PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Grant Gaines (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gaines
vs
Morgan

194 cm
20
228 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

199 cm
20
250 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

XXX Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Grant Gaines!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tom Morgan!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Igor Prikhodko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gaines fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Gaines moves into range and clinches up with Morgan.
Morgan managing to block the knees to the body from Gaines.
Gaines pushes Morgan back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Gaines on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gaines wants to stall.
Gaines throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Morgan blocks it with crossed arms.
Gaines on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gaines avoiding damage as Morgan throws knees to the body.
Gaines managing to block the knees to the body from Morgan.
Morgan missing with knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Gaines.
Morgan missing with knees to the body.
Morgan tries to land knees in the clinch but Gaines avoids the damage to the body.
Gaines on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Morgan gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gaines.
Gaines has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Morgan is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grant Gaines. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gaines lands a hook that snaps the head of Morgan backwards.
Gaines lands a shot to the body.
Morgan trying to land knees to the body.
Gaines with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gaines avoiding damage as Morgan throws knees to the body.
Gaines wants to get back to striking at distance but Morgan won't allow it.
Morgan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gaines.
Gaines landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Morgan looks gassed!
Gaines drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Morgan gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Morgan gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gaines.

Gaines jumps guard.
Gaines is trying to keep Morgan in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaines is looking to stand up but Morgan isn't so interested in that idea.
Morgan controls from within his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gaines looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gaines is working hard here to advance position.
Gaines is pulling down on Morgan's head to control his posture.
Gaines controls Morgan momentarily but Morgan frees himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Morgan keeps the fight on the outside.
Gaines fails to land the takedown.
Gaines tries to clinch up but Morgan circles away and keeps his distance.
Gaines misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A combination from Morgan does no damage.

Gaines instigates a clinch.

That's two 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 takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Tom Morgan has been cut.
Gaines scores with a knee to the head.

Gaines pulls guard successfully.
Gaines looking for a sweep. Not yet Gaines, not yet.
Gaines not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Morgan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Gaines looking to hit a scissor sweep but Morgan is one step ahead there.
Morgan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Morgan wants to pass the guard but Gaines is keeping the position.

Gaines is looking for a triangle but Morgan pushes his legs off easily.
Morgan stays in close to Gaines's body and controls the position.

Gaines escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Morgan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Morgan slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaines looking to hit a scissor sweep but Morgan is one step ahead there.
Morgan trying to control but Gaines is working from the bottom.
Gaines looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Morgan won't allow Gaines to get back to his feet.
Morgan not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Gaines doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Morgan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gaines keeping full guard, as Morgan tries to pass.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Gaines shoots in and drives through. Morgan sprawls well.
Morgan throws a series of punches but Gaines avoids them all with ease.
Some wild striking there from Gaines.
Morgan swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Gaines to counter with a crisp jab.
Morgan misses with a double jab

and Gaines counters with a nice double leg into side control. Morgan won't be happy with that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaines cracks Morgan with a big elbow.
Morgan gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Morgan is pressing down on Gaines's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Gaines controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morgan is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Gaines pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Morgan is keeping the position for now.
Morgan trying to control the position here.
Morgan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gaines trying to stand up but can't free himself from Morgan's guard.
Gaines with a flurry of punches that miss.

Gaines drops back looking for a leg! Morgan is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Morgan manages to kick Gaines off! Gaines jumps back into Morgan's guard.
Gaines wants to control from the top but Morgan keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grant Gaines dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tom Morgan's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gaines is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gaines shoots in for a takedown but Morgan shows good takedown defense.

Gaines clinches up against the cage.
Gaines avoiding damage as Morgan throws knees to the body.
Morgan prevents Gaines from breaking the clinch.
Morgan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gaines.
Gaines connects with a nasty looking knee right to Morgan's face.
Gaines on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Morgan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Morgan tries to land knees in the clinch but Gaines avoids the damage to the body.
Gaines is working for takedown but Morgan is calmly controlling the position for now.
Morgan missing with knees to the body.
Morgan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gaines.

Gaines breaks the clinch.
Gaines moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Morgan swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Gaines counters with a single leg into guard. Morgan didn't expect that.
Morgan keeping moving, preventing Gaines from controlling successfully.
Gaines stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Morgan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gaines passes into half guard.
Morgan trying to control here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gaines looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Morgan trying to control but Gaines postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gaines.
Morgan has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gaines is working away from the top position though.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gaines looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Gaines rushes Morgan and presses him up against the cage.
Gaines connects with a nasty looking knee right to Morgan's face.
Gaines on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Morgan lands a knee to the body.
Gaines lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Gaines on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gaines lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Morgan tries to land knees in the clinch but Gaines avoids the damage to the body.
Gaines avoiding damage as Morgan throws knees to the body.
Morgan missing with knees to the body.
Morgan missing with knees to the body.
Gaines on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gaines avoiding damage as Morgan throws knees to the body.
Morgan tries to land knees in the clinch but Gaines avoids the damage to the body.
Gaines avoiding damage as Morgan throws knees to the body.
Gaines on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Morgan trying to land knees to the body.
Morgan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gaines.
Gaines is looking to break free of the clinch but Morgan has double underhooks.
Gaines on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gaines on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Morgan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gaines.
Gaines unloads a knee to the mid-section. Morgan lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Morgan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gaines.
Gaines connects with a nasty looking knee right to Morgan's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaines digs a right hand into Morgan's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Morgan's gas tank.

