PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Speed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Morgan's choice of entrance music: Nightwish - Phantom Of The Opera. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Speed
vs
Morgan

200 cm
35
241 lbs
37 - 18 - 0

191 cm
37
247 lbs
19 - 15 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Perkele!

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 37 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Daniel Speed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Jason Morgan!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Speed closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Morgan quickly recovers to half guard.
Speed tries to pass to full mount but Morgan defends it.
Morgan is looking to control Speed's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Morgan avoid being mounted?

Speed decides to stand up.
Morgan misses with a leg kick
and Speed connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Speed missing with a left hand there. Morgan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Speed takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Speed tries to counter by clinching up but Morgan breaks away and moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morgan misses with a lunging right hand
letting Speed counter with a right hand.
Speed doesn't manage to clinch there - Morgan circles away.
Morgan connects with a solid leg kick.
Speed with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Morgan counter with a right hand.
Morgan throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speed takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Speed has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Morgan.
Morgan comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Morgan misses the shot to the body.
Speed misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Morgan.
Morgan throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Speed changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Speed throws a sloppy head kick and Morgan moves out of range easily.
Morgan throws a counter combo.
Morgan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Speed.
Morgan swings for the body but Speed moves out of range.
Morgan walks into a stiff left hand from Speed.
Speed is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Morgan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jason Morgan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Morgan throws a leg kick which misses Speed's front leg but catches the back leg as Speed tries to avoid it.

Speed shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Morgan manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Speed throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Speed preventing the sweep.
Speed is looking to work some ground and pound but Morgan has wrist control.
Speed throws a big right hand that misses.
Speed throws a big elbow that misses.
Morgan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Speed.
Speed throwing strikes from guard but Morgan blocks nicely.

Speed decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speed slips a straight right by Morgan.
Speed tries to clinch up but Morgan circles away and keeps his distance.
Morgan fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Morgan misses with an attempted mid kick.
Speed moves out of range of the body kick from Morgan.
Morgan thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Speed if he has to take too many more of those.
No luck for Speed with that takedown attempt.
Morgan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Speed circles away quickly and effectively.
Morgan misses with a straight right.
Speed blocks a head kick by Morgan.
Speed checks a low kick from Morgan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Speed keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Morgan misses the target.
Speed tries for a takedown but Morgan circles away easily
and Morgan counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Speed is lucky that one didn't land flush.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Speed. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A clash of legs there as Speed blocks the low kick.
Morgan scores with a leg kick.
Morgan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Speed circles away quickly and effectively.
Speed dips to his left and cracks Morgan with an uppercut!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Speed moves out of range as Morgan throws a body kick.
Speed appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Morgan wants to land a leg kick but Speed is out of range.
Morgan throws a leg kick that is checked
and Speed counters with a body kick that stops Morgan in his tracks momentarily.
Morgan throws a leg kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jason Morgan will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Morgan tries to sprawl but Speed drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Speed missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Speed throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Morgan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Speed.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morgan makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Morgan.
Speed with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morgan keeping moving, preventing Speed from controlling successfully.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Speed decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Speed tries to clinch but Morgan moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan throws a body shot but no joy.
Speed is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A slapping body kick lands there for Morgan.
Morgan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Speed tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Morgan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Speed shoots in for a takedown but Morgan shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Morgan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Speed tries to counter with a takedown but Morgan is quick to defend against it.
Morgan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jason Morgan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Speed tries to clinch there but Morgan circles away.
Speed moves out of range as Morgan throws a body kick.
It looked like Speed wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Morgan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Speed.
Morgan lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan tries to land a front kick but Speed steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Morgan attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Speed shoots in for a takedown but Morgan shows good takedown defense.
Morgan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Speed changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Morgan misses with a combination
and Speed counters with a nice body kick.
Morgan lands with a right hand.
Morgan connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Speed moves out of range of the strikes.
Morgan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Morgan throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Morgan misses with a straight right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speed avoids the body shot from Morgan.
Speed connects with a nice looking jab.
Morgan looks for the body kick but Speed saw that one coming.
Speed throws a head kick that misses.
A nice combination there by Speed.

Speed gets the takedown into side control.
Morgan is working to avoid the ground and pound but Speed connects with a decent elbow.
The strikes coming from Speed are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Speed throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Morgan manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Morgan takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Daniel Speed overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Speed is trying to stand back up but Morgan is controlling him
Morgan thows a huge punch but Speed dodges it nicely.
Morgan is trying to control the action in half guard but Speed is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Morgan prevents Speed from standing back up.
Morgan content to control rather than advance.
Speed is trying to stand.

Speed has one foot on Morgan's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Morgan thumps Speed with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Daniel Speed will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Morgan fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Speed blocks a leg kick.
It looked like Speed was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Morgan takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Morgan tries to land a leg kick but Speed saw it coming and moves away.
Morgan throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Speed counters with a left to the body.
Morgan scores with a body shot.
Morgan fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Speed has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Morgan darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Speed is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Morgan shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body kick there by Speed.
Speed fails with the takedown
and Morgan counters with a nice uppercut.
Morgan is looking to score with low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Morgan misses.
Speed attempts a counter takedown but Morgan avoids it well and moves away.
Morgan tries to clinch up but Speed circles away and keeps his distance.
Speed appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Morgan throws a leg kick
and Speed counters with a nice uppercut.
Jason Morgan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Speed slips a jab from Morgan.
Speed fails in his attempt to clinch.
Morgan tries to land a front kick but Speed steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Speed uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Morgan.
Morgan swings for the body but Speed moves out of range.

Speed has closed the distance and engaged Morgan in a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Morgan fails to land.
Morgan is trying to push Speed away but Speed has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Speed misses with a hook to the ribs.
Speed has Morgan pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Morgan manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Speed misses with a short punch on the inside.
Speed lands a body shot in the clinch.
Speed trying to control the position but instead, Morgan has worked for underhooks and has pushed Speed into the cage.
Speed drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Morgan gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Speed. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morgan swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Speed is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Morgan gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Speed tries to work over Morgan's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Speed misses with a short punch on the inside.
Morgan tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Morgan pushes Speed back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Morgan misses with a short punch on the inside.
Morgan lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A right handed body shot lands from Speed.
Morgan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Speed breaks from the clinch.
Morgan misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Speed closes the distance and pushes Morgan back into the cage.
Speed misses with some punches.
Morgan misses with a body punch.
Speed lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Morgan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Morgan throws a body kick that misses
and Speed counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Morgan tries to land a leg kick but Speed saw it coming and moves away.
Morgan swings away with a body shot that misses
and Speed counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Morgan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Morgan swings for the body but Speed moves out of range.
Speed throws a body kick that misses.
Speed uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Morgan.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Speed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Morgan connects with a body shot that sends Speed's belly button to the back.
Nice sprawl there from Morgan as Speed shoots in.
Morgan throws out a powerful jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morgan looks to throw the jab but Speed is out of range.
Speed tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Morgan defends well and Speed ends up having to push Morgan into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Speed avoids a punch combination nicely.
Speed swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Morgan scores with a spinning back kick!
Morgan's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Morgan duly obliges.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jason Morgan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Morgan 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Morgan!
A determined Jason Morgan didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!