PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Harrison Morales (ranked 4008 p4p, 3541 weight class) and Malam Sambu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Harrison Morales could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Malam Sambu's chin.

Morales
vs
Sambu

180 cm
25
150
2 - 7 - 0

169 cm
25
153
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 7 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Harrison Morales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Malam Sambu!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Michael Johnstone and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Morales darts in and clinches Sambu up against the cage.
Morales throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sambu blocks an uppercut.
Sambu blocking some punches.
Sambu blocks an elbow strike.

Sambu has Morales pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Sambu pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Morales tumbling to the mat - Sambu dives into Morales's guard.
Morales is wriggling around but Sambu manages to pass to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sambu is nestled in close to Morales, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Morales trying to control from the bottom.
Sambu content to control rather than advance.
Sambu is nestled in close to Morales, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sambu tries to pass to full mount but Morales defends it.
Morales knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sambu on the ground.
Sambu performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morales is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sambu passes to full mount!
Morales is trying desperately to improve position.
Morales in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Sambu postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Morales looks a forlorn figure.
Sambu lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Sambu scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Morales?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sambu lands with some strikes.
Sambu has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sambu working the ground and pound effectively.
Sambu breaks from Morales's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Morales tries to hold on but Sambu postures up.
BOOM! Sambu connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Sambu tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sambu looking to finish Morales with some ground and pound. This is bad for Morales!
Sambu looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Sambu content just to control the position here.
Sambu lands a big elbow.
Sambu lands a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sambu scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Morales?
Sambu with shots to the head and body - Morales looks very uncomfortable down there.
Sambu lands a big shot there that rocks Morales but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Sambu landing shots from mount.
Sambu lands a heavy elbow.
Morales wants to hold on but Sambu pushes him away.
Morales is breathing heavily.
Morales taking shots to the head.
Sambu with shots to the head and body - Morales looks very uncomfortable down there.
Sambu lands with some strikes.
Sambu unloading with bombs!
Morales is in a horrible position here. Sambu smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Sambu content just to control the position here.
Sambu with shots to the head and body - Morales looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sambu cracks Morales with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Sambu dominating with strikes here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sambu working Morales over with strikes here.
Sambu looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Morales in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Morales is bucking up trying to escape but Sambu cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Sambu connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Sambu connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Sambu lands a nice shot to the head.
Sambu has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Morales's face.
Sambu working the ground and pound effectively.
Sambu working the ground and pound effectively.
Sambu is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Morales can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malam Sambu dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sambu blocks an uppercut.
Sambu throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Sambu content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Morales misses with a hook from the clinch.
Morales misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sambu.

Sambu has picked Morales up - he's going for a ride! Sambu dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Morales tries to get to full guard but Sambu has control of the leg.
Sambu landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Sambu content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sambu lands a nice short elbow.
Morales trying to control here.
Sambu is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sambu is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sambu connects with a nice short shot to Morales's temple.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sambu in particular looking to stall.
Sambu looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Morales with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Malam Sambu has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sambu winds up and cracks Morales with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sambu seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ground and pound from Sambu.
Sambu is nestled in close to Morales, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sambu landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sambu connects with a nice short shot to Morales's temple.
Sambu lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sambu is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Morales wants to control but Sambu is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Morales has hold of Sambu's hands but Sambu slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Morales is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sambu scores with a couple of nice shots.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sambu lands a nice short elbow.
Sambu working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Sambu lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Sambu slows the pace down in half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sambu lands a nice short elbow.
Sambu working Morales over with strikes.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sambu connects with a nice short shot to Morales's temple.
Sambu is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morales taking some punishment here, with Sambu in his half guard.
Sambu looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Morales with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Morales taking some punishment here, with Sambu in his half guard.
Sambu winds up and cracks Morales with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sambu looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Morales with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sambu perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Nice strikes from Sambu there.
Sambu looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Morales on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sambu looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Morales with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sambu is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sambu working over Morales with some ground and pound. Morales looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sambu working over Morales with some ground and pound. Morales looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Morales is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sambu scores with a couple of nice shots.
Morales on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sambu working over Morales with some ground and pound. Morales looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sambu controlling the action here.
Sambu scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sambu has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sambu looking to finish Morales with some ground and pound. This is bad for Morales!
Sambu scoring with strikes but Morales is staying in there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
BOOM! Sambu connects with a massive shot to the dome!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malam Sambu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Morales gets tackled into the cage by Sambu. Sambu maintains the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Sambu tightens his grip and picks Morales up, before dumping him to the ground. Morales manages to land in guard.
Morales will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Morales working a defensive guard here.
Sambu with a nice head shot there.
Sambu content to stall in guard here.
Sambu cracks Morales with a solid left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sambu is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Morales looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Sambu has picked Morales up and slammed him! Morales can't keep hold of the triangle and Sambu manages to pass to side control!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morales takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Morales takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Sambu working the ground and pound.
Sambu scoring with punches and elbows.
Morales seems a little lost for a moment, as Sambu dominates the positioning.
Morales struggling a bit here.
Sambu is working Morales over with some ground and pound from side control.
Sambu connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Morales some visible discomfort.
Sambu working the ground and pound.
Sambu cracks Morales with a big right hand but Morales just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Sambu lands some shots froms side control.
Sambu working the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sambu looks up at the clock and then as Morales takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Sambu smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Morales is working to avoid the ground and pound but Sambu connects with a decent elbow.
Sambu looks up at the clock and then as Morales takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Sambu smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Sambu grinds an elbow into Morales's temple.
Sambu scores with punches from side control.
Sambu lands an elbow.
Sambu is chipping away with strikes.
Sambu working the ground and pound from side control.
Sambu is staying tight to Morales's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Sambu looks up at the clock and then as Morales takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Sambu smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sambu lands a nice forearm strike.
Sambu landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Morales takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sambu lands a nice forearm strike.
Sambu lands a decent elbow from side control.
Sambu landing a few strikes.
Sambu working the ground and pound from side control.
Sambu cracks Morales with a big elbow.
Sambu grinds an elbow into Morales's temple.
Morales takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Sambu in side control lands a decent elbow.
Morales is working to avoid the ground and pound but Sambu connects with a decent elbow.
Sambu landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Morales is working to avoid the ground and pound but Sambu connects with a decent elbow.
Sambu landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Sambu in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Sambu scores with a couple of short elbows.
Sambu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Morales takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Sambu working the head with strikes.
Sambu landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Morales takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Sambu connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Morales some visible discomfort.
Morales taking punishment in the form of punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Morales takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Malam Sambu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sambu 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malam Sambu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sambu 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 David Hoff scores the fight 26:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 26:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malam Sambu!
Malam Sambu seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.