PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Simon Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Morgan comes to the cage accompanied by Sherry Monocle. Penn comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Everything in its right place kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Simon Morgan has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Morgan
vs
Penn

160 cm
33
171 lbs
19 - 10 - 0

181 cm
23
185 lbs
8 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Simon Morgan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, James Penn!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Colin Fray and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morgan throws a head kick that misses.
Some wild striking there from Morgan.
Penn throws a counter combo.
Morgan throws an off balance right hand
and Penn counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Penn tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Morgan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Penn has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Morgan is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Morgan looks to land a body kick but Penn moved away.
Morgan displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Penn throws out the jab.
Morgan slips under a jab from Penn.
Penn comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
The crowd cheers as Morgan lands an impressive looking overhand right. Penn doesn't seem phased though.
Penn's jab looks to have found its range, popping Morgan under the eye.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Penn lands a jab to Morgan's midsection.
Penn misses with the combination.
Morgan works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Penn back to the cage. Morgan follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Morgan tries to work over Penn's front leg with a kick but Penn checks it.
Penn takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Morgan misses with a wild body shot.
Penn throws out a loose jab but Morgan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Penn throws a low kick but it's checked well by Morgan.
Penn bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Penn! But no joy.
Morgan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Penn.
Morgan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Penn is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Morgan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Penn throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Morgan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Morgan tries to land a front kick but Penn steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Morgan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Penn.
Simon Morgan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice sprawl there from Morgan as Penn shoots in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan throws a big shot that misses.
Morgan throws the left hand but Penn avoids the punch easily.
Penn tries a quick counter leg kick but Morgan is wise to it.
Morgan uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Penn.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Morgan lands a nice shot to the body.
Morgan throws a head kick that misses.
Penn lunges at Morgan with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Morgan's hand.
Morgan looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A little jabbing left from Penn on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A telegraphed right hand from Penn misses the target.
Morgan misses with a body shot.
Morgan just misses with a punch to the body.
A punch combination from Penn misses.
Penn walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Morgan displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Penn throws the left hand but Morgan avoids the punch easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lazy body kick from Morgan
enabling Penn to counter with a crisp jab.
Penn lands with a kick to the ribs.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Penn.
Penn shoots in and drives through. Morgan sprawls well.
Simon Morgan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Penn.

Penn feints and as Morgan raises his hands in defense, Penn changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Morgan is wriggling around but Penn manages to pass to half guard.

Penn stops Morgan from getting back to his feet.
Penn is looking to take a break and control but Morgan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Morgan tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Penn manages to move to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan tries to hold on but Penn pushes him away.
Morgan is working to get back to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Penn is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Morgan has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Morgan!
Penn keeping full guard, as Morgan tries to pass.
Morgan seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Morgan dominated that round.
That's time! Morgan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Morgan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Morgan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Penn looks to throw the jab but Morgan is out of range.
Penn connects with a right hand. Morgan shakes it off.
Morgan scores with a shot to the body.
Morgan looks to land a body kick but Penn moved away.
Penn is looking for the big counter here.
Penn looks to throw the jab but Morgan is out of range.
Morgan throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Penn counters with a stiff right hand.
Morgan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Penn.
Penn throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Morgan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Penn is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morgan explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Penn lands an overhand right.
Penn misses with a looping right.
Morgan is looking for a counter combo.
Morgan misses with a right hand
and Penn counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Morgan. Penn shrugs it off though.
A swing and a miss from Penn.
Morgan walks into a left hand.
Morgan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Simon Morgan is winning the standup battle so far.
Morgan misses with a body shot.
Morgan connects with an inside leg kick.
Simon Morgan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Penn looks to throw the jab but Morgan is out of range.
Penn throws a sloppy head kick and Morgan moves out of range easily.
Morgan ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Penn drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Morgan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Penn moves away.
A jab lands there for Penn.
Penn avoids a kick to the body.
Penn swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Penn throws a lazy right hand but Morgan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Morgan. Those never looked like landing.
A jab from Morgan does it's job there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A punch combination from Penn misses.
Penn throws a poor cross that misses
and Morgan counters with a two punch combo.
Penn waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Morgan.
Morgan blocks a head kick by Penn.
Morgan moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Penn missing with a left hand there. Morgan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Penn throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Morgan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Morgan misses with a two punch combination.
Penn looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Morgan looks to land a combination but Penn avoids it well.
Penn misses with a hook to the body
and Morgan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Penn slips a straight right by Morgan.
Morgan misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan throws a body kick that misses
and Morgan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Penn looks to land a right hand but Morgan moved out of range.
Penn showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Morgan.
Morgan thows a body kick. Penn tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Morgan throws a body kick that misses.
Penn shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
The fighters circling - Penn throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Penn throws a looping overhand right but Morgan ducks down to avoid it.
A lazy body kick from Morgan
and Penn counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Penn shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Morgan but Morgan pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn with a nice cross.
Morgan throws a left and a right that both miss
and Penn counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Morgan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Penn.
Jab, jab by Penn - just one landing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Morgan throws a head kick but Penn moves out of range.
A big left from Penn misses.
Penn misses with a jab, cross combination.
Morgan throws a head kick that misses.
Penn throws out a counter right but Morgan avoids it with no problem.
Penn misses with a leg kick
and Morgan makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Penn as he connects with a hook.
Penn misses with a straight left.
Morgan tests Penn's chin there with a solid looking shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Simon Morgan will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Penn scoring well with a low kick there.
Morgan looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Morgan looks to score with a jab to the body but Penn is just out of range.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Morgan!
Morgan scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Penn walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Morgan throws a sloppy head kick and Penn moves out of range easily.
Sloppy strikes from Penn. Those never looked like landing.
A punch lands to the side of Morgan 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Penn takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jab, jab by Penn - just one landing.
Morgan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Penn lunges at Morgan with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Morgan's hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Morgan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Morgan throws the left hand but Penn avoids the punch easily.
Penn looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Penn is looking to clinch but Morgan is avoiding it.
Morgan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Penn lands a jab.
Penn will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Penn ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Morgan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Morgan gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Penn misses with a looping right.
Penn moves out of range of the strikes.
Morgan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Penn moves out of range of the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn tried to score with a low kick but Morgan checks it.
Penn smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Morgan dips to his left and cracks Penn with an uppercut!
Penn throws a leg kick but Morgan sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Penn throws an overhand right that lands on Morgan's shoulder, as Morgan tries to avoid the shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Morgan connects with the punch.
The fighters circle momentarily. Morgan darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Morgan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Penn throws a hook to the side of Morgan's head but Morgan sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A quick step to the side and Morgan tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A big left from Morgan misses.
A swing and a miss from Penn.
Penn pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Morgan back to the cage. Penn follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Morgan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Morgan wants it to stay on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan staying out of range there.
Morgan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Morgan moves out of range of the leg kick from Penn.

Penn shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Morgan manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Morgan is looking to stand back up but Penn counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Morgan.
James Penn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Penn is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Morgan wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Morgan moves into full guard.
Penn pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Morgan is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Morgan has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Penn is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Morgan stops a takedown attempt from Penn.
Simon Morgan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Penn.

Morgan breaks the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A jab from Penn misses.
A punch combination from Morgan misses.
Penn is trying to counter with his kicks.
Penn keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

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 Simon Morgan.
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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27

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