PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Robert Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takeshi Tono (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Morgan's entrance music is Ladies and Gentlemen . A fine choice. The key to victory for Robert Morgan has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Morgan
vs
Tono

179 cm
27
153 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

170 cm
27
152 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

Dauntless
GREEN!160

Sun-Tzu
Machine Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Robert Morgan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takeshi Tono!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Chris Saunders and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice cross by Tono.
Morgan moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Tono crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Morgan - the referee stops the clock and Tono gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Morgan. Tono manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
We've been informed that Tono has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Morgan is looking to clinch but Tono is avoiding it.
Morgan showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tono.
Morgan tries to land a front kick but Tono steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Morgan is looking to clinch but Tono is avoiding it.
Tono uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Morgan.
Tono on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

It looks like Takeshi Tono has been cut.
Morgan scores with a hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tono. Morgan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Morgan appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Morgan throws a hook but Tono avoids it easily.
Tono avoids the head kick by Morgan.
A countering left hand to the body from Tono misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tono throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Tono throws a nice inside leg kick.

Tono looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Morgan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tono defends well.
Tono trying to control but Morgan is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan is adopting a defensive guard.
Morgan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tono showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Tono throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tono is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Morgan seems keen to control Tono's posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Robert Morgan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tono checks the leg kick nicely there.
Morgan misses with a body kick.
Tono throws a counter combo.
Tono throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Morgan seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Morgan throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Morgan throws a wild body kick that Tono sees coming a mile off.
Morgan lets loose with a powerful body kick. Tono will feel that in the morning.
Tono avoids the head kick by Morgan.
Tono throws a right and a left that both miss.
Good standup being displayed there by Tono as he connects with a hook.
Morgan takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Morgan misses with a lunging right hand

and Tono counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Morgan!
A lull in the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tono tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tono working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Tono tries for a kimura but Morgan is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tono taking a breather here.
Morgan is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Tono's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Morgan slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Morgan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Morgan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tono.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Takeshi Tono will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Takeshi Tono's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Morgan moves in looking to clinch but Tono pushes him off.
Morgan throws a half hearted mid kick.
Morgan throws a head kick that misses.
Tono takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Both fighters circling a little - Tono finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Tono thumps Morgan with a low kick.
Tono keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Morgan.
Morgan misses with a body kick.
Robert Morgan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tono scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Tono scores with a spinning back kick!
Morgan takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Tono tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Morgan is able to avoid easily.
Morgan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Morgan connects with a high kick.
Robert Morgan is winning the standup battle so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tono lands a nice leg kick that just misses Morgan's sensitive parts.
Morgan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tono circles away quickly and effectively.
Tono plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Morgan wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Tono lands with a hook. Morgan tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Tono circles away from the clinch attempt

and Tono counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Tono has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Tono is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Morgan tries to get to full guard but Tono has control of the leg.

Morgan is defending against the submission attempts here by Tono.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Tono looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Tono scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tono lands with a punch from half guard.
Morgan desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Tono not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Morgan keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Morgan is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tono scores with a couple of nice shots.
Tono controlling the action here.
Tono trying to pass the guard but Morgan defending well.
Tono passes to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan regains half guard.
Morgan wants to get back to full guard.
Tono not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Morgan knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tono on the ground.

Tono is trying to work for a kimura but Morgan is defending well.
Tono stalling away here and it's allowed Morgan to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Morgan is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tono is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takeshi Tono showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Takeshi Tono's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Tono plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Robert Morgan has been cut.
Morgan throws a right and a left that Tono avoids nicely.
Good work by Morgan as he checks the leg kick.
Tono blocks a head kick by Morgan.
Morgan on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tono. Tono obviously looking to wear him down.
Nice defenses there by Tono.
Tono swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Morgan misses with the combination.
Crunch! Tono slams his shin into Morgan's torso.
Tono scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Tono blocks a head kick by Morgan.
Tono avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Morgan lands with a nice combination. Tono backs away looking to recover.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Morgan throws a leg kick but Tono sees it coming and moves out of range.
Tono tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Tono lands a head kick. Morgan smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Morgan throws a hook but Tono blocks it.
Takeshi Tono is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Tono closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Morgan's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tono slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Tono is putting a hurting on Morgan here, landing some big shots from side control.
Tono is chipping away with strikes.
Tono wants to control but Morgan is keeping him busy.
Tono in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Morgan avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Tono.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A lull in the action here.

Tono is trying to get an arm triangle but Morgan is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tono in side control, throwing shots but Morgan defends.
Morgan tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Morgan takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Tono looking to secure an arm triangle but Morgan defends it well.
Tono landing punches.
Tono controlling his opponent.
Takeshi Tono has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tono fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Morgan tries to lock up and control but Tono gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Tono unloading with bombs!
Tono working Morgan over with strikes here.
Robert Morgan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Morgan really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Morgan is working hard here to advance position.
Morgan is squirming around, avoiding Tono's attempts to control the action.
Morgan tries to reverse the position but Tono maintains control.
Takeshi Tono 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.
Tono is landing with some decent strikes but Morgan is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Tono sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Tono's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Tono landing shots from mount.
Tono prevents Morgan from getting the reversal.
Tono sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takeshi Tono comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tono has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30

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