PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Henry Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Viktor Gragula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Viktor Gragula has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Morgan
vs
Gragula

187 cm
29
222 lbs
10 - 11 - 1

188 cm
27
214 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite 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 10 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Henry Morgan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Viktor Gragula!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Gwen Towbar and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gragula has a takedown stuffed.
Morgan throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gragula gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Morgan counters with a nice uppercut.
Gragula looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Gragula fails with a takedown attempt.
Henry Morgan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Viktor Gragula.
Morgan falls off balance throwing a combination

and Gragula counters with a single leg into guard. Morgan didn't expect that.
Morgan is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gragula postures up and lands a big shot to Morgan's brow.
Gragula slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gragula wants to pass the guard but Morgan is defending well.
Morgan is trying to stand.

Gragula is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Morgan doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gragula.

Gragula is working for a kimura but Morgan is defending it quite comfortably.
Gragula prevents Morgan from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Gragula thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Gragula is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Gragula is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Gragula is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Morgan tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Gragula manages to move to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gragula won't let Morgan get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

Morgan defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Gragula.
Morgan is trying to stand up.

Morgan defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Gragula.
Gragula lands a heavy elbow.
Morgan wants to get back to his feet.

Gragula is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Morgan is surviving well by controlling Gragula's body position as best he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gragula landing strikes from the mount.
Gragula with a couple of short strikes.

Gragula is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Morgan can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Gragula gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morgan scores with a head kick.
A right-left combo lands from Morgan.
Morgan goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Morgan dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gragula. That did some damage!
Gragula shoots in looking for a takedown but Morgan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gragula's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gragula is defended easily by Morgan.
Morgan checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Henry Morgan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sloppy strikes from Morgan. Those never looked like landing.
Morgan swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Gragula decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Morgan's guard.
Gragula wants to control from the top but Morgan keeps moving.

Morgan wriggles free and stands up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gragula throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Morgan's waist but Morgan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gragula off to one side.
Gragula has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gragula misses with a takedown attempt - Morgan sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Henry Morgan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Viktor Gragula.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Morgan tries to clinch up but Gragula circles away and keeps his distance.
Morgan moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromGragula.
Donk. Morgan catches Gragula right on the button with a cross.
Morgan wants to clinch but Gragula slips to the side

and Gragula counters with a shoot takedown. Morgan fights it but they end up in guard.
Gragula trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gragula controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morgan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gragula is controlling him.
Gragula pushes down on Morgan's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Morgan wants to get back to his feet.
Gragula thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gragula stops Morgan from getting back to his feet.

Gragula is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Gragula is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Morgan doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gragula.

Gragula is looking for a kimura but Morgan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gragula to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan is looking to escape.

Gragula wants to work for an arm triangle but Morgan is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Viktor Gragula has got the better of the ground game so far.

Gragula is trying to work for a kimura but Morgan is defending well.
Gragula wants to lay and pray for a moment but Morgan keeps working.
Morgan wants to get back to his feet.

Gragula is looking for a kimura but Morgan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gragula to get the leverage.

Gragula stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Morgan to get to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gragula.
Morgan looks to land a combination but Gragula avoids it well.

Gragula closes the distance and pushes Morgan back into the cage.

Morgan manages to break the clinch.
Morgan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gragula darts in looking for a takedown but Morgan gets double underhooks and turns Gragula into the cage.
Gragula checks the leg kick nicely there.
Gragula shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Morgan pinned against the cage. Morgan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gragula keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Morgan throws a combination that misses
and Gragula cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gragula circles away from the clinch attempt.
Morgan throws a leg kick

and Gragula counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viktor Gragula showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Morgan throws an overhand right that lands on Gragula's shoulder, as Gragula tries to avoid the shot.
No joy there for Morgan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Morgan misses with the combination.
Henry Morgan is winning the standup battle so far.
Morgan misses with a wild combination.
Some wild striking there from Morgan.
As Morgan backs off Gragula throws a huge counter combo but Morgan manages to avoid it all.
Morgan avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morgan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Morgan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gragula fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Morgan wants to clinch up but Gragula keeps it at a distance.
Henry Morgan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morgan gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gragula to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Gragula drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gragula jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Morgan keeping moving, preventing Gragula from controlling successfully.
Morgan wants to get back to his feet but Gragula is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gragula trying to control the position from guard on top but Morgan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gragula passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Morgan knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gragula on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gragula has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Gragula dominating with strikes here.
Morgan is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Morgan trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Gragula has control of Morgan's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Morgan regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Morgan is bucking up trying to escape but Gragula cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gragula goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Morgan is on top in guard.
Gragula striking off his back but it's not causing Morgan any problems.
Morgan wanted to stand there but Gragula had control of the position.
Gragula is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Gragula seems to be looking for submissions.
Morgan wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gragula is working for a submission of some sort.

Morgan is defending against the submission attempts here by Gragula.

Gragula is looking for a kimura but Morgan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gragula to get the leverage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Viktor Gragula comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gragula 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Viktor Gragula!
An out of breath Viktor Gragula thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.