PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Harry Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Zorin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Morgan
vs
Zorin

180 cm
29
180 lbs
14 - 12 - 0

180 cm
28
179 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Harry Morgan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Max Zorin!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Emerson Jorge and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zorin shoots in looking for a takedown. Morgan tries to sprawl out of it but Zorin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Morgan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Morgan tries a head kick but it misses.
Morgan stuffs the takedown.
Zorin connects with a good right hand that stumbles Morgan. Morgan circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Zorin.

Zorin tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Zorin has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Morgan sneaks back into half guard.
Zorin is trying to control. Morgan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Morgan tries to kick Zorin off but Zorin keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Zorin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Zorin is keen to just control but Morgan is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zorin prevents Morgan from improving his position.
Morgan is working hard here to advance position.

Zorin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Zorin is trying to control the action in half guard but Morgan is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Morgan gets full guard.
Zorin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zorin looks gassed!

Morgan looking for a guillotine here but Zorin defends easily.

Zorin drops back, looking for a kneebar! Morgan looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Morgan looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Morgan!
Morgan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zorin keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Morgan tries for a kimura but Zorin is defending well.
Zorin is looking to reverse the position.
Zorin is not content to let Morgan control the position.
Morgan taking a breather here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Morgan is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Zorin has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan controlling the position from side mount.

Morgan has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Morgan dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Zorin. That did some damage!
Max Zorin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Morgan is looking to slow Zorin down with leg kicks.
Morgan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A head kick from Morgan lands but Zorin takes it in his stride.
Morgan scores with a jab. Zorin acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Morgan moves into the clinch.

Zorin breaks from the clinch.
Morgan leaves Zorin with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Harry Morgan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Zorin.
A nice inside leg kick there by Morgan. That's going to slow Zorin down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan wants to clinch.
Morgan fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Zorin has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Morgan connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Zorin's hands.

Morgan has Zorin up against the cage in a clinch.
Morgan with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Morgan looking to slow down the pace here.
A left hand lands to the body for Morgan.
Morgan wants to stall.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morgan lands a knee to the head.
Zorin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Morgan throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harry Morgan dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Morgan scores with a nice right hand.
Zorin swats away the attempt to clinch by Morgan.
Zorin fails to land the takedown.
Morgan misses with a head kick.
Zorin tries for a takedown but Morgan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Morgan gets the takedown into side control.
Morgan trying to control the action but Zorin is working from the bottom.
Morgan fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Zorin tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Morgan wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Zorin is breathing heavily.
Zorin defending against the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morgan advances to full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morgan working for a guillotine from mount but Zorin is in no mood to give up.
Morgan trying to control but Zorin is having none of it.
Zorin wants to hold on but Morgan pushes him away.
Zorin is wriggling around trying to escape.
Morgan dominating with strikes here.
Morgan takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Morgan lands a nice shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Morgan wants to finish this one by submission but Zorin is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Morgan.
Morgan scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Morgan controlling his opponent.
Zorin holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Morgan tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Morgan content just to control the position here.
Zorin is trying desperately to improve position.
Morgan tries to control but Zorin wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Zorin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zorin holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Morgan tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Morgan misses with a head shot.
Morgan controlling the pace for now.
Morgan looking to control but Zorin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Zorin is desperately trying to improve his position but Morgan has a good base and remains in mount.
Morgan trying to control but Zorin is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Morgan tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Morgan prevents Zorin from getting the reversal.
Zorin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Morgan tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Morgan scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Harry Morgan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Morgan scoring with strikes but Zorin is staying in there.
Morgan throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harry Morgan dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Zorin takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Morgan throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Nice body kick there by Morgan.
Zorin takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morgan lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Morgan throws a nice head kick!
Morgan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Nice shot lands for Morgan.
Morgan lands a nice hook to Zorin's body. Zorin takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A cross from Morgan lands.
Morgan throws a sloppy head kick and Zorin moves out of range easily.
Morgan connects with an inside leg kick.
Morgan lands with a slapping head kick.
Zorin walks into a left hand.
Zorin walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Morgan misses with a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zorin avoids the head kick by Morgan.

Morgan closes the distance and clinches.
Morgan lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Zorin.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Morgan obliges.
A bit of stalling here from Morgan.
Morgan misses with a knee to the head.
Zorin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Morgan connects with a knee to the head.
Morgan looking to throw knees to the head but Zorin is blocking nicely.
Morgan blocks a body shot from Zorin.
Morgan lands a body punch.
Morgan lands a knee to the body.
Zorin has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Morgan manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Morgan unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Zorin takes a knee right on the jaw!
Morgan stalling in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan can't get the takedown.

Morgan lands a takedown into guard.
Morgan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Morgan trying to control but Zorin is working from the bottom.
Morgan throwing strikes but missing.

Zorin is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Morgan is aware though and is defending well.
Morgan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Zorin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zorin is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Zorin is looking for a triangle here but Morgan uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zorin is looking to regain half guard here but Morgan keeps moving and retains side control.
Morgan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zorin keeps working.
Morgan grinds an elbow into Zorin's temple.
Zorin tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Morgan wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Morgan throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Morgan just content to control the position.
Morgan looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Zorin is avoiding damage well.
Max Zorin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Zorin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Morgan slows the pace down.
Zorin tries to buck Morgan off but Morgan is having none of it.

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

Morgan tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Morgan has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Morgan throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harry Morgan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Morgan has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:26
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:26
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harry Morgan!