PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jason Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tj Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Morgan comes to the cage accompanied by Nightwish - Phantom Of The Opera. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Morgan
vs
Thomas

191 cm
33
247 lbs
13 - 10 - 1

225 cm
39
255 lbs
20 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 13 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Jason Morgan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tj Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Wesley Smith and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas shoots in for a double leg but Morgan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jason Morgan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Morgan.
Morgan jabs at Thomas's body.
Thomas lands a jab.
Thomas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thomas tries to clinch but Morgan is having none of it.

Thomas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Morgan is trying to maintain a safe position but Thomas gets an underhook and turns Morgan into the cage.
A short right from Thomas.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Morgan misses with a hook to the ribs.
Morgan tries to throw a body punch but Thomas avoids it by throwing Morgan back against the cage.
Thomas is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The referee calls for Thomas to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Thomas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thomas moves out of range as Morgan strikes.
Morgan wants to slow Thomas down by chopping away at his legs.
Morgan ducks under a wild hook from Thomas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Morgan swats away the attempt to clinch by Thomas.
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - Morgan circles away.
Morgan misses with an uppercut
and Thomas counters with a stiff right hand.
Thomas misses with a jab, cross combination.
Thomas swings for the body but Morgan moves out of range.
Morgan throws a shot from downtown. Thomas moves away and avoids it.
Thomas thuds his right hand into Morgan's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Thomas's corner calls for a 1-2. Thomas obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A slow jab from Morgan misses its intended target.
Thomas is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Thomas throws an overhand right that lands on Morgan's shoulder, as Morgan tries to avoid the shot.

Thomas moves into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Morgan lands a right hand.
Thomas tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Thomas wants to stall.
Morgan is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan misses with a punch to the body.
Morgan leaning against his opponent.
Thomas has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Morgan is looking to control Thomas's arms but Thomas gets an underhook and turns him. Now Morgan has his back to the cage.
Morgan is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Jason Morgan.
Thomas keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Morgan.

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

Thomas is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Morgan defends it well.
Morgan wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Morgan is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morgan keeping control of the position.
Thomas not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Morgan is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Thomas pulls his head out easily.
Morgan wants to improve his position but Thomas is controlling well.
Morgan has his hands clasped together around Thomas's back. He's all about the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan wants to control but Thomas is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Thomas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Morgan keeps working.

Thomas is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Thomas thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Morgan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thomas.
Thomas 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 keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tj Thomas dominated that round.
That's time! Morgan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Morgan misses with a hook. Thomas ducked under it nicely.
Thomas keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Morgan.
Morgan ducks right into an uppercut from Thomas.

Thomas moves into the clinch successfully.
Thomas is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Thomas lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thomas is trying to break free.
Thomas has a couple of punches blocked by Morgan.

Morgan breaks from the clinch.
Morgan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Morgan misses with a left hand
letting Thomas counter with a right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morgan scores with a nice head shot.
Morgan throws out a leg kick but Thomas moves out of range and Morgan only half commits.
Thomas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Morgan.
Nice shot lands for Morgan.
Morgan connects with the punch.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Morgan - that will leave a mark!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Thomas is looking to clinch.
Morgan takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Thomas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Morgan.
Morgan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Morgan ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Thomas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thomas takes a jab right on the kisser.
A big right from Thomas misses.
Morgan jabs Thomas to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A nice inside leg kick there by Morgan. That's going to slow Thomas down.

Thomas closes the distance and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thomas letting Morgan take a breather here.
Thomas lands a right hand that snaps the head of Morgan backwards.

Morgan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan throws out a loose jab but Thomas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Morgan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Morgan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Morgan throws a head kick but Thomas moves out of range.
Thomas looks to score with a jab to the body but Morgan is just out of range.
Morgan throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Morgan slips under a jab.
Thomas with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Morgan to score with a decent uppercut.
Morgan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thomas moves away.
Thomas just misses with a punch to the body.
A slow jab from Morgan misses its intended target.
Thomas uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Morgan has time to react.
Thomas steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Morgan.
Morgan jabs Thomas to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Thomas swinging wildly here.
Thomas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Morgan sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thomas. Morgan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Morgan throws a body punch but Thomas moves out of range.
Thomas ducks under a wild hook from Morgan.
A looping hook to the body misses from Morgan. Thomas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Morgan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Morgan keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Thomas misses the jab.
Thomas fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Thomas throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Tj Thomas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thomas tries to clinch but Morgan moves out of range.
Thomas throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Thomas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Morgan.
Thomas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Morgan thows a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Morgan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Morgan walks into a stiff left hand from Thomas.
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!
Thomas takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Thomas tries to clinch but Morgan is having none of it.
Thomas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Morgan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thomas misses the shot to the body.
Morgan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thomas.
Morgan lands a nice looking kick to the body. Thomas takes a step back to recover.
A punch lands to the side of Thomas 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Morgan fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Morgan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Morgan scores with a jab to the jaw.
Thomas scores with the left hand. Morgan knows he should have avoided that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tj Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Thomas defending well as Morgan loads up on a big left hand.
Thomas tries to clinch up but Morgan circles away and keeps his distance.
Morgan throws a half hearted mid kick.
Morgan slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Morgan keeps the fight on the outside.
Morgan punishes Thomas's body with a nice straight punch.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch but Morgan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thomas fails to land with a series of punches.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thomas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Morgan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thomas moves away.
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - Morgan circles away.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch but Morgan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thomas's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Morgan connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Thomas scrambles back to his feet.
Thomas thows a left - swing and a miss!
Morgan thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas slips under a jab from Morgan.
Morgan keeps Thomas at a distance using the push kick.
Thomas wants to clinch.
Morgan tries to work over Thomas's front leg with a kick but Thomas checks it.
Morgan throws a push kick but Thomas slaps the foot to one side.
Morgan ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Thomas darts in trying to clinch
and Morgan counters with an outside leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Thomas.
Donk. Thomas catches Morgan right on the button with a cross.
Thomas is looking to clinch.
Thomas with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Morgan to score with a decent uppercut.
Jason Morgan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas wants to clinch up but Morgan keeps it at a distance.
Nice defenses there by Thomas.
Thomas scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Jason Morgan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Thomas takes the fight into the clinch.

Thomas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Morgan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Morgan thows a body shot but no joy.
Thomas is looking to clinch but Morgan is avoiding it.
Thomas waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Morgan.
Morgan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Morgan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thomas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Morgan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Morgan tries to land a front kick but Thomas steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Thomas wants to clinch up but Morgan keeps it at a distance.
Thomas fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - Morgan circles away.

Thomas moves into the clinch.
Thomas tries a body shot but Morgan blocks it.
Morgan stalling in the clinch but Thomas improves position.
Morgan with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Morgan stalling.
Morgan scores with a nice hook to the head.
Thomas being controlled against the cage.
A short right from Morgan.
Tj Thomas is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Thomas blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Thomas misses with some punches.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Thomas scores with a shot to the side of Morgan's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan controlling the action here for a moment.

Morgan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Morgan throws a right hand that misses
enabling Thomas to counter with a crisp jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomas takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Morgan misses the body punch
and Thomas counters with a nice uppercut.
Thomas misses with a two punch combination.
Nice jab there from Thomas.
Morgan on the wrong end of a nice hook.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Morgan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Thomas staying out of range there.
Morgan throws a big shot that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jason Morgan.
Well Thomas has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tj Thomas!