PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sokratis Gekas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marlon Moraes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Gekas
vs
Moraes

165 cm
25
152 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

170 cm
25
144 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sokratis Gekas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marlon Moraes!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Richard Clark and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gekas circles away from the clinch attempt.
Moraes tries to clinch but Gekas moves out of range.
Gekas half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Moraes misses with a low kick.
Moraes tries to close the distance and clinch but Gekas swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gekas appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Gekas blocks a head kick by Moraes.
Gekas changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A head kick misses from Moraes.
Gekas feinted with a counter takedown.
Moraes tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gekas tries to counter with a takedown but Moraes is quick to defend against it.
Gekas moves out of range of the body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moraes tries to work over Gekas's front leg with a kick but Gekas checks it.
Moraes throws a chopping leg kick but Gekas manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Moraes throws a head kick but Gekas moves out of range.
Gekas drops down looking for a counter takedown but Moraes sprawls and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Moraes clinches.
Gekas is working for takedown but Moraes is calmly controlling the position for now.
Knees in the clinch landing for Moraes.
Moraes misses with a knee strike.
Moraes using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Moraes tries to land a knee to the head but Gekas blocks with his arms.
Moraes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gekas has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Moraes prevents a takedown attempt there.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Gekas avoiding damage as Moraes throws knees to the body.
Gekas is trying to drag Moraes to the mat but Moraes just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sokratis Gekas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Moraes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gekas is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gekas looking for a takedown.
Moraes looking to slow down the pace here.
Moraes tries a knee to the head but Gekas blocks it.
Moraes stalling against the cage.
Moraes missing with knees to the body.
Gekas is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Moraes is defending well.
Moraes with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Moraes throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gekas blocks it with crossed arms.
Gekas is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Knees to the body from Moraes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gekas goes for a takedown in the clinch but Moraes prevents it.
Moraes with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gekas on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gekas is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Moraes pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Moraes tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gekas wants a takedown.
Moraes tries to land knees in the clinch but Gekas avoids the damage to the body.
Moraes with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gekas takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Sokratis Gekas has been cut.
Gekas on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Moraes looking to throw knees to the head but Gekas is blocking nicely.
Gekas drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Moraes gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moraes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gekas has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Moraes trying to land knees to the body.
Moraes tries to land a knee to the head but Gekas blocks with his arms.
Gekas takes a knee right on the jaw!
Moraes gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gekas.
Gekas takes a knee to the side of the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Moraes tries to stall but Gekas uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Moraes is defending well against a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marlon Moraes dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sokratis Gekas's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Moraes tries a head kick but it misses.
Gekas tries to counter with a takedown but Moraes is quick to defend against it.
Moraes misses with a body kick.
Gekas appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Moraes wants to clinch up but Gekas keeps it at a distance.
Gekas tries to counter with a takedown but Moraes is quick to defend against it.
Moraes connects with an inside leg kick.
Moraes throws a head kick that Gekas semi-blocks.
Moraes goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Gekas tries to counter with a takedown but Moraes is quick to defend against it.
Gekas checks a low kick from Moraes.
Gekas changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An inside leg kick lands from Moraes.
Moraes is looking to clinch.
Gekas attempts a counter takedown but Moraes avoids it well and moves away.
Moraes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gekas feinted with a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moraes doesn't manage to clinch there - Gekas circles away.
Moraes throws a head kick but Gekas moves out of range.
Gekas appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Gekas keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Moraes does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Gekas changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Moraes tries to score with a low kick but Gekas moves his leg out of the way.
Moraes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Moraes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Moraes tries to clinch but Gekas moves out of range.
Gekas feinted with a counter takedown.
Moraes is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Moraes misses.
Gekas appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Sokratis Gekas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Moraes.
Moraes goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Gekas attempts a counter takedown but Moraes avoids it well and moves away.
Moraes moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Moraes tries to close the distance and clinch but Gekas swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Marlon Moraes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Moraes closes the distance and pushes Gekas back into the cage.
Gekas is looking to take this one to the mat.
Moraes trying to stall but Gekas improves his position.
Gekas drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Moraes gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Gekas can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sokratis Gekas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gekas can't get the takedown.
Moraes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gekas.
Moraes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gekas avoids it.
Moraes tries to land a knee to the head but Gekas blocks with his arms.
Gekas is looking for a takedown.
Gekas takes a knee to the side of the body.
Moraes missing with knees to the body.
Moraes with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Moraes misses with a knee strike.
Marlon Moraes seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Gekas has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Moraes avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Moraes throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gekas blocks it with crossed arms.
Moraes prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moraes tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Moraes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gekas.
Moraes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gekas.
Gekas has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Moraes is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Gekas is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Moraes is defending well.
Moraes gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gekas.
Moraes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gekas is defending well for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Moraes misses with a knee strike.
Moraes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gekas has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Moraes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gekas avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marlon Moraes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sokratis Gekas's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Moraes throws a low kick, looking for Gekas's leg but Gekas calmly moves out of range.
Moraes tries a head kick but it misses.
Moraes misses with a head kick.
Gekas half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Moraes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Moraes throws a head kick that misses.
Moraes tries to clinch but Gekas moves out of range.
Gekas drops down looking for a counter takedown but Moraes sprawls and moves away.
Moraes tries to clinch up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moraes wants to slow Gekas down by chopping away at his legs.
Gekas checks a leg kick nicely.
Gekas drops down looking for a counter takedown but Moraes sprawls and moves away.
A low kick from Moraes misses

and Gekas counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Moraes!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gekas is putting a hurting on Moraes here, landing some big shots from side control.
Gekas happy to just control the position for now.
Gekas trying to control the action but Moraes is working from the bottom.
Moraes is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Gekas off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moraes gets his hands free as Gekas looks to control.
Moraes controlling the position well here. Gekas rolled but Moraes kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Gekas is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Moraes is not going to allow Gekas to sit and survive in this position.
Moraes is riding his opponent, not letting Gekas buck him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moraes is controlling the position but Gekas somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Moraes slows the pace down in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four 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.
Gekas tries to get to full guard but Moraes has control of the leg.
Gekas is working hard here to advance position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Moraes is taking a breather. Gekas says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Marlon Moraes.
I've got Moraes winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 25:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marlon Moraes!