan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morgan won't allow Tamar to get back to his feet.

Morgan thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Queen Tamar has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tamar working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Morgan.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan looks to land a combination but Tamar avoids it well.
Morgan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tamar manages to avoid it.
And Tamar tries to counter it with a takedown but Morgan pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A jab from Morgan finds it's way through Tamar's defenses.
Morgan fails to land with a series of punches.
Tamar changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Morgan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tamar tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Morgan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tamar feints the counter takedown.
Morgan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tamar feints the counter takedown.
Morgan scores with a shot to the body.
A jab from Morgan misses.
Morgan swinging wildly here.
Tamar changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tamar uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Morgan.
Tamar tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Tamar uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Morgan.
A head kick misses from Morgan.
Morgan throws a leg kick

and Tamar counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Morgan actively working from the bottom here.
Tamar wants to get back to his feet.

Morgan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Morgan slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Tamar looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tamar stands and steps away. Morgan gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Morgan throws a body punch but Tamar moves out of range.
Tamar changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Tamar slips under a jab.
And Tamar tries to counter it with a takedown but Morgan pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Morgan ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Morgan throws a right and a left that Tamar avoids nicely.
Morgan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tamar feints the counter takedown.
Josh Morgan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Morgan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Tamar feints the counter takedown.
Tamar ducks under a wild hook from Morgan.
Morgan takes a swing at Tamar's ribcage but misses.
Tamar feints the counter takedown.
Josh Morgan is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Morgan misses.
Tamar tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Morgan throws a body shot but no joy.
Tamar is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Morgan.
Morgan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tamar can do to turn this around?
Morgan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tamar is fending him off so far but Morgan persists. Nope, Tamar circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Morgan looks to land a right hand but Tamar moved out of range.
Tamar with the counter takedown but Morgan avoids it easily.
Morgan misses with a body shot

and Tamar counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tamar preventing the sweep.
Tamar would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Morgan has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Tamar is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Morgan.
Morgan tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Morgan dominated that second round.
That's time! Morgan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Morgan throws a hook to the side of Tamar's head but Tamar sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tamar feints the counter takedown.
Tamar takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Morgan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tamar moves away.
Tamar changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A swing and a miss from Morgan.
A telegraphed right hand from Morgan misses the target.
And Tamar tries to counter it with a takedown but Morgan pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Morgan throws out a loose jab but Tamar uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tamar with the counter takedown but Morgan avoids it easily.
Morgan misses with an uppercut.
Tamar uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Morgan.
Morgan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tamar is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morgan looks to land a combination but Tamar avoids it well.
Morgan throws a hook but Tamar avoids it easily.
Morgan throws a poor cross that misses

and Tamar counters with a shoot takedown. Morgan fights it but they end up in guard.

Morgan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tamar defends well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tamar is looking to stand up but Morgan won't let him.

Morgan working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Tamar has passed into half guard!
Morgan is trying to maintain the position but Tamar is very close to passing his half guard.

Morgan looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Morgan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Tamar stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Tamar uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Morgan.

Tamar gets caught napping as Morgan dives in and scores a takedown. Tamar manages to retain guard.
Morgan throwing strikes from guard but Tamar blocks nicely.
Morgan is looking to work some ground and pound but Tamar has wrist control.
Tamar keeping full guard, as Morgan tries to pass.
Morgan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Morgan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan prevents Tamar from getting back to his feet.
Tamar is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Morgan trying to control the position from guard on top but Tamar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Morgan looks to score with a jab to the body but Tamar is just out of range.
Tamar drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Morgan defends it well.
A big left from Morgan misses.
Tamar changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Morgan is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Tamar moves out of range as Morgan strikes.
Tamar moves out of range as Morgan strikes.
Tamar drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Morgan defends it well.
A looping hook to the body misses from Morgan. Tamar does a little dance to reset his feet.
And Tamar tries to counter it with a takedown but Morgan pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Morgan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tamar manages to avoid it.
Tamar tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Morgan catches Tamar with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Queen Tamar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Morgan tests Tamar's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tamar slaps away a takedown attempt from Morgan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Morgan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tamar.
Tamar ducks under a wild hook from Morgan.
Tamar keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tamar feints the counter takedown.
Morgan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tamar but Tamar pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Josh Morgan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Morgan shoots in but Tamar avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Tamar tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Morgan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Morgan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tamar tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Queen Tamar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Morgan lands a nice shot to the body.
Tamar takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Morgan showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Morgan 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight for Josh Morgan!
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight for Josh Morgan!
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight for Josh Morgan!

Josh Morgan wins by unanimous decision!
Josh Morgan decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
In defeat, Queen Tamar stepped up to the mic, saying 'You fight like Mongol!'.