PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dexter Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tam Zeus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zeus has chosen Open Road as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Morgan
vs
Zeus

188 cm
28
203 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

178 cm
34
199 lbs
23 - 11 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Red Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dexter Morgan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 11 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tam Zeus!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Albert Achterberg and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Zeus as Morgan shoots in.
A left and a right from Zeus both land. Nice combination.
Zeus shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Morgan as he avoids it easily.
Zeus throws a hook to the side of Morgan's head but Morgan sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Morgan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zeus was well out of range. Poor timing from Morgan.
Zeus gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Morgan.

Zeus shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Morgan napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Zeus wants to control but Morgan is keeping him busy.
Morgan wants to control but Zeus postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zeus wants to lay and pray for a moment but Morgan keeps working.
Morgan struggling a bit here.
Morgan is looking for a sweep.
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!
Morgan regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zeus is controlling the pace.
Morgan controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Zeus throwing shots but Morgan is blocking nicely.
Zeus is keen to just control but Morgan is a slippery customer.
Morgan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Zeus 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.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Morgan wants to improve his position but Zeus is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Morgan is looking to control Zeus's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Morgan avoid being mounted?

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zeus tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Morgan swivels and escapes.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Morgan.
Zeus throws a looping overhand right but Morgan ducks down to avoid it.
Morgan just misses with a punch to the body.

Morgan drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zeus struggling a bit here.
Zeus tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Morgan is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Zeus has escaped the position, nice work there.
Zeus is looking to regain half guard here but Morgan keeps moving and retains side control.
Zeus takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Zeus tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Morgan presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Zeus tries to lock up and control but Morgan gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Morgan lands a heavy elbow.
Morgan postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Zeus looks a forlorn figure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zeus working to try and regain half guard.
Morgan avoids the attempt from Zeus to control.
Morgan working Zeus over with strikes here.
Morgan landing strikes from the mount.
Zeus is working to get back to half 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!
Zeus gets back to half guard.
Morgan wants to control but Zeus is keeping him busy.
Zeus is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are battling for position here. Zeus manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dexter Morgan dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Morgan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zeus throws a hook to the side of Morgan's head but Morgan sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Morgan lands a glancing blow to the side of Zeus's head.
Zeus ducks under a wild hook from Morgan.
Zeus misses the shot to the body.
Morgan scoring well with a low kick there.
Zeus avoids the body shot from Morgan.

Morgan scores with a takedown into Zeus's guard.
Zeus controls Morgan momentarily but Morgan frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Zeus holds on and takes a little breather.
Zeus keeping moving, preventing Morgan from controlling successfully.
Zeus controls Morgan momentarily but Morgan frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan working some strikes from top position.
Morgan throws a big elbow that misses.
Morgan passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Zeus is trying to control Morgan's posture but Morgan avoids it.
Zeus is looking to regain half guard here but Morgan keeps moving and retains side control.
Zeus manages to work his way to half guard, despite Morgan's best efforts.
Zeus keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Morgan not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zeus slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Zeus preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Morgan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zeus can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zeus trying to keep a closed guard but Morgan is proving a slippery customer.
Morgan throws a big right hand that misses.

Zeus is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Zeus trying to control the position.
Zeus working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Morgan.
Morgan throwing strikes from guard but Zeus blocks nicely.
Zeus has momentary wrist control but Morgan slips an elbow through the middle.
Zeus controlling Morgan's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zeus escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Morgan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Morgan stands up over Zeus, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Morgan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zeus is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zeus lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Zeus keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Morgan's head.
Zeus postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Zeus pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Morgan is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Morgan manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Zeus has hold of one of Morgan's legs. Morgan is fighting the takedown attempt but Zeus gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Zeus throws a big right hand that misses.
Zeus wants to control from the top but Morgan keeps moving.
Zeus won't allow Morgan to get back to his feet.
Zeus trying to control the position from guard on top but Morgan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morgan trying to control the position here.
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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Morgan looking for a sweep. Not yet Morgan, not yet.
Zeus trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dexter Morgan dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Morgan moves out of range as Zeus strikes.
Morgan slips a jab from Zeus.
Morgan misses with a straight right.

Morgan shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Zeus napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Zeus is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Morgan is looking for a kimura here.
Zeus is looking to control Morgan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zeus avoid being mounted?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zeus is trying to get back to full guard.
Nice strikes from Morgan there.
Morgan looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Zeus with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zeus trying to control but Morgan postures up.
Zeus on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Morgan landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Morgan seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Morgan not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Morgan trying to pass the guard but Zeus defending well.
Zeus trying to control here.
Morgan thows a huge punch but Zeus dodges it nicely.
Tam Zeus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zeus wants to improve his position but Morgan is controlling well.
Morgan is thwarting Zeus's attempts to control the position.

Zeus is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Morgan pulls his head out easily.
Morgan missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Zeus is trying to maintain the position but Morgan is very close to passing his half guard.
Morgan is nestled in close to Zeus, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Zeus has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Morgan is working away from the top position though.
Zeus works his way to full guard. Good work.
Morgan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan throwing strikes but missing.
Zeus looking to control.

Zeus throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Zeus is pulling down on Morgan's head. It's preventing any offense from Morgan, at least for the moment.
Morgan throws a big right hand that misses.
Zeus is trying to control the position but Morgan postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Morgan jabs Zeus to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Zeus takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Morgan shoots in for a takedown but Zeus shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Zeus misses with a two punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zeus misses with a straight left.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Morgan, as that shot connected.
Morgan connects with a single shot there.
Zeus is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Morgan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zeus sprawls well. Zeus wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Morgan gets slowly back to his feet.
Morgan misses with a takedown attempt - Zeus sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dexter Morgan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morgan goes for a double leg but Zeus avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Zeus continues to drive forward.
Morgan has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zeus tries to throw a body punch but Morgan avoids it by throwing Zeus back against the cage.

Morgan gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Morgan lands with a punch from half guard.
Morgan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zeus's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dexter Morgan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Morgan, 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dexter Morgan!
After winning the bout, Dexter Morgan thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.