PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Bennett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dexter Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Dexter Morgan enters the cage!

Bennett
vs
Morgan

177 cm
28
176 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

188 cm
27
171 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Good gas tank

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Bennett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dexter Morgan!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Robert Twigg and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morgan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bennett.
Morgan misses with a jab, cross combination.
Morgan uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bennett.
Bennett scores with a crisp jab that stopped Morgan in his tracks.

Morgan instigates a clinch.

Bennett is trying to trip Morgan. He has hold of a leg but Morgan is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Bennett persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Bennett trying to control the position from guard on top but Morgan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morgan is trying to control the position but Bennett postures up.
Bennett throws a strike but Morgan rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Bennett is trying to keep Morgan in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bennett swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bennett looking to hit a scissor sweep but Morgan is one step ahead there.

Bennett is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bennett is trying to control the position but Morgan postures up.
Bennett keeping full guard, as Morgan tries to pass.
Morgan trying to control the position from guard on top but Bennett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Morgan controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Morgan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A punch combination from Bennett misses.
Bennett cracks Morgan with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Bennett missing with a left hand there. Morgan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Bennett lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Morgan has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Morgan and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Morgan staying out of range there.
Bennett attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Bennett counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Bennett looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Bennett is looking for submissions but instead, Morgan has regained full guard.
Bennett throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennett pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Morgan is keeping the position for now.
Bennett trying to control the position from guard on top but Morgan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bennett won't allow Morgan to sweep him here.
Morgan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bennett.
Bennett might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Morgan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Bennett dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Morgan with a lazy takedown attempt
and Bennett counters with a straight right hand.
Bennett throws a looping overhand right but Morgan ducks down to avoid it.

Bennett gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Bennett pulls Morgan in close to prevent any damage.
Morgan looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Bennett is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Morgan is aware though and is defending well.
Bennett has control of Morgan's left arm, preventing Morgan from doing any damage.
Bennett trying to keep a closed guard but Morgan is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Morgan gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Morgan is trying to control the position but Bennett postures up.
Bennett throws and elbow that misses. Morgan uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bennett's guard. Nice move by Morgan!
Morgan is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennett is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Morgan trying to control but Bennett is working from the bottom.
Bennett keeping full guard, as Morgan tries to pass.
Morgan trying to control but Bennett is working from the bottom.
Morgan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Dexter Morgan wasn't active enough on the ground.
Bennett avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Morgan shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Morgan trying to advance position but Bennett counters by regaining guard.
Bennett can't keep his opponent in guard - Morgan advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Bennett is refusing to be controlled, as Morgan sits in half guard.
Bennett wants to control but Morgan is keeping busy.
Bennett is pressing down on Morgan's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bennett has his feet on Morgan's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Morgan blocks a low kick nicely.

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

Bennett is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Morgan won't allow Bennett to pass to mount.
Morgan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Morgan moves into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Matt Bennett will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Bennett throws a hook to the side of Morgan's head but Morgan sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Morgan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Bennett counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Bennett.
Morgan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Bennett is trying is best to control the position here.
Morgan seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bennett does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Morgan is controlling the pace.
Morgan is looking to advance position but Bennett won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett wants to control but Morgan is keeping busy.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Dexter Morgan hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Bennett lands the left hand.
Bennett cracks Morgan with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Morgan takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Morgan moves away from the strike by Bennett.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bennett connects with a crisp jab.
Bennett throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Morgan doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Bennett to counter with a crisp jab.
Dexter Morgan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sloppy strikes from Bennett. Those never looked like landing.
Morgan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bennett.
Morgan throws a combination that misses

and Bennett counters with a shoot takedown. Morgan fights it but they end up in guard.
Bennett pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Morgan is keeping the position for now.
Matt Bennett overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Morgan keeping moving, preventing Bennett from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan is trying to control the position but Bennett postures up.
Bennett is looking to advance position but Morgan has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Bennett is trying to reverse the position but instead Morgan has taken his back - oops!

Bennett is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Morgan has good solid back control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bennett trying to control the hands but Morgan breaks the grip.
Good control from Morgan.
Bennett covering up well and avoiding damage.
Will Morgan go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Matt Bennett is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bennett wriggles onto his back under a barage of strikes.
Bennett wants to control but Morgan is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Bennett showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bennett, 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Bennett!