PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gerlach Rutger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rolando Morales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rutger
vs
Morales

180 cm
27
215 lbs
17 - 5 - 2

185 cm
24
205 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Insanely flexible

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 17 - 5 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Gerlach Rutger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rolando Morales!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Hugh Johnson and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rutger looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rutger is thwarting Morales's attempts to control the position.
Morales tries to roll over but Rutger keeps him under control.
Morales on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rutger wants to lay and pray for a moment but Morales keeps working.
Morales blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rutger.
Morales is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rutger thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Morales's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutger seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Rutger throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Morales can do anything to dispel that myth.
Morales is trying to maintain the position but Rutger is very close to passing his half guard.
Morales really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rutger. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rutger is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Rutger throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Rutger landing strikes from the mount and Morales is in trouble!
Rutger trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutger working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Morales slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
Rutger throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rutger is pressing down on Morales's thigh, looking to free his foot. Morales is holding on for now.
Morales keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Morales avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rutger.
Rutger sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Morales defending well though.
Rutger wants to free his trapped foot but Morales is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Morales fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Morales misses with a wild body shot.
Good shot there by Morales.

It looks like Gerlach Rutger has been cut.
Morales displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rutger.
Morales misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Morales goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morales lands a jab-cross combination.
Rutger showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Morales.
Morales lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rutger circles away quickly and effectively.

Morales gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rutger postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morales wants to stand but Rutger is controlling the position.
Rutger stands and throws Morales's legs to the side, diving into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerlach Rutger dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gerlach Rutger's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Morales throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Morales misses with a head kick.

Rutger fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Morales sprawls well initially but Rutger persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rutger is trying to control. Morales wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rutger not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rutger thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rutger tries to pass the half guard into mount. Morales knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rutger prevents Morales from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutger not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Morales keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Morales keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rutger closes this distance looking for a takedown but Morales circles away.
Morales waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rutger.
Morales jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Morales throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Morales throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rolando Morales seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Morales misses with a two punch combination.
Rutger slips a jab and a cross from Morales.
A combination from Morales does no damage.
Morales throws a good cross that connects.
Morales fails to land with a series of punches.
Rutger throws a shot from downtown. Morales moves away and avoids it.
Morales throws a front kick aimed at Rutger's knee but Rutger avoids it well.
Morales misses with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morales misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Morales is looking to score with low kicks.
Morales misses with a hook. Rutger ducked under it nicely.
Morales misses with the combination.
Morales looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rutger avoids the body shot from Morales.
Morales misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rutger avoids the body shot from Morales.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Morales misses with a few strikes there.
Morales misses with a body shot.
Morales lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rutger backs up against the cage.
Morales displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rutger.
Morales rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rutger moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rutger is trying hard to land a takedown here. Morales sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gerlach Rutger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A left and a right from Morales both land. Nice combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rolando Morales showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gerlach Rutger's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rutger will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Morales throws a hook but Rutger blocks it.
Morales looks to land a combination. Rutger sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Rutger takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Gerlach Rutger's cut is getting worse.
Rutger avoids a punch combination nicely.
Morales misses with a wild combination.
Morales uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morales misses the shot to the body.
Morales misses with a head kick.
Rutger slips a jab and a cross from Morales.
Rutger avoids the head kick by Morales.
Morales fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rutger drops his hands momentarily and Morales takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A combination from Morales does no damage.
Morales tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rutger was well out of range. Poor timing from Morales.

That's two 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.
Morales misses with a series of wild punches.
Morales misses the shot to the body.
Morales tries a head kick but it misses.
Morales misses with a double jab.
Rutger avoids the body shot from Morales.
Morales connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Morales swinging wildly here.

Rutger looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutger landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rutger working the head and body with strikes.
Rutger is trying to control. Morales wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rutger thows a huge punch but Morales dodges it nicely.
Morales avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rutger.
Rutger is trying to control the action in half guard but Morales is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rutger thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Morales's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morales keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Morales is looking to improve his position.
Morales keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Morales misses with the combination.
Morales misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Some wild striking there from Morales.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rolando Morales comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Morales has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rolando Morales!