PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Micheal Morton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xing Shotokan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Micheal Morton has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Morton
vs
Shotokan

170 cm
23
161 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

177 cm
21
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Micheal Morton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Xing Shotokan!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shirou Masuda and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morton throws a right and a left that Shotokan avoids nicely.
Morton lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
A punch combination from Morton misses.
Morton looks to land a combination. Shotokan sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Shotokan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Morton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shotokan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Morton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Morton misses with a looping right.
Shotokan tries to clinch but Morton moves out of range.
Shotokan is looking to clinch.
No joy there for Morton, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Shotokan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Morton takes a swing at Shotokan's ribcage but misses.
Shotokan dodges the punch combination from Morton.
Decent striking displayed by Morton there.
Some wild striking there from Morton.
Shotokan is looking to clinch but Morton is avoiding it.
Shotokan is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Morton.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shotokan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Morton paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Morton throws a nice looking combination but Shotokan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Morton tries to keep at a distance but Shotokan has taken the fight into the clinch.
Shotokan prevents Morton from breaking the clinch.

Shotokan pulls Morton into guard.
Shotokan working a defensive guard here.

Morton decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Shotokan avoids a punch combination nicely.

Shotokan gets a clinch.
Shotokan tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Morton just stands there and leans against the cage.
Morton blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shotokan tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Morton avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Morton.
Shotokan digs a right hand underneath Morton's ribcage. Morton let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Morton wants to break free but Shotokan has control.

Shotokan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A punch combination from Morton misses.
Shotokan is looking to clinch but Morton is avoiding it.
Shotokan showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Morton.
Morton throws a body punch but Shotokan moves out of range.
Shotokan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Shotokan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Morton paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Morton misses the shot to the body.
Morton works over Shotokan's head and body with a nice combination.
Morton misses with a few strikes there.
Shotokan slips a jab and a cross from Morton.
Shotokan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Morton.
Shotokan throws a half hearted mid kick.
Morton connects with a jab.
Morton swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morton scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Micheal Morton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Morton rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Shotokan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Some bone on bone action there as Morton checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Shotokan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Morton is looking to wear down Shotokan with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Morton throws a nice looking combination but Shotokan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Morton misses with a series of wild punches.
Morton throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Morton scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Shotokan is rocked!
Morton lands with an uppercut that bounces Shotokan off the cage and back into rage.
Shotokan is still on wobbly legs! Can Morton finish him?
Shotokan works Morton's body with a nice hook.
Shotokan tries to clinch there but Morton circles away.
Shotokan seems to have recovered his senses.
Morton lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shotokan circles away quickly and effectively.
Morton circles away from the clinch attempt.
Morton misses with a hook. Shotokan ducked under it nicely.
Morton throws a body kick that misses.
Morton is working the combinations to good effect here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shotokan rushes Morton and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Shotokan tries to pull guard but Morton holds him up against the cage and eventually Shotokan drops back down to his feet.
Shotokan is trying to stall.
Shotokan trying to land knees to the body.
Shotokan keeps control of Morton as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Shotokan tries to land knees in the clinch but Morton avoids the damage to the body.
Shotokan looking to slow down the pace here.
Morton tries to break the clinch but Shotokan is controlling the position.

Morton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shotokan is looking to clinch but Morton is avoiding it.
Morton bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Shotokan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Shotokan slips a jab from Morton.
Morton throws a series of punches but Shotokan avoids them all with ease.
Morton throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Shotokan.
Morton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shotokan moves away.
Micheal Morton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Morton throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Shotokan displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Morton throws out the jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Micheal Morton dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A combination from Morton does no damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shotokan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shotokan avoids a punch combination nicely.
Morton jabs Shotokan right on the nose. Shotokan blinks but takes it well.
Shotokan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shotokan showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Morton.
A nice combination there by Shotokan.
Morton looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Morton throws a nice looking combination but Shotokan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morton throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Shotokan counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Shotokan trying to land knees to the body.

