PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Koko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henry Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Koko has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Koko
vs
Morgan

190 cm
18
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
24
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 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 Las Vegas, Michael Koko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Henry Morgan!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Wesley Smith and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A low kick from Koko misses
and Morgan counters with a nice leg kick.
Koko thows a body shot but no joy.
Morgan tries to close the distance and clinch but Koko swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Morgan shoots in and bounces Koko off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Koko keeping moving, preventing Morgan from controlling successfully.
Morgan throwing strikes but missing.
Morgan throws a strike but Koko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koko tries to stand but Morgan is controlling from the bottom.
Koko is fighting to break Morgan's control of his arms but Morgan is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Morgan controls Koko momentarily but Koko frees himself.
Koko looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Morgan pushes Koko up against the cage in a clinch.
Koko is trying to push Morgan away but Morgan has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Morgan drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Morgan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Koko blocks a head kick by Morgan.
Michael Koko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Koko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Koko throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Morgan decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Koko's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Morgan trying to control but Koko is working from the bottom.
Morgan tries to free his leg and advance position but Koko is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koko wants to stand but Morgan is controlling the position.
Morgan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Henry Morgan.

Koko lands a left and a right that send Morgan crashing to the mat, dazed. Koko thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Morgan is rocked!

It looks like Henry Morgan has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Morgan closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Morgan is still in real trouble! Can Koko finish him?
Koko regains half guard there - taking advantage of Morgan's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Morgan is looking to take a break and control but Koko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koko tries to kick Morgan off but Morgan keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Morgan seems to have recovered his senses.
Morgan tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Morgan with the ground and pound but Koko uses the opportunity to regain guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Michael Koko will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Henry Morgan's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Koko moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Morgan slips under a jab.
Some wild striking there from Koko.
Koko lands a body shot.

Morgan drives through with a takedown into guard.

Morgan is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Koko is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Koko has escaped and now he's on top!
Morgan working a defensive guard here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Morgan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Koko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Morgan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Koko. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Koko has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Morgan is proving hard to escape from.
Morgan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Henry Morgan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Koko wants to get up but he can't break Morgan's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Morgan is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Koko wanted to stand there but Morgan had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Morgan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Koko has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Morgan is proving hard to escape from.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Morgan trying to keep a closed guard but Koko is proving a slippery customer.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Henry Morgan hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Sloppy strikes from Koko. Those never looked like landing.
Michael Koko is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koko shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Morgan defends it nicely.

Morgan throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Koko tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Morgan is in Koko's guard.
Morgan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Koko misses with a two punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koko throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Morgan counters by clinching up.
Morgan connects with a knee to the head.
Morgan has Koko pressed against the cage, preventing Koko from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Morgan ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Morgan no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Morgan looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Koko passes into side control.
Koko throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Morgan sneaks back into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Koko decides to stand up.
Koko misses the body punch

and Morgan counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Morgan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Henry Morgan's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Morgan closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Koko's guard.
Morgan trying to move into half guard but instead Koko has managed to sweep!

Morgan throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Morgan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Koko.
Koko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Morgan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Morgan looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Koko puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Koko throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Morgan trying to hold on to Koko's head to control him but Koko postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan tries to get to full guard but Koko has control of the leg.
Koko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Morgan's head.
Morgan wants to control but Koko is keeping busy.
Morgan is trying to stand.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Henry Morgan wasn't active enough on the ground.
Morgan is looking to slow Koko down with leg kicks.
Koko throws a leg kick that misses.
Michael Koko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koko slaps away a takedown attempt from Morgan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Koko slaps away a takedown attempt from Morgan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Morgan on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Koko dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Morgan.
Morgan looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Michael Koko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henry Morgan.
Morgan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Koko swats away the attempt to clinch by Morgan.

Koko drops Morgan with a beautiful combination! Morgan stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Koko is looking for the KO!

Morgan is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Morgan lands a front kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koko gets in close and tags Morgan with a short punch that almost sends Morgan to the mat! Oh Morgan is in big trouble! He turns his back on Koko, trying to create some distance but Koko rushes him, striking wildly and Morgan goes down! The referee tackles Koko into the cage to end the fight! Koko is one violent man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:07 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Michael Koko!
An out of breath Michael Koko thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.