PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mike Morales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Curry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Morales
vs
Curry

179 cm
18
142 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

186 cm
20
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mike Morales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jack Curry!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, John Mangel and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Morales gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Morales misses with an elbow strike.
Morales tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Curry letting Morales take a breather here.
Curry tries a knee to the head but Morales blocks it.
Curry blocks the elbow strike.
Curry slows down the pace here.
Morales looking to throw knees to the head but Curry is blocking nicely.
Morales lands an elbow that stopped Curry in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Jack Curry has been cut.
Curry has Morales pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Morales manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Morales with a knee to the head.
Curry changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Morales fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Curry tries to clinch up.
Curry shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Morales but Morales pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mike Morales has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Curry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick by Morales misses

and Curry counters by clinching up.
Curry tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Morales just stands there and leans against the cage.

Morales breaks from the clinch.
Morales misses with a two punch combination.
Morales throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

so Curry counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Morales looking to hit a scissor sweep but Curry is one step ahead there.
Morales is breathing heavily.
Curry trying to control but Morales is working from the bottom.
Curry distracts Morales with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morales working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Curry.
Curry is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jack Curry wasn't active enough on the ground.
Curry looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Morales throws a head kick that half lands.
Curry walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Morales checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Curry looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Morales is fending him off so far but Curry persists. Nope, Morales circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Morales bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Curry is looking for a sweep.
Curry takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Curry is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Morales is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Morales unloading with bombs!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Curry sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Morales thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Morales seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Morales wants to stand up but Curry is controlling the position.
Curry blocking the ground and pound attempt from Morales.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Curry gets back to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Curry pulls Morales in close to his closed guard and prevents Morales from doing any damage or advancing position.
Curry can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Morales controls the pace.
Morales in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Morales working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Curry has his hands on Morales's head, controlling the position.
Morales throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mike Morales will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jack Curry's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Morales swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Morales enables Curry to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Morales manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Morales really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Morales has a closed guard, preventing Curry from standing up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Curry accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Curry trying to control the position from guard on top but Morales is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jack Curry wasn't active enough on the ground.
Morales tries to clinch but Curry moves out of range.
Curry shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Morales but Morales pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Curry fails with a takedown attempt.
An inside leg kick lands from Curry.
Morales feints and then cracks Curry's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Curry down.
Curry throws a head kick that half lands.
Morales looks to score with a jab to the body but Curry is just out of range.
Morales misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Morales gets caught napping as Curry dives in and scores a takedown. Morales manages to retain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Morales uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Morales forces Curry back against the cage and clinches.
Curry tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Morales just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mike Morales has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Curry.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Curry takes an elbow to the temple.
Morales tries to land knees in the clinch but Curry avoids the damage to the body.
Curry is trying to drag Morales to the mat but Morales just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Morales is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Curry tries to break free but Morales pushes him back against the cage.
Morales lands an elbow that stopped Curry in his tracks for a moment.
Morales throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Curry blocks it with crossed arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Curry taking a breather.
Morales throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Curry breaks from the clinch.
Morales misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Curry.
Morales misses with the combination.

Morales closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Curry jumps guard but Morales stands there with Curry around his waist. Curry gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Morales trying to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Curry on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Curry manages to break the clinch.
Curry circles away from the clinch attempt.
Decent striking displayed by Curry there.
Curry tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Curry shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Morales but Morales pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Morales scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Curry pushes Morales off and gets back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice body kick there by Morales.

Curry scores with a takedown into Morales's guard.
Morales looking to hit a scissor sweep but Curry is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jack Curry will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jack Curry's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Morales swings for the body but Curry moves out of range.
Jab by Morales.
Curry with a poor takedown
and Morales counters with a solid body kick.
Curry avoids the head kick by Morales.
Curry shoots in for a takedown but Morales shows good takedown defense.
Morales misses with a body kick.
Morales throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Curry 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.

Morales has his feet on Curry's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Curry tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Morales manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A cross from Morales lands.
Curry gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Morales counters with a one-two to the body.
Mike Morales has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Curry.

Morales clinches up against the cage.
Curry on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Curry jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Morales walks away with a smile on his face. Curry gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Curry closes the distance and clinches.
Curry is trying to drag Morales to the mat but Morales just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Morales cracks Curry with a nice body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morales blocks an uppercut.
Morales stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Morales gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Morales tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Curry avoids it.
Curry fails to pull guard.
Morales lands an elbow that stopped Curry in his tracks for a moment.

Curry gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Morales regains guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Curry wants to pass the guard but Morales is keeping the position.
Curry trying to stand up but can't free himself from Morales's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Curry fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Morales misses with a head kick.
Morales pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Curry fails with an attempt to clinch.
Curry shoots in looking for a takedown. Morales tries to sprawl out of it but Curry keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Morales manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Morales looks to land a combination but Curry avoids it well.
Mike Morales is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Curry misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A shot to the liver by Morales. Beautiful body shot.
Morales slaps away a takedown attempt from Curry, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Morales lands with a thumping leg kick.
Morales is looking to land body kicks.
Sloppy strikes from Morales. Those never looked like landing.

Curry changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Morales looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Morales manages to get back to half guard.
Curry wants to take a breather but Morales is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jack Curry.
I think Curry 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!