Gaines ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Gaines no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Gaines is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Morgan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gaines swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gaines 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.
Morgan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Morgan tries to free his leg and advance position but Gaines is retaining full guard.
Gaines looking to hit a scissor sweep but Morgan is one step ahead there.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Gaines pushes Morgan up against the cage in a clinch.
Gaines managing to block the knees to the body from Morgan.

Gaines has Morgan pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Gaines pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Morgan tumbling to the mat - Gaines dives into Morgan's guard.
Morgan pulls Gaines in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gaines is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Morgan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gaines being controlled here momentarily.
Gaines stopping the sweep attempt from Morgan.

Gaines drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gaines jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Grant Gaines overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Morgan trying to control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Gaines darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Morgan is refusing to be controlled, as Gaines sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gaines is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Morgan keeping control of the position.
Gaines thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Morgan trying to hold on to Gaines's head to control him but Gaines postures up.
Gaines is pressing down on Morgan's thigh, looking to free his foot. Morgan is holding on for now.
Morgan is doing well to control the position and prevent Gaines from advancing to side control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Gaines shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Morgan's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morgan controlling the position.
Let's hope that Morgan has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Gaines is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grant Gaines dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tom Morgan's cut.
That's time! Gaines's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Morgan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gaines moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Morgan swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Gaines counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gaines trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Gaines is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gaines postures up.
Gaines scoring with some ground and pound.
Morgan is controlling Gaines's posture.
Gaines postures up.
Morgan seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Morgan trying to keep a closed guard but Gaines is proving a slippery customer.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Morgan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Morgan tries to keep at a distance but Gaines has taken the fight into the clinch.
Morgan unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gaines lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gaines avoiding damage as Morgan throws knees to the body.
Morgan tries to land knees in the clinch but Gaines avoids the damage to the body.
Gaines lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Gaines breaks the clinch.
Morgan stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Gaines.
Tom Morgan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaines lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Gaines.
Gaines is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Gaines looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Gaines pushing down on Morgan's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Gaines is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Morgan trying to control from the bottom.
Gaines slips a nice elbow through Morgan's hands, connecting with Morgan's forehead.
Morgan trying to control from the bottom.

Gaines seems to be looking for submissions.
Morgan is trying is best to control the position here.
Morgan is trying to control but can't.
Morgan controlling the position well.
Morgan regains full guard. Nicely done.
Morgan pulls Gaines in close to prevent any damage.
Gaines wants to control from the top but Morgan keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan keeping full guard, as Gaines tries to pass.
Gaines advances to half guard.
Gaines wants to stand up but Morgan has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Gaines not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gaines passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Morgan!
Gaines lands a big elbow.
Morgan is looking to improve his position but Gaines isn't that keen on the idea.
Gaines avoids the attempt from Morgan to control.
Gaines unloading with bombs!

Gaines jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Morgan manages to avoid the submission attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gaines working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaines tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Morgan gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Gaines trying to mount his opponent but Morgan defends it.
Morgan is doing well to control the position and prevent Gaines from advancing to side control.

Gaines is looking for a kimura but Morgan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gaines to get the leverage.
Gaines seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Morgan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Morgan trying to control from the bottom.

Gaines is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gaines wants to get back to his feet.
Gaines scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Gaines thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gaines wants to lay and pray for a moment but Morgan keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gaines tries to clinch up but Morgan circles away and keeps his distance.
Gaines doesn't manage to clinch there - Morgan circles away.
Horrible takedown by Gaines or perhaps it was just good defense by Morgan which made him look bad.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Gaines clinches up with Morgan and pushes him back against the cage.
Gaines scores with a knee to the head.
Gaines lands a nice knee to the body.
Morgan missing with knees to the body.
Tom Morgan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gaines avoiding damage as Morgan throws knees to the body.
Morgan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gaines.
Gaines wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Morgan has him pressed against the cage.
Gaines is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gaines misses with a knee to the head.
Gaines with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gaines avoiding damage as Morgan throws knees to the body.
Gaines tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Morgan smiles and moves away.

Gaines closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Gaines avoiding damage as Morgan throws knees to the body.
Morgan missing with knees to the body.
Gaines landing knees to the body.
Gaines scores a nice knee to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gaines lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Gaines lands a nice knee to the body.
Gaines managing to block the knees to the body from Morgan.
Gaines is working for takedown but Morgan is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grant Gaines. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morgan landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Gaines.
Gaines landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Gaines throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Morgan blocks it with crossed arms.
Grant Gaines has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A knee to the head by Gaines.
Knees to the body from Gaines.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grant Gaines showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gaines 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grant Gaines!