PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Todd Poole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iwan Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Iwan Morgan will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Poole
vs
Morgan

225 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
20
200 lbs
2 - 2 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Todd Poole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 1, fighting out of London, Iwan Morgan!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Atkins and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Poole gets tackled into the cage by Morgan. Morgan maintains the clinch.
Poole jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Morgan walks away with a smile on his face. Poole gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Morgan.
Morgan shoots in looking for a takedown. Poole tries to sprawl out of it but Morgan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Poole manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Morgan tries to clinch but Poole moves out of range.
Morgan tries to clinch but Poole moves out of range.
Morgan changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Poole tries to avoid it but Morgan manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Poole to the ground. Poole escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Todd Poole has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Iwan Morgan.
Nice takedown defense from Poole. No joy for Morgan on that attempt.

Morgan moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poole tries to circle away but Morgan has him pinned against the cage.

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

Poole looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Morgan!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Poole tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Poole is looking to take a break and control but Morgan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Poole postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Poole trying to control the position but Morgan is working away.
Poole sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Morgan is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Morgan wants to control but Poole postures up.
Morgan is looking for a sweep.
Morgan parries the strikes from Poole easily there. Poole is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Morgan to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poole in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Morgan struggling a bit here.
Morgan taking punishment in the form of punches.
Poole will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Morgan wants to control but Poole postures up.
Morgan sneaks back into half guard.
Morgan is pressing down on Poole's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan working a defensive guard here.
Morgan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Poole.
Morgan seems keen to control Poole's posture.
Poole really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Morgan working a defensive guard but Poole passes into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morgan is controlling Poole's position as best he can from this difficult position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Iwan Morgan will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Horrible takedown by Morgan or perhaps it was just good defense by Poole which made him look bad.
Iwan Morgan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Poole stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Poole wants it to stay on the feet.
Morgan scores with a nice strike.
Morgan shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Poole defends it nicely.
Todd Poole has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Iwan Morgan.
Morgan has a takedown stuffed.
Morgan scores with a one two! Poole had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Poole shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Morgan napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Poole misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Poole working the ground and pound.
Morgan is looking for a sweep.
Morgan is breathing heavily.
Morgan tries to escape but Poole is in control.
Morgan struggling a bit here.
Poole landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan wants to get back to his feet but Poole drags him back down.
Poole working the ground and pound but Morgan is defending the strikes.
Poole has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Morgan manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Poole gets back to full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Poole has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Morgan has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Poole fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Poole misses with a short punch on the inside.

Poole breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poole checks a leg kick.
Morgan with a lazy takedown attempt
and Poole counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Morgan is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Poole shoots in but Morgan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Morgan.
Morgan fails with the takedown

and Poole moves into the clinch.

Poole ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Poole no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Poole is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Morgan is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan wants to control from the top but Poole keeps moving.
Poole is trying to control the position but Morgan postures up.
Morgan has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Poole is proving hard to escape from.
Morgan postures up.
Morgan stopping the sweep attempt from Poole.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Horrible takedown by Poole or perhaps it was just good defense by Morgan which made him look bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Todd Poole dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Morgan displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Poole displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Morgan.
Todd Poole is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Morgan fails with a takedown attempt.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Poole enables Morgan to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Poole manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Morgan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Morgan preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poole is adopting a defensive guard.
Poole looking to hit a scissor sweep but Morgan is one step ahead there.
Poole preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Poole utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Poole is looking to stand up but Morgan isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Poole had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Morgan defends it easily.
Morgan not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Morgan advances to half guard.
Morgan wants to pass the guard but Poole is defending well.
Poole is pressing down on Morgan's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Poole looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Morgan gets to his feet - Poole follows without any prompting.
Morgan is looking to clinch but Poole is avoiding it.
Morgan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Poole but Poole pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Todd Poole has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Iwan Morgan.
Morgan tries for a takedown but Poole sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Morgan is looking to clinch.
No luck for Morgan with that takedown attempt.
Poole stuffs the takedown attempt from Morgan. Morgan gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Poole defends it nicely.
Poole tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Poole shoots in and drives through. Morgan sprawls well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morgan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Poole sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Morgan somewhat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Iwan Morgan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Morgan 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 29:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Iwan Morgan!