PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Omari Morales (ranked 3892 p4p, 3466 weight class) and Danny Blake (ranked 443 p4p, 408 weight class). Blake has chosen Si Cranstoun - Dynamo as his entrance music. Danny Blake told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Morales
vs
Blake

201 cm
25
200
1 - 1 - 0

184 cm
20
201
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

Seventh Circle Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Omari Morales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Danny Blake!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Viktor Lagutenko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Blake scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Morales is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Blake throws a strike aimed at the side of Morales's head but Morales avoids it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morales is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Morales is trying to buck Blake off.
The referee asks Blake politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Blake prefers to stall for the moment though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Blake thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Blake passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Morales!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blake moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Morales has worked his arm free - good work by Morales!

Blake stands up.
Blake connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Blake scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Blake working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Morales is trying to control Blake's posture but Blake avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blake creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Blake trying to control the action but Morales is working from the bottom.

Blake decides to stand up, so the ref orders Morales to his feet.
Blake bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Morales misses with a two punch combination.

Morales tries to keep at a distance but Blake has taken the fight into the clinch.
Morales managing to block the knees to the body from Blake.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Blake tries for a takedown but Morales manages to get underhooks.
Blake blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Morales on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Morales.
Blake's coach down at London MMA Club was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Blake's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Blake stalls.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Blake as Morales tries to tie him up.

Blake manages to break the clinch.

Blake darts in and clinches Morales up against the cage.

Blake has Morales pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Blake pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Morales tumbling to the mat - Blake dives into Morales's guard.

Blake decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Blake shoots and misses
letting Morales counter with a right hand.
Morales is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.

Blake closes the distance and clinches.

Blake breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Danny Blake seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blake tries to clinch but Morales moves away
and Morales counters with a stiff right hand.
Blake swings widly with a right hand
enabling Morales to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Morales.
Blake tries to clinch up but Morales circles away and keeps his distance.
Blake looks to land a combination but Morales avoids it well.
Blake sizes up Morales with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Morales moves out of range as Blake strikes.
Morales really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Blake moves into the clinch.
Morales being controlled against the cage.
Blake can't get the takedown.
Omari Morales has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Blake.
Blake taking a breather.
Blake has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Morales after a bit of a struggle.

Blake manages to break the clinch.
Blake tries to close the distance and clinch up but Morales swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Blake jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Blake 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.

Blake wants to clinch but Morales slips to the side
and Morales counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Morales jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Jab by Morales.
Morales defending well as Blake loads up on a big left hand.
Morales takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Morales slips a jab and a cross from Blake.
Blake missing with a left hand there. Morales was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
It looked like Morales wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Blake closes the distance and clinches.
Morales prevents a body shot from Blake.
Morales is trying to maintain a safe position but Blake gets an underhook and turns Morales into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Blake breaks the clinch.
Blake misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Morales counters with a straight right hand.

Blake clinches with his opponent.
Morales is trying to stall.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Blake.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blake is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Morales is defending well.
Blake's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Blake has Morales pressed against the cage, preventing Morales from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Blake has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Blake is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Morales goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Morales is trying to break the clinch but Blake has him pressed against the cage.
Blake wants to take the fight to the mat but Morales manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Blake drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Omari Morales has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Blake.
Morales avoiding damage as Blake throws knees to the body.

Blake escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Morales throws a series of punches but Blake moves out of range.
Morales slips a jab and a cross from Blake.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Blake closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Blake escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Omari Morales is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Blake avoids a punch combination nicely.
Morales lands a jab to the nose.
Blake doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Morales counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Blake thinking.
Blake takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Morales swings widly with a right hand

and Blake counters by moving into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Blake drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Blake prevents a body shot from Morales.

Blake has picked Morales up - he's going for a ride! Blake dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Morales makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blake will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Blake walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A swing and a miss from Blake.
Morales circles away from the clinch attempt.

Blake rushes Morales and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Morales misses with a punch on the inside.
Blake blocking some punches.
Morales stalling in the clinch but Blake improves position.
Blake cracks Morales with a nice body shot.
Blake changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Morales fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Blake tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Morales swivels and escapes.
Blake fails with the takedown.
Blake is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blake looks to clinch
and Blake takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Blake misses with a left hand
and Morales counters with a stiff right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Morales sizes up Blake with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Blake takes a swing at Morales's ribcage but misses.
Blake takes a jab right on the kisser.
Blake with a poor takedown
letting Morales counter with a right hand.
Blake looks to clinch
and Morales counters with a three punch combo that has Blake backing up. Blake nods at Morales to acknowledge the strikes.
Blake wants to clinch
and Morales connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Morales lands a nice hook to Blake's body. Blake takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Blake is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Blake rushes Morales and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Omari Morales dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Blake throws a lazy uppercut
and Morales counters with a stiff right hand.
Morales is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A slow jab from Morales misses its intended target.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Danny Blake seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Blake changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Morales fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Blake misses with a hook
and Blake takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Blake tries for a takedown but Morales circles away easily
and Morales counters with a series of strikes. Blake will be more careful next time no doubt.

Blake instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blake keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Morales's efforts to push away.
A bit of stalling here from Blake.
A left hand lands to the body for Morales.
A frustrated look appears on Morales's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Morales misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morales lands a shoulder strike.

Blake escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Morales scores with a body shot.
Blake takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Blake takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Morales lands an overhand right.
Morales lands with an overhand left.
Blake lands with a cross.
Morales works the jab nicely.
Blake punishes Morales's body with a nice straight punch.
Blake has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Morales slips a jab and a cross from Blake.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Blake gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Morales.
Morales tries to stall but Blake uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Blake manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Blake has closed the distance and engaged Morales in a clinch.

Blake breaks from the clinch.
Morales connects with a single shot there.
Morales is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Morales misses with a looping left.
Blake tries to clinch up but Morales circles away and keeps his distance.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Morales enables Blake to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Morales manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Morales controls Blake momentarily but Blake frees himself.

Blake is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Blake accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blake trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Morales is working an open guard so Blake takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Morales connects with a crisp jab.
Blake falls off balance throwing a combination
and Morales counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Morales is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Blake tries for a takedown but Morales circles away easily
and Morales cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Omari Morales has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Blake.
Blake misses with a hook
and Morales counters with a left to the body.
Blake misses with a takedown
and Morales connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Morales connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Blake's hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morales bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Blake's head.
Blake throws a lazy uppercut
and Morales counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Blake thinking.
Blake misses with a lunging right hand
and Morales cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blake shoots and misses
and Blake takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Blake walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Blake misses with a body punch
and Morales counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Blake is rocked!
Morales scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Blake is still on wobbly legs! Can Morales finish him?
Crack! Morales connects with the perfect overhand right and Blake falls face first to the canvas. Timbeeeeeeeer! Beautiful knockout for Morales!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Omari Morales!
After the fight, Omari Morales was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.
Danny Blake spoke after the fight, saying 'This stinks.'.