PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Morlin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thore Turunen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Xavier Morlin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Morlin
vs
Turunen

183 cm
25
178 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
178 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Xavier Morlin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thore Turunen!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Hugh Johnson and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Turunen clobbers Morlin with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Morlin catches Turunen with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Turunen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Turunen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Morlin will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Morlin scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Turunen doesn't seem bothered though.
Morlin tries for a takedown but Turunen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Turunen tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Morlin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Turunen counters with a three punch combo that has Morlin backing up. Morlin nods at Turunen to acknowledge the strikes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Morlin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A punch combination from Turunen misses.
Turunen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Morlin.
Morlin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Turunen as he jumps to the side.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Turunen throws a right hand that Morlin ducks under and follows up with a left that Morlin also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Turunen as Morlin shoots in.
Turunen uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Morlin has time to react.
A head kick from Morlin lands but Turunen takes it in his stride.
Turunen misses with a left hand
and Morlin counters with a good, hard body kick but Turunen shrugs it off.
Morlin slips a straight right by Turunen.
Morlin shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Sloppy strikes from Turunen. Those never looked like landing.
Morlin throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Morlin.
Turunen misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morlin thuds his shin into the meat of Turunen's side.
Morlin looks to land a combination but Turunen avoids it well.
Morlin dives in and grabs Turunen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Turunen pushes down on Morlin's head and hops out.
Sloppy strikes from Turunen. Those never looked like landing.
Morlin has a takedown stuffed.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Morlin.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Turunen misses with a few strikes there.
Morlin throws a right hand that Turunen ducks under and follows up with a left that Turunen also avoids with ease.
Some wild striking there from Turunen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turunen throws a combination that misses
and Morlin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Morlin fails with the takedown
and Turunen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A right-left combo lands from Morlin.
Morlin misses with a double jab
and Turunen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Turunen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Morlin momentarily.
Turunen throws a combination that misses
and Morlin counters with a thumping low kick.
Turunen jabs Morlin right on the nose. Morlin blinks but takes it well.
Turunen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Morlin.
Morlin scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morlin throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Nice takedown defense from Turunen. No joy for Morlin on that attempt.
Turunen throws a left and a right that both miss
and Morlin makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Turunen really felt that one!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Morlin takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Morlin walks into a left hand.
Turunen might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Morlin lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Morlin.
Turunen fails to land with a series of punches.
Turunen jabs Morlin right on the nose. Morlin blinks but takes it well.
Turunen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Turunen misses with a double jab
and Morlin counters with a good, hard body kick but Turunen shrugs it off.
Turunen misses with a few strikes there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Thore Turunen will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Morlin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Turunen tries to avoid it but Morlin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Turunen to the ground. Turunen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Turunen scores with a one two! Morlin had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Morlin lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Morlin shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Turunen throws a series of punches but Morlin moves out of range.
Morlin moves forwards but Turunen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Morlin dodges the punch combination from Turunen.
A right-left combo lands from Turunen.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Morlin shoots in for a takedown but Turunen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Thore Turunen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Turunen dips to his left and cracks Morlin with an uppercut!
Turunen takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turunen throws a combination that misses
and Morlin counters with a nice leg kick.
Turunen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Morlin on the side of the head.
Turunen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Morlin goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Thore Turunen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Turunen misses with a few strikes there.
Turunen misses with the combination.
Turunen takes a swing at Morlin's ribcage but misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Morlin.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Morlin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Turunen throws a series of punches but Morlin avoids them all with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turunen jabs at Morlin's body.
Morlin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Turunen avoids the head kick by Morlin.
Morlin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Turunen defends it nicely.
Morlin staying out of range there.
Morlin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Turunen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Morlin on the side of the head.
Morlin shoots for a takedown but Turunen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Turunen misses with a lunging right hand
and Morlin counters with a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turunen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Morlin was well out of range. Poor timing from Turunen.
Turunen swinging wildly here.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Morlin. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Turunen throws an off balance right hand
and Morlin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Turunen takes a kick to the side of the head.
Turunen has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Morlin.
Morlin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Turunen throws a series of punches but Morlin moves out of range.
Turunen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Turunen stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Morlin throws a head kick that half lands.
Turunen misses with a double jab.
Turunen misses with a few strikes there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Turunen misses with a wild body shot.
Morlin has his takedown stuffed
and Turunen counters with a series of strikes. Morlin will be more careful next time no doubt.
Morlin looks for a takedown but Turunen sprawls well.
Turunen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Morlin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Turunen throws a series of punches but Morlin avoids them all with ease.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Morlin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Turunen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Morlin counters with a good, hard body kick but Turunen shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thore Turunen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Turunen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Turunen moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Morlin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Turunen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Xavier Morlin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Turunen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Some wild striking there from Turunen.
Turunen leaves Morlin with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Some wild striking there from Turunen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morlin with a poor takedown
and Turunen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Morlin fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Morlin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Turunen takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Turunen scores with a one two! Morlin had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Nice body kick from Morlin.
Morlin swinging wildly here.
Turunen avoids the head kick by Morlin.
Turunen feints a jab promting Morlin to slip. Turunen then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Morlin slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Turunen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Morlin backs up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Some wild striking there from Turunen.
Turunen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Morlin circles away quickly and effectively.
Turunen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Morlin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Morlin moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Some wild striking there from Turunen.
Turunen blocks a head kick by Morlin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turunen sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Turunen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Morlin fails with a takedown attempt.
Turunen thows a body shot but no joy.
Morlin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Turunen sprawls well. Turunen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Morlin gets slowly back to his feet.
Turunen swinging wildly here.
Morlin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morlin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Morlin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Morlin fails with a takedown attempt.
Turunen throws a series of punches but Morlin moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morlin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Turunen.
Morlin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Turunen as he jumps to the side.
Xavier Morlin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Turunen scores with a hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thore Turunen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Turunen 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

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