PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Morris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Domagoj Kovacic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kovacic has chosen Wtihin Temptation-Memories as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Domagoj Kovacic has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Joe Morris's chin.

Morris
vs
Kovacic

193 cm
21
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
201 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe Morris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Domagoj Kovacic!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Richard Clark and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Morris closes the distance and clinches.
Morris is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kovacic is looking to control Morris's arms but Morris gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kovacic has his back to the cage.
Morris trying to stall but Kovacic improves his position.

Kovacic manages to break the clinch.
Morris smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Morris shoots in for a takedown but Kovacic shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kovacic tries to clinch up but Morris circles away and keeps his distance.
Morris fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kovacic throws a right and a left that Morris avoids nicely.
A left and a right from Morris both land. Nice combination.
Kovacic lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Morris.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Morris. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kovacic has closed the distance and engaged Morris in a clinch.
Morris lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kovacic or not.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Morris as Kovacic tries to tie him up.
Kovacic looks gassed!
Morris has had enough of the clinch but Kovacic keeps him there for the moment.

Kovacic breaks the clinch.
Morris is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kovacic sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Morris fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovacic shoots in for a takedown but Morris shows good takedown defense.
Morris throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kovacic's waist but Kovacic gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Morris off to one side.
Kovacic lands a head kick. Morris smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Kovacic moves in looking to clinch but Morris pushes him off.
Morris misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kovacic throws a combination that misses

and Morris counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Morris.

Kovacic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kovacic has a takedown stuffed.
Kovacic avoids the head kick by Morris.
Kovacic wants to clinch up but Morris keeps it at a distance.
Morris tries to clinch but Kovacic is having none of it.

Morris has managed to clinch.
Morris has Kovacic pressed against the cage, preventing Kovacic from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Morris tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kovacic just stands there and leans against the cage.
Morris keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kovacic's efforts to push away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovacic is pushing Morris up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Morris lands with a light punch inside.
Morris lands with a left to the head.
Morris using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kovacic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kovacic is trying to force a seperation but Morris has the dominant position.
Morris wants to break free but Kovacic has control.

Morris manages to pull guard.
Kovacic has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Morris is proving hard to escape from.
Morris preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Morris 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.
Kovacic working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Morris has his feet on Kovacic's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Kovacic tries to clinch up

and Morris counters with a shoot takedown. Kovacic fights it but they end up in guard.

Morris gets to his feet - Kovacic follows without any prompting.
Morris misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Morris shoots for a double leg takedown but Kovacic sprawls well. He's pushed Morris's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Morris shoots in but no luck this time.
Kovacic pushes Morris away with a front kick.
Kovacic scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Kovacic throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
The fight stays on the outside here - Morris looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Morris throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kovacic counters with a one-two to the body.
Kovacic changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Morris tries to avoid it but Kovacic manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Morris to the ground. Morris escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Morris clinches with his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Morris manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Kovacic breaks the clinch.
Morris tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kovacic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Morris looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Morris closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kovacic did well to prevent Morris getting side control.

Morris escapes and gets back to his feet.
Morris tries to close the distance and clinch but Kovacic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kovacic wants to clinch.
Morris lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morris is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kovacic sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kovacic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Morris 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.

Kovacic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kovacic landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Morris is trying to trip Kovacic. He has hold of a leg but Kovacic is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Morris persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Morris in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Morris working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kovacic wants to sweep but no luck.
Morris will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Morris's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kovacic pulls Morris in close to prevent any damage.
Morris won't allow Kovacic to sweep him here.

Morris stands up and waves to Kovacic to follow him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morris closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kovacic to the mat! Kovacic manages to get full guard.

Kovacic is working an open guard so Morris takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Kovacic throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Morris's waist but Morris gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kovacic off to one side.
Morris tries to clinch there but Kovacic circles away.
Kovacic keeps the fight on the outside.
Morris shoots in but Kovacic avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Kovacic closes the distance and pushes Morris back into the cage.
Morris jumps guard but Kovacic stands there with Morris around his waist. Morris gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Morris is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Kovacic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Morris darts in and clinches Kovacic up against the cage.

