PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zhenya Morozov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bi House (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zhenya Morozov has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Morozov
vs
House

225 cm
25
204 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

189 cm
23
218 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zhenya Morozov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bi House!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Viktor Lagutenko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
House tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Morozov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
House tries to clinch up but Morozov circles away and keeps his distance.
House slaps away a takedown attempt from Morozov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
House is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Morozov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

House moves into the clinch.

Morozov gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Morozov decides to return to a standing position.

Morozov moves into the clinch successfully.
Morozov misses with a hook from the clinch.
House can't break the clinch.

Morozov has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but House regains guard immediately.
Morozov trying to control the position from guard on top but House is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morozov is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because House is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Morozov wanted to stand there but House had control of the position.
House working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Morozov moves out of range as House throws a body kick.
House tries to clinch but Morozov moves away

and Morozov counters with a nice double leg into side control. House won't be happy with that.
House trying to remain calm as Morozov controls from the top position.
House really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Morozov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
House gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Morozov decides to stand and escape the position.
Morozov shoots in but no luck this time.
House is looking to land body kicks.

Morozov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
House is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Morozov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
House looking for a sweep. Not yet House, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morozov content to stall in guard here.
Morozov stops House from standing up.
Morozov trying to control the position from guard on top but House is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
House working a defensive guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Zhenya Morozov.
Morozov shoots for a takedown but House saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhenya Morozov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morozov is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Morozov circles away from the clinch attempt

and Morozov counters with a nice double leg into side control. House won't be happy with that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
House is looking to regain half guard here but Morozov keeps moving and retains side control.
House is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
House is not content to let Morozov control the position.
House is letting Morozov control him for a moment.
House is trying to get back to half guard.
An elbow from Morozov crashes against the mat.

Morozov decides to stand up, so the ref orders House to his feet.
House throws a series of strikes that have Morozov backpedaling.
House throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Morozov counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in House's guard now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
House preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Morozov stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Morozov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Morozov trying to control but House is working from the bottom.
Morozov is pushing down on House's leg trying to pass to half guard. House is fighting to maintain full guard but Morozov has managed to sneak the leg through.
House trying to control here.
Morozov prevents House from improving his position.
Morozov passes into side control, despite House's attempt to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
House tries to buck Morozov off but Morozov is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhenya Morozov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Morozov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on House's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Morozov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. House knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Zhenya Morozov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
House trying his best to control but Morozov has mounted him.

Morozov looking to secure an arm triangle but House defends it well.
Morozov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
House keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morozov scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Morozov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Morozov controlling from mount.
House tries to hold on but Morozov pushes him away.
Morozov wants to control the pace but House is squirming around nicely.
Morozov controlling his opponent.

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.
Morozov postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. House looks a forlorn figure.
Morozov trying to control but House is having none of it.
House is working to get back to half guard.

Morozov has hold of House's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and House manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Morozov looking to finish House with some ground and pound. This is bad for House!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
House wants to control but Morozov is having none of it.

Morozov is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Morozov circles away from the clinch attempt

and Morozov counters with a single leg into guard. House didn't expect that.
Morozov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Morozov won't allow House to get back to his feet.
House is looking to stand back up but Morozov counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by House.
Morozov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
House trying to control from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Morozov not doing much here.

Morozov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. House doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Morozov.
Morozov sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Zhenya Morozov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Morozov closes the distance and clinches up with House, looking for a takedown. Morozov pushes House against the cage but House circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhenya Morozov dominated that second round.
That's time! Morozov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

House clinches but Morozov breaks the clinch

and Morozov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
House keeping moving, preventing Morozov from controlling successfully.

Morozov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
House tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Morozov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
House is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Morozov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Morozov trying to control the position from guard on top but House is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
House wants to get back to his feet but Morozov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
House working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Morozov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
House tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Morozov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Zhenya Morozov wasn't doing enough on the ground.
House takes one on the chin but seems OK.
House tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Morozov counters with a shoot takedown. House fights it but they end up in guard.
Morozov won't allow House to sweep him here.
Morozov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
House is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Morozov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
No luck for Morozov with that takedown attempt.
House throws a lazy head kick

and Morozov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
House looking to control.
Morozov pushing down on House's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
House is looking to improve his position.
House looks like he's trying to stand up.
Morozov trying to mount his opponent but House defends it.
Morozov is taking a breather. House says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

House makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Bi House has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
House doesn't manage to clinch there - Morozov circles away.

Morozov has House up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
House lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Morozov.
House wants to break the clinch but can't.
Morozov dodges an elbow strike from House.

Morozov gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Morozov wants to take a breather but House is having none of it.
House is looking to improve his position.
Morozov trying to control from half guard but House is working away.

Morozov decides to stand and escape the position.

House clinches with his opponent.
Morozov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that House can do to turn this around?
Morozov throws an elbow but it misses.

House escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
House looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
House looks to clinch

so Morozov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Morozov got a little sloppy there for a moment and House has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Morozov has managed to get both his arms back between House's legs - danger averted.
House wants to stand up but Morozov is controlling him.
House wants to sweep here but Morozov controlling him for the moment.
Zhenya Morozov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Morozov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Morozov wants to control from the top but House keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Morozov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

House is working an open guard so Morozov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zhenya Morozov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Morozov, 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zhenya Morozov!