Shotokan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Morton tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Morton throws a combination that misses
and Shotokan counters with an inside leg kick.
Morton misses with a combination
and Shotokan makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Morton.
Morton swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Shotokan counters with an outside leg kick.
Morton misses with a combination
and Shotokan counters with a leg kick.
Shotokan tries to clinch up but Morton circles away and keeps his distance.
Morton throws a series of punches but Shotokan moves out of range.
Morton throws a right and a left that Shotokan avoids nicely.
Morton misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shotokan.
Morton falls off balance throwing a combination

and Shotokan counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Shotokan is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Shotokan misses with a punch to the body.
Morton throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Shotokan tries to work over Morton's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Morton is working Shotokan over against the cage.
Morton lands with a short punch from the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Shotokan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shotokan trying to control the position but instead, Morton has worked for underhooks and has pushed Shotokan into the cage.
Morton managing to block the knees to the body from Shotokan.

Shotokan manages to pull guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Shotokan wants to hit a switch here but Morton passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Shotokan there!

Morton stands up from mount. Strange move.
Morton lands the left hand.
Morton looks to throw a body kick
and Shotokan counters with a series of strikes. Morton will be more careful next time no doubt.
Shotokan takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Morton misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shotokan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Morton keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Morton avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Morton fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shotokan manages to avoid it.
No joy there for Shotokan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Morton sizes up Shotokan with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Morton throws a right hand that Shotokan ducks under and follows up with a left that Shotokan also avoids with ease.

Shotokan has closed the distance and engaged Morton in a clinch.

Shotokan breaks the clinch.
Morton keeps the fight on the outside.
Micheal Morton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Morton swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Morton throws a sloppy body shot

and Shotokan counters by moving into the clinch.
Morton can't break the clinch.

Morton pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Morton connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Shotokan momentarily.
Morton dodges the punch combination from Shotokan.
Shotokan lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morton scores with a decent looking hook.
Morton misses with a double jab

and Shotokan counters with a single leg into guard. Morton didn't expect that.
Shotokan is in close to Morton's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Morton wants to get back to his feet but Shotokan is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Morton scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Morton avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morton looks to land a combination but Shotokan avoids it well.
Morton lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Shotokan throws a quick inside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shotokan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xing Shotokan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Morton fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Morton swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Donk. Morton catches Shotokan right on the button with a cross.
Shotokan dodges the punch combination from Morton.
Shotokan is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Morton throws a combination that misses
and Shotokan makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Morton avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Morton takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Morton misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Shotokan tries to clinch up but Morton circles away and keeps his distance.
Morton misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Shotokan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Morton throws a left and a right that both miss
and Shotokan counters with a thumping low kick.
Morton wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Morton misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morton falls off balance throwing a combination
and Shotokan counters with an outside leg kick.
Morton throws a body punch but Shotokan moves out of range.
Shotokan tries to clinch but Morton is having none of it.
Shotokan moves in looking to clinch but Morton pushes him off.
No joy there for Morton, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Shotokan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Morton as he jumps to the side.
Morton lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Morton swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Shotokan counters with a leg kick.
Morton looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Micheal Morton is winning the standup battle so far.
Morton paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Morton fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shotokan manages to avoid it.
Morton throws a left and a right that both miss

and Shotokan counters by clinching up.
Morton avoiding damage as Shotokan throws knees to the body.
Shotokan tries to land knees in the clinch but Morton avoids the damage to the body.
Shotokan keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Morton's efforts to push away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morton can't break the clinch.

Shotokan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Morton lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Morton misses with a jab, cross combination.
Morton scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Morton tries to land a body kick

and Shotokan counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Morton's guard now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shotokan throws and elbow that misses. Morton uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Shotokan's guard. Nice move by Morton!
Shotokan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Morton wants to stand but Shotokan has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Shotokan is trying to hold Morton in close to prevent damage but Morton has managed to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morton prevents Shotokan from improving his position.
Morton wants to stand up but Shotokan is controlling the position.

Morton decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Morton scores with a nice head shot.
Morton misses with a two punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Morton falls off balance throwing a combination
and Shotokan counters with a thumping low kick.
Morton takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Morton throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Morton looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Morton swings for the body but Shotokan moves out of range.
Morton connects with a body shot.
Shotokan avoids a punch combination nicely.
Morton misses with a double jab.
Morton misses with a jab, cross combination.
Shotokan tries to clinch up.
Morton throws out a loose jab but Shotokan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Morton lands a with a good body shot.
Morton throws a combination that misses
and Shotokan counters with an inside leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Micheal Morton showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Morton 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Micheal Morton!