Morris jumps into guard, dragging Kovacic to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morris wants to stand but Kovacic is controlling the position.
Kovacic works over Morris with some ground and pound from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kovacic stands up from Morris's guard - Kovacic perhaps looking for a knockout.
Morris tries to clinch but Kovacic moves away
and Kovacic counters with a nice kick to the body.
Kovacic defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Morris.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Morris. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kovacic will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Morris darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Morris throwing shots but Kovacic is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morris is thwarting Kovacic's attempts to control the position.
Kovacic is looking to escape.
Morris not doing much here.

Morris stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Kovacic stuffs the takedown attempt from Morris. Morris gets slowly back to his feet.
Kovacic shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Morris but Morris pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Morris gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Morris breaks the clinch.
Kovacic fails with a takedown attempt.
Morris throws a series of punches but Kovacic moves out of range.
Kovacic tries to close the distance and clinch but Morris swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Morris throws a head kick that misses
and Kovacic finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Morris misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kovacic tries to close the distance and clinch but Morris swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kovacic with a poor takedown
and Morris counters with a two punch combo.
Kovacic swats away the attempt to clinch by Morris.
Morris tries to clinch there but Kovacic circles away.
Morris takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Kovacic will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Morris dominated that second round.
That's time! Morris's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Morris throws a head kick that misses
and Kovacic makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Morris really felt that one!
Kovacic misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Morris keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Morris misses with a series of wild punches.
Morris fails in his attempt to clinch.
Morris scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Morris throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Morris tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Morris tries to close the distance and clinch but Kovacic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovacic moves out of range of the leg kick from Morris.
Morris tries to clinch but Kovacic is having none of it.

Kovacic clinches up against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kovacic letting Morris take a breather here.
Kovacic lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovacic's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Morris is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kovacic is pressed up against the cage. Morris has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kovacic down to the mat. Kovacic avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Morris throws a right and a left that both miss.

Kovacic clinches up with Morris and pushes him back against the cage.
Kovacic is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kovacic misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Morris.
Morris can't break the clinch.
Morris goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kovacic prevents it.
Kovacic throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Morris blocks it with crossed arms.

Kovacic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Morris rushes Kovacic and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Morris wants to break free but Kovacic has control.
Morris drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kovacic gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Morris. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kovacic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kovacic fails in his attempt to clinch.

Morris moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morris blocks a body shot from Kovacic.

Morris manages to pull guard.
Morris lands a couple of shots from the bottom.
Morris has control of Kovacic's left arm, preventing Kovacic from doing any damage.
Kovacic wants to stand but Morris has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Morris pulls Kovacic in to control the position.

Morris has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Kovacic off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Kovacic moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Morris decides to pull guard.

Morris pushes Kovacic off and gets back to his feet.
Morris throws a front kick aimed at Kovacic's knee but Kovacic avoids it well.
Kovacic tries to close the distance and clinch but Morris swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Morris tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kovacic sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Morris somewhat.
A thudding body kick lands there by Kovacic!
Morris keeps the fight on the outside.
Kovacic keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Domagoj Kovacic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Kovacic darts in and clinches Morris up against the cage.
Morris jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kovacic walks away with a smile on his face. Morris gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Joe Morris is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Morris throws a right hand that Kovacic ducks under and follows up with a left that Kovacic also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovacic lands a jab-cross combination.
Kovacic throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Morris.
Morris throws a right hand that Kovacic ducks under and follows up with a left that Kovacic also avoids with ease.
Morris throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kovacic's waist but Kovacic gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Morris off to one side.
No luck for Kovacic with that takedown attempt.
Morris will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Morris keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Morris works over Kovacic's head and body with a nice combination.
Kovacic doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Morris counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kovacic wants to get back to his feet but Morris is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Joe Morris is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Morris is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Morris showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Morris, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Morris!