PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Manny Fernando (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maximilian Morrel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fernando's entrance music is Miss Jackson. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Fernando
vs
Morrel

180 cm
21
204 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

178 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Pitt Nutrition + Laundry (160 Recovery, Stamina

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Manny Fernando!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Maximilian Morrel!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yuuki Gou and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fernando drives through with a takedown into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Morrel is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fernando is aware though and is defending well.
Morrel controls Fernando momentarily but Fernando frees himself.

Morrel looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Fernando controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Fernando trying to control the position from guard on top but Morrel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Morrel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Fernando gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Morrel looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Fernando has picked Morrel up and slammed him! Morrel can't keep hold of the triangle and Fernando manages to pass to side control!
Morrel manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Morrel looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morrel is trying to get back to full guard.
Fernando is controlling the pace.

Morrel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Fernando is trying to control. Morrel wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Morrel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Fernando tries to pass to full mount but Morrel defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernando thows a huge punch but Morrel dodges it nicely.
Fernando works his foot free and advances to mount.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Morrel tries to hold on but Fernando postures up.
Morrel avoids a series of strikes thrown by Fernando.
Morrel is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Morrel can't escape the position.
Morrel tries to hold on but Fernando pushes him away.
Fernando prevents Morrel from getting the reversal.
Fernando looking to control but Morrel is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrel really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Fernando can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Morrel is looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fernando thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Morrel regains half guard.
Morrel regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernando throws an elbow that misses. Morrel uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Fernando's guard. Nice move by Morrel!
Fernando looking to hit a scissor sweep but Morrel is one step ahead there.
Fernando seems keen to control Morrel's posture.
Morrel wants to control from the top but Fernando keeps moving.

Morrel has gone for a leg lock! Fernando slips out almost immediately though and dives into Morrel's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Fernando postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Morrel is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Fernando, into his guard.
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!
Morrel trying to control the position from guard on top but Fernando is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Maximilian Morrel will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Fernando drives through with a takedown into Morrel's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Morrel is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fernando is aware though and is defending well.
Fernando looking to sit in guard and control but Morrel gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Morrel preventing the sweep.
Fernando keeping moving, preventing Morrel from controlling successfully.
Morrel stays in close to Fernando's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Morrel drops back looking for a leg! Fernando is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Fernando manages to kick Morrel off! Morrel jumps back into Fernando's guard.
Fernando looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Morrel puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Morrel is thwarting Fernando's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Fernando manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Morrel drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Fernando manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Morrel has Fernando in his guard.
Fernando has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Morrel is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Fernando defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernando throws a big elbow that misses.
Fernando trying to control the position from guard on top but Morrel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fernando accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrel can't do much from the bottom here.
Morrel is not content to let Fernando control the position.
Morrel is trying to control Fernando's posture but Fernando avoids it.
Fernando gets to mount! Morrel was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

Fernando looking to secure an arm triangle but Morrel defends it well.
Morrel is looking to improve his position but Fernando isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morrel regains half guard.
Fernando knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Morrel on the ground.

Morrel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Fernando is keen to just control but Morrel is a slippery customer.
Morrel is looking to control Fernando's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Morrel avoid being mounted?
Morrel is trying to get back to full guard.
Morrel is refusing to be controlled, as Fernando sits in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fernando prevents Morrel from improving his position.
Morrel trying to hold on to Fernando's head to control him but Fernando postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Maximilian Morrel will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Fernando throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Morrel tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Fernando is in Morrel's guard.

Morrel working for a triangle but Fernando defends it easily.
Fernando trying to control but Morrel is working from the bottom.

Fernando avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Fernando slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Fernando in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morrel manages to get back to half guard.
Fernando tries to pass the half guard into mount. Morrel knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Fernando trying to control from half guard but Morrel is working away.
Fernando throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Morrel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Morrel is trying to maintain the position but Fernando is very close to passing his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fernando wants to advance to full mount but Morrel doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

Morrel is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernando would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Morrel has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Fernando is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Morrel.
Fernando is staying tight to Morrel's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Fernando trying to control the action but Morrel is working from the bottom.
Fernando remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Fernando is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Morrel is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrel sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Morrel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Still in half guard, Fernando seems content to control.
Maximilian Morrel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Morrel is trying to maintain the position but Fernando is very close to passing his half guard.
Morrel might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Fernando haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Morrel regains full guard. Nicely done.
Fernando wants to pass the guard but Morrel is keeping the position.
Fernando wants to control from the top but Morrel keeps moving.
Maximilian Morrel is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernando being controlled here momentarily.
Fernando tries to free his leg and advance position but Morrel is retaining full guard.
Fernando postures up.

Manny Fernando has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Fernando is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Morrel's half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fernando wants to free his trapped foot but Morrel is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Morrel is pressing down on Fernando's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

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 Manny Fernando.
I think Morrel 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maximilian Morrel!
The defeated Manny Fernando had this to say: 'Well done sir, you have beaten me. '.