PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Keith Nickels (ranked 4174 p4p, 25356 weight class) and Jay Morgo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Keith Nickels has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Nickels
vs
Morgo

150 cm
19
144
1 - 1 - 0

165 cm
18
140
1 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Very confident

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Keith Nickels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jay Morgo!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Joseph Jones and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nickels shoots for a takedown but Morgo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Morgo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
It looked like Nickels was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Morgo shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Nickels really is a fat lump.
Morgo is thwarting Nickels's attempts to control the position.
Morgo is trying to control. Nickels wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Nickels tries to roll over but Morgo keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nickels is working hard here to advance position.
Nickels might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nickels wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgo is just content to waste time from the top position. Nickels takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Morgo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nickels is keeping the position for now.
Morgo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nickels. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nickels wants to sweep but no luck.
Morgo working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nickels's head.
Nickels being controlled here, momentarily.
Nickels trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nickels slaps away a takedown attempt from Morgo, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Morgo gets a takedown into half guard.
Nickels trying to control here.
Nickels looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Nickels works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickels wants to sweep but no luck.
Morgo trying to control but Nickels is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Morgo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nickels looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
What's Nickels going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Nickels is trying to control Morgo's posture but Morgo avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nickels keeps working.
Morgo lands a nice forearm strike.
Nickels takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Morgo trying to control the position but Nickels is working away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Morgo just content to control the position.
Nickels can't do much from the bottom here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Morgo dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Morgo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nickels sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Morgo somewhat.
As Morgo looks to move away, Nickels throws a big counter combo but Morgo just gets out of the way.

Morgo is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Nickels's half guard.
Nickels wants to control but Morgo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Nickels is looking for a sweep. Morgo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Morgo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Morgo trying to control the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nickels wants to improve his position but Morgo is controlling well.
Nickels is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickels gets full guard.
Nickels is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Morgo wants to control from the top but Nickels keeps moving.
Morgo stopping the sweep attempt from Nickels.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Nickels controlling Morgo's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nickels shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Morgo pinned against the cage. Morgo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nickels.
Despite the aggression on Morgo's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Morgo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Morgo staying calm.
Morgo trying to control the action but Nickels is working from the bottom.
Morgo is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgo is putting a hurting on Nickels here, landing some big shots from side control.
Nickels wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Morgo is looking to take a break and control but Nickels is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four 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.
Nickels is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Morgo's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Morgo throwing shots but Nickels is blocking nicely.
Morgo is nestled in close to Nickels, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Nickels wants to control but Morgo is keeping busy.
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. Morgo connects with a nice short shot to Nickels's temple.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nickels wants to improve his position but Morgo is controlling well.
Morgo is thwarting Nickels's attempts to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Morgo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Nickels's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Morgo shoots in and bounces Nickels off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Nickels bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Morgo's guard.

Nickels is looking to stand up but Morgo won't let him.
Morgo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nickels wants to control from the top but Morgo keeps moving.
Nickels throwing strikes but missing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morgo looking for a sweep. Not yet Morgo, not yet.
Morgo keeping moving, preventing Nickels from controlling successfully.
Morgo pulls Nickels in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgo working a defensive guard here.
Morgo wants to sweep here but Nickels controlling him for the moment.
Jay Morgo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Morgo wants to stand up but Nickels is controlling him.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nickels's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Morgo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Morgo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Morgo controlling Nickels's posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Morgo drives through with a takedown into Nickels's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickels not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Morgo wants to control from the top but Nickels keeps moving.
Nickels looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Morgo trying to control but Nickels is working from the bottom.
Morgo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nickels works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nickels bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Morgo's guard.

Morgo keeping moving, preventing Nickels from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickels tries to stand but Morgo is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nickels lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Morgo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nickels is looking to control Morgo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nickels avoid being mounted?

Nickels pushes Morgo off and gets back to his feet.
Morgo tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Nickels defends well and Morgo ends up having to push Nickels into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Morgo staying out of range there.
Nickels fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Morgo avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Morgo gets a takedown into half guard.
Morgo looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Nickels is refusing to be controlled, as Morgo sits in half guard.
Morgo might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Nickels haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Morgo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Keith Nickels has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Morgo wants to take a breather but Nickels is having none of it.

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 Keith Nickels.
I think Morgo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:30

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