PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Morrison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chip Flame (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Morrison
vs
Flame

165 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matthew Morrison!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chip Flame!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Jonathan Paton and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Flame will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Good shot there by Flame.

It looks like Matthew Morrison has been cut.
Flame swinging wildly here.
As Flame tries to get set, Morrison tries to push him back and clinch up but Flame manages to avoid the attempt.
Flame tries for a takedown but Morrison sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Flame shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Flame wants to stand up but Morrison has a hold of him and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flame wants to lay and pray for a moment but Morrison keeps working.
Flame performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Morrison really is a fat lump.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flame sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Morrison defending well though.

Flame stands up and beckons Morrison to join him on the feet.
Morrison looks to throw a body kick
and Flame counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Morrison throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Flame throws a nice looking combination but Morrison bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Morrison is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Flame's half guard.
Morrison slows the pace down in half guard.
Flame wants to get back to his feet.
Morrison lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Morrison postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Flame to stand up.
Morrison tries to land a front kick but Flame steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Morrison is looking to slow Flame down with leg kicks.
Flame pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Morrison back to the cage. Flame follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Morrison drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Morrison looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Morrison lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Flame preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flame looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Flame fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Flame looks winded!

Morrison is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Flame's half guard.
Flame wants to get back to his feet.

Morrison decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Morrison gets the takedown into side control.

Morrison decides to stand back up.
Flame tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Morrison counters with a nice double leg into side control. Flame won't be happy with that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Morrison decides to stand back up. Morrison steps back and let's Flame get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Morrison has managed to clinch.
Flame tries to break the clinch but Morrison is controlling the position.

Morrison pulls guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Flame's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Flame must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Morrison is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Morrison seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Morrison has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Flame wants to stand but Morrison has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
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 Matthew Morrison will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Matthew Morrison's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Flame misses with a double jab.
Matthew Morrison is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Flame misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Morrison dodges the punch combination from Flame.

Flame gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Morrison to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Morrison stands up from Flame's guard - Morrison perhaps looking for a knockout.
Flame is looking to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flame avoids the head kick by Morrison.
Morrison avoids a punch combination nicely.
Morrison stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Morrison wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morrison tries to land a front kick but Flame steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Flame fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Morrison is out of range.

Morrison clinches.

Morrison has Flame pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Morrison pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Flame tumbling to the mat - Morrison dives into Flame's guard.

Morrison gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Chip Flame seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Flame is breathing heavily.
Flame misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Morrison closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Morrison is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Morrison is trying to trip Flame. He has hold of a leg but Flame is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Morrison persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Flame is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Morrison is aware though and is defending well.
Flame has momentary wrist control but Morrison slips an elbow through the middle.

Morrison stands up from Flame's guard - Morrison perhaps looking for a knockout.

Flame fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Morrison to the ground. Flame is now in Morrison's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Flame trying to control the position from guard on top but Morrison is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Morrison is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Flame is aware though and is defending well.
Matthew Morrison overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Flame trying to control the position from guard on top but Morrison is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Morrison is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Flame is aware though and is defending well.
Flame trying to control but Morrison is working from the bottom.
Flame wants to pass the guard but Morrison is keeping the position.

Morrison looking for a guillotine here but Flame defends easily.
Morrison is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Flame can do to turn this around?
Morrison looking for a sweep. Not yet Morrison, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morrison controlling the position.
Flame is stalling in the full guard.
Flame trying to control the position from guard on top but Morrison is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Flame throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Flame wanted to stand there but Morrison had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Morrison dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Matthew Morrison's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Flame fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Flame looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Flame misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Morrison avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Flame throws a left and a right that both miss

and Morrison counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Morrison decides to return to a standing position.
Flame shoots in for a takedown but Morrison shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Morrison tries to counter with a takedown but Flame is quick to defend against it.
Flame scores with a one two! Morrison had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Chip Flame seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice sprawl there from Morrison as Flame shoots in.
Morrison checks the leg kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Flame wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Flame takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Morrison - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Morrison breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Flame takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Morrison takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Morrison moves away from the strike by Flame.
Flame throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Morrison.
Morrison throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Morrison throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Flame was covering up waiting for the punch and Morrison finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Morrison stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Morrison looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Flame!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Check out the look on Morrison's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Flame is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Morrison has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Morrison lands an elbow.
Morrison taking a breather here.
Morrison lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Flame down.
Flame is trying to escape the position but Morrison is controlling the position.

Morrison decides to stand up, so the ref orders Flame to his feet.

Morrison fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Flame, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Morrison has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Flame is trying to keep an underhook but Morrison manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Morrison working the head and body with strikes.
Morrison takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Morrison working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Morrison stands up and beckons Flame to join him on the feet.
Morrison tries to land a front kick but Flame steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
As Morrison backs off Flame throws a huge counter combo but Morrison manages to avoid it all.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Flame enables Morrison to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Flame manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Morrison is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Morrison has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Morrison gets to his feet - Flame follows without any prompting.
Flame moves out of range of the body kick.
Flame unleashes a big counter combination but Morrison bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Morrison lands a high kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morrison steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Flame.
Morrison misses with a head kick.
Flame tries to close the distance and clinch up but Morrison swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Morrison is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Flame.

Morrison clinches up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Morrison lands a hook to the side of the head.

Morrison wants the takedown. Flame is fighting it off but Morrison persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Flame's guard against the cage.

Morrison stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Chip Flame has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Flame tries to bum rush Morrison with a series of wild strikes but Morrison uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Flame fails with the takedown.
Matthew Morrison is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Matthew Morrison has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chip Flame.

Morrison has Flame up against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matthew Morrison showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Morrison, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matthew Morrison!