PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hank Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iwan Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Iwan Morgan is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Santiago
vs
Morgan

173 cm
19
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
200 lbs
4 - 3 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Hank Santiago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 1, fighting out of London, Iwan Morgan!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Atkins and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Morgan takes the fight into the clinch.
Morgan tries to pull guard but Santiago forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Morgan stops a takedown attempt from Santiago.
Santiago tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Morgan just stands there and leans against the cage.
Morgan is looking to break free of the clinch but Santiago has double underhooks.
Morgan is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Santiago is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Morgan pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hank Santiago. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morgan working hard to break the clinch.
Santiago has a couple of punches blocked by Morgan.
Santiago fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Santiago is working for takedown but Morgan is calmly controlling the position for now.
Santiago landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Morgan has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Santiago is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Morgan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Morgan darts in looking for a takedown but Santiago gets double underhooks and turns Morgan into the cage.
Morgan blocks an elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Santiago is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Morgan is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Morgan is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Morgan looks winded!
Santiago just leaning against Morgan, taking a breather.
Santiago drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Morgan gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Morgan wants to break the clinch but can't.
Morgan taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Santiago fails to pull guard.
Santiago is looking for a takedown.
Santiago could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Santiago misses with the head strike.
Santiago is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago wants a takedown but no success here.

Santiago manages to pull guard.
Santiago doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Morgan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Iwan Morgan hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Morgan shoots in for a double leg but Santiago sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Santiago. No joy for Morgan on that attempt.
Morgan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Santiago sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Morgan somewhat.
Morgan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Morgan wants to clinch up but Santiago keeps it at a distance.
Morgan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago misses with a takedown attempt - Morgan sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Santiago tries to score a power double leg takedown but Morgan sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Santiago somewhat.
Santiago walks into a straight right hand from Morgan.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Morgan moves into range and clinches up with Santiago.
Morgan looking to stall.
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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Morgan.
Santiago shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Morgan as he avoids it easily.
Santiago stuffs the takedown attempt from Morgan. Morgan gets slowly back to his feet.
Morgan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Morgan feints and as Santiago raises his hands in defense, Morgan changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Morgan stopping the sweep attempt from Santiago.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Morgan is breathing heavily.

Morgan stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Morgan darts in looking for a takedown but Santiago gets double underhooks and turns Morgan into the cage.
Hank Santiago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Iwan Morgan.
Santiago goes for a takedown attempt but Morgan pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Morgan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Santiago swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hank Santiago is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Santiago as he avoids it easily.
Morgan slaps away a takedown attempt from Santiago, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Santiago shoots in and gets a takedown into Morgan's guard.
Santiago wants to stand but Morgan is controlling his posture from full guard.
Morgan looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Morgan is striking from the bottom but Santiago uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Morgan regains full guard. Nicely done.
Morgan wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

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

Morgan has his feet on Santiago's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Santiago darts in looking for a takedown but Morgan gets double underhooks and turns Santiago into the cage.
Morgan working hard to break the clinch.

Morgan pulls guard.

Morgan had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Santiago defends it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morgan wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iwan Morgan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Morgan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Morgan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
No luck for Morgan with that takedown attempt.
Hank Santiago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Iwan Morgan.
Morgan fails with a takedown attempt.
Morgan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Morgan is looking to clinch but Santiago is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santiago takes the fight into the clinch.
Santiago is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Morgan is defending well.
Santiago is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Morgan to keep the fight standing.
Morgan misses with a knee to the head.
Santiago is trying to pull guard but Morgan has him pressed against the cage.
Santiago is trying to drag Morgan to the mat but Morgan just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Santiago swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Morgan looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Santiago tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Morgan smiles and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan looks for a takedown but Santiago sprawls well.
Morgan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Santiago as he jumps to the side.
Morgan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Santiago but Santiago pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Morgan wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan fails in his attempt to clinch.
Iwan Morgan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Morgan tries to clinch there but Santiago circles away.
Morgan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Santiago but Santiago pushes him off and we're back to square one.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Santiago fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago tries to pull guard but Morgan won't allow it.
Santiago is trying to drag Morgan to the mat but Morgan just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Santiago is looking for a takedown.
Morgan gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Santiago.
Santiago jumps guard but Morgan turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Morgan can't break the clinch.
Santiago tries for a takedown. No joy.
Santiago prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hank Santiago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Iwan Morgan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Santiago fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Iwan Morgan.
I've got Morgan winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30

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