PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Morgernstern (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Glover Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Morgernstern comes to the cage accompanied by Gasellit - Kiittämätön nilkki . The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Morgernstern
vs
Almeida

193 cm
26
219 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

195 cm
34
215 lbs
24 - 12 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Speed Junkie Supplements Q160-158-155 (95%Laundry)

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 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Matt Morgernstern!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 12 - 1, fighting out of New York, Glover Almeida!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Colin Fray and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Almeida wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Morgernstern moves out of range of the strikes.
Glover Almeida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Almeida checks the leg kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Almeida, as that shot connected.
Almeida takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Morgernstern slips a jab from Almeida.
Almeida is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Morgernstern.
Almeida misses with an uppercut. Morgernstern saw that one coming.
Almeida works Morgernstern's body with a nice hook.

Morgernstern is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Almeida's half guard.

Morgernstern is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Almeida has managed to free his arm - good work.

Morgernstern is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgernstern tries to pass the half guard into mount. Almeida knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are battling for position here. Almeida manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morgernstern passes Almeida's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Almeida looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Morgernstern is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Almeida gets back to full guard.
Morgernstern trying to control but Almeida is working from the bottom.
Morgernstern throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgernstern postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Almeida being controlled here, momentarily.
Morgernstern trying to control the position from guard on top but Almeida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morgernstern slips nicely into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Morgernstern connects with a nice short shot to Almeida's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Morgernstern seems to be working for a kimura but Almeida defends the submission attempt.
Morgernstern thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Almeida's head.
Morgernstern trying to control the action but Almeida is working from the bottom.

Morgernstern is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Almeida sees it coming and defends easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morgernstern is keen to just control but Almeida is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Morgernstern dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Morgernstern fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Almeida manages to avoid it.
A slow jab from Almeida misses its intended target.
Almeida tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Morgernstern was well out of range. Poor timing from Almeida.
Almeida swings for the body but Morgernstern moves out of range.
Morgernstern swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Almeida waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Morgernstern.
Almeida thows a body shot but no joy.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Almeida enables Morgernstern to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Almeida manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Morgernstern working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Almeida keeping moving, preventing Morgernstern from controlling successfully.
Morgernstern is really struggling to control Almeida but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida keeping full guard, as Morgernstern tries to pass.
Morgernstern wants to control from the top but Almeida keeps moving.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Morgernstern preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Matt Morgernstern.
A looping hook to the body misses from Almeida. Morgernstern does a little dance to reset his feet.
A head kick misses from Morgernstern.
Almeida smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Morgernstern shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Almeida is trying to defend but Morgernstern finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Morgernstern lands strikes from half guard.
Morgernstern sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Almeida defending well though.

Morgernstern is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Morgernstern is stalling here. Almeida is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Morgernstern seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Almeida has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgernstern manages to get back to half guard.
Morgernstern is pressing down on Almeida's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Morgernstern keeping moving, preventing Almeida from controlling successfully.
Morgernstern looking for a sweep. Not yet Morgernstern, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almeida wants to control from the top but Morgernstern keeps moving.
Morgernstern is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Morgernstern wants to control but Almeida passes easily into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Almeida controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Morgernstern dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

A slow jab from Almeida misses its intended target.
Almeida throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Morgernstern displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Almeida throws out the jab.
Morgernstern throws a head kick that misses.

Morgernstern closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Almeida's guard.
Morgernstern stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Almeida swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Morgernstern throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Almeida works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Almeida keeping moving, preventing Morgernstern from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Morgernstern trying to control but Almeida is working from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Almeida avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Morgernstern wants to pass the guard but Almeida is keeping the position.
Morgernstern trying to control the position from guard on top but Almeida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matt Morgernstern wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Almeida misses with a hook

and Morgernstern counters by moving into the clinch.
Glover Almeida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Almeida.

Morgernstern has clasped his hands together around Almeida's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Morgernstern working away.
Almeida is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Morgernstern off and has taken his back!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Almeida struggling to keep hold of the position.
Morgernstern just trying to survive but Almeida is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Morgernstern is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Almeida is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Morgernstern is in bad spot here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgernstern is working hard here to advance position.
Morgernstern trying to control the hands but Almeida breaks the grip.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Will Almeida go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Almeida is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Matt Morgernstern is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Almeida throws an off balance right hand
and Morgernstern counters with a two punch combo.

Morgernstern throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Almeida tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Morgernstern is in Almeida's guard.
Almeida wants to get back to his feet but Morgernstern is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Morgernstern trying to control but Almeida is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Morgernstern showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Morgernstern, 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Morgernstern!
Matt Morgernstern seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.