PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Prince Symbol (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dexter Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Symbol
vs
Morgan

150 cm
26
196 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

187 cm
23
194 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Prince Symbol!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dexter Morgan!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Skip Squint and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Symbol missing with a left hand there. Morgan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Morgan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Morgan lands a nice hook to Symbol's body. Symbol takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Morgan loads up on a big right hand but Symbol slips the punch.
Symbol fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Morgan ducks under a wild hook from Symbol.
Symbol uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Morgan.
Morgan lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Morgan ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Symbol doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Morgan bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Symbol's head backwards.
Morgan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Symbol gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Morgan lands with a hook. Symbol tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Symbol misses with an uppercut. Morgan saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan thuds a left hand into Symbol's body.
Morgan throws a right and a left that Symbol avoids nicely.
Symbol defending well as Morgan loads up on a big left hand.
Morgan misses the jab.
Morgan lands an overhand right.
Symbol slips under a jab from Morgan.
Symbol closes this distance looking for a takedown but Morgan circles away.
Morgan's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Morgan duly obliges.
Morgan tries to clinch but Symbol moves out of range.

Symbol shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Morgan's guard.
Symbol lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Symbol throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Morgan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Symbol is one step ahead there.
Symbol won't allow Morgan to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Symbol scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Symbol postures up.
Morgan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Symbol has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Morgan keeping moving, preventing Symbol from controlling successfully.
Symbol is looking to work some ground and pound but Morgan has wrist control.
Symbol with a flurry of punches that miss.
Morgan is trying to keep Symbol in close.
Symbol throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Morgan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
No joy there for Symbol, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan just misses with a punch to the body.
Symbol slips a straight right by Morgan.
Symbol changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Symbol moves out of range of the strikes.
Symbol dives in and grabs Morgan's left leg, looking for a takedown. Morgan pushes down on Symbol's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Prince Symbol. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morgan misses with an uppercut. Symbol saw that one coming.
Morgan is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Symbol keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Morgan.
Morgan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Symbol.
Symbol fails with a takedown attempt.
Donk. Symbol catches Morgan right on the button with a cross.

That's four 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 fighters circling - Morgan throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Symbol uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Morgan.
Morgan doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Symbol counters with a one-two to the body.
Morgan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Symbol fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Morgan sprawls well initially but Symbol persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Symbol thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Morgan to regain full guard.
Symbol postures up in Morgan's guard and throws a big left but Morgan blocks it.
Symbol stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Morgan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morgan pulls Symbol in close to his closed guard and prevents Symbol from doing any damage or advancing position.
Symbol in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dexter Morgan dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Symbol misses with a takedown attempt
and Symbol takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Morgan misses with an uppercut.
Morgan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Symbol walks into a stiff left hand from Morgan.
Morgan looks to land a combination but Symbol avoids it well.
Symbol ducks right into an uppercut from Morgan.
Symbol with a hook.
Morgan fails with the takedown

and Symbol counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Symbol stands up over Morgan, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Morgan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Symbol is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Symbol in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Symbol with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morgan working for a triangle but Symbol defends it easily.
Symbol in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Symbol pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Morgan is keeping the position for now.
Morgan wants to stand up but Symbol is controlling him.
Symbol postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Symbol postures up and lands a big shot to Morgan's brow.
Symbol connects with a couple of short punches.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morgan wants to stand up but Symbol is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Morgan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Symbol.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Morgan is on top in guard.
Symbol bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Morgan's guard.
Symbol throwing strikes from guard but Morgan blocks nicely.
Morgan wants to stand up but Symbol is controlling him.
Symbol postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Symbol lands a couple of elbows.
Symbol might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan wants to control the position but Symbol says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Symbol misses with a head shot. Morgan uses the momentum to regain guard.
Symbol loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Symbol content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Morgan pulls Symbol in close to prevent any damage.
Symbol working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Symbol throws a big right hand that misses.
Symbol slips nicely into half guard.
Symbol scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan looks like he's trying to stand up.
Morgan trying to control but Symbol postures up.
Symbol slips a nice elbow through Morgan's hands, connecting with Morgan's forehead.
Morgan wants to control but Symbol is keeping busy.
Morgan has hold of Symbol's hands but Symbol slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Morgan wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morgan is breathing heavily.
Symbol not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Symbol missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Prince Symbol dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Morgan is looking to clinch but Symbol is avoiding it.
Symbol moves away from the strike by Morgan.
Morgan throws a body punch but Symbol moves out of range.
Symbol walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Symbol decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Symbol scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Symbol with the ground and pound but Morgan uses the opportunity to regain guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Symbol accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Symbol trying to control the position from guard on top but Morgan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morgan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Symbol is one step ahead there.
Morgan has momentary wrist control but Symbol slips an elbow through the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan keeping moving, preventing Symbol from controlling successfully.
Morgan working a defensive guard here.
Symbol stopping the sweep attempt from Morgan.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Morgan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Symbol swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Symbol shoots in and bounces Morgan off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Morgan wants to stand but Symbol is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Symbol is looking to work some ground and pound but Morgan has wrist control.
Symbol trying to control but Morgan is working from the bottom.
Symbol with a flurry of punches that miss.
Prince Symbol overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Morgan is looking to stand up but Symbol isn't so interested in that idea.
Symbol trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Symbol accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Morgan controls Symbol momentarily but Symbol frees himself.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Morgan connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Symbol's hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Symbol shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Morgan counters with a right hand to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Morgan misses with a low kick.

Symbol scores a takedown into full mount!
Symbol landing strikes from the mount.
Symbol looking to finish Morgan with some ground and pound. This is bad for Morgan!
Morgan sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Morgan manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Symbol circles away from the clinch attempt.
Morgan moves out of range as Symbol strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Symbol staying out of range there.
Morgan misses with a double jab

and Symbol counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Morgan's guard now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Symbol lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Morgan trying to keep a closed guard but Symbol is proving a slippery customer.
Symbol wants to pass the guard but Morgan is keeping the position.
Symbol preventing the sweep.
Symbol is in close to Morgan's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Symbol trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Prince Symbol showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Symbol has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Prince Symbol!