PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sam Kildahl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocky Morris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Morris is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Kids Aren't Alright - The Offspring. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kildahl
vs
Morris

184 cm
18
194 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
197 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sam Kildahl!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rocky Morris!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Russell Pearce and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kildahl wants to clinch up but Morris keeps it at a distance.

Kildahl has Morris up against the cage in a clinch.
Morris has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kildahl is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Morris is pressed up against the cage. Kildahl has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Morris down to the mat. Morris avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Morris keeps the fight on the outside.
Morris shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kildahl gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Morris counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kildahl won't be happy with that.
Kildahl parries the strikes from Morris easily there. Morris is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Kildahl to escape.

Morris decides to stand back up.
Morris gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kildahl counters with a nice double leg into side control. Morris won't be happy with that.
Sam Kildahl has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocky Morris.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kildahl is looking to take a break and control but Morris is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kildahl wants to take a breather but Morris manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Kildahl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kildahl stands and throws Morris's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Morris is looking to regain half guard here but Kildahl keeps moving and retains side control.
Kildahl lands a few punches from side control.
Morris is not content to let Kildahl control the position.
Morris gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Morris punching from the bottom.
Morris has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Morris is trying to get back to full guard.

Morris looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kildahl tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Morris kicks off Kildahl and gets to his feet.

Kildahl gets a clinch.
Kildahl tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Morris smiles and moves away.
Kildahl tries to clinch but Morris moves away

and Morris moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kildahl softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Morris blocks the elbow strike.

Morris has Kildahl pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Morris pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Kildahl tumbling to the mat - Morris dives into Kildahl's guard.
Morris trying to control the position from guard on top but Kildahl is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morris throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Morris stands up and waves to Kildahl to follow him.
Kildahl tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Morris counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Morris.
Kildahl fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Morris breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Morris dodges the punch combination from Kildahl.
Kildahl is breathing heavily.

Morris forces Kildahl back against the cage and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kildahl stalling in the clinch but Morris improves position.
Kildahl seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Morris is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.
Kildahl prevents a takedown attempt there.

Morris breaks from the clinch.

Kildahl tries to keep at a distance but Morris has taken the fight into the clinch.

Kildahl is fighting off a takedown attempt but Morris is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Kildahl to the mat. Kildahl regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Morris trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Kildahl looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Morris postures up in Kildahl's guard and throws a big left but Kildahl blocks it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morris makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kildahl avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Morris dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kildahl doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Morris counters with a left to the body.
Sam Kildahl is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Morris lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kildahl gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Morris counters with a single leg into guard. Kildahl didn't expect that.

Morris thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Morris trying to control the position from guard on top but Kildahl is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kildahl wants to sweep here but Morris controlling him for the moment.

Morris drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Morris jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morris gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Morris changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kildahl looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Morris advances to full mount.
Morris tries to control but Kildahl wriggling away.
Rocky Morris has got the better of the ground game so far.

Morris wants to finish this one by submission but Kildahl is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Morris.
Morris tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Morris looking for a guillotine from mount but Kildahl is having none of it.
Morris dominating with strikes here.
Morris tries to control but Kildahl wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morris in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Morris is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Kildahl is surviving well by controlling Morris's body position as best he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kildahl tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Morris working for a submission but Kildahl is keeping him at bay.
Kildahl wants to control but Morris is having none of it.
Morris in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

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.
Kildahl is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Morris prevents Kildahl from getting the reversal.
Kildahl regains half guard.
Kildahl moves into full guard.
Kildahl trying to control the position here.
Kildahl doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Kildahl is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kildahl throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Morris showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kildahl clinches with his opponent.
Morris looking to stall.
Morris tries for a takedown but Kildahl manages to get underhooks.

Kildahl pulls guard.
Kildahl wants to sweep here but Morris controlling him for the moment.
Kildahl keeping moving, preventing Morris from controlling successfully.
Kildahl not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kildahl is looking to stand up but Morris isn't so interested in that idea.
Morris trying to control but Kildahl is working from the bottom.
Morris postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morris stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kildahl swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Morris landing with the ground and pound.
Morris takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Kildahl keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kildahl throws a head kick but Morris moves out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Morris.
Sam Kildahl has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocky Morris.
Kildahl shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Morris counters with a shoot takedown. Kildahl fights it but they end up in guard.
Morris postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morris stops Kildahl from standing up.
Morris chips away with some ground and pound.

Kildahl is working an open guard so Morris takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Morris scores a takedown into full mount!
Kildahl regains half guard.
Kildahl wants to improve his position but Morris is controlling well.
Kildahl is trying to stand.
Kildahl is looking to control Morris's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kildahl avoid being mounted?
Kildahl moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kildahl is trying to keep Morris in close.

Kildahl kicks Morris off and gets to his feet.
Kildahl lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kildahl.
Morris fails with the takedown

and Kildahl counters with a nice double leg into side control. Morris won't be happy with that.
Kildahl is chipping away with strikes.
Morris is looking to regain half guard here but Kildahl keeps moving and retains side control.
Kildahl advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morris is wriggling around trying to escape.
Morris takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Kildahl is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Kildahl tries to control but Morris wriggling away.
Morris is looking to get to half guard.
BOOM! Kildahl connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morris can't escape the position.
Sam Kildahl has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Kildahl showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Morris 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rocky Morris!