PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Samuel Sanchez (ranked 1348 p4p, 965 weight class) and Frank Morrison (ranked 207 p4p, 159 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Morrison's choice of entrance music: Dead By Daylight - Legion Theme. Frank Morrison told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Sanchez
vs
Morrison

185 cm
19
180
4 - 0 - 0

181 cm
19
170
6 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Savage Fightwear
MKFC

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Samuel Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frank Morrison!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Joseph Jones and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez lands with a cross.

Morrison shoots in and gets a takedown into Sanchez's guard.
Sanchez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Morrison makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sanchez controls Morrison momentarily but Morrison frees himself.
Morrison trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Morrison working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sanchez's head.
Sanchez wants to sweep here but Morrison controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez is working hard here to advance position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Morrison connects with a couple of short punches.
Morrison keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sanchez's head.
Morrison in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morrison working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sanchez working a defensive guard here.
Sanchez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Morrison throwing strikes from guard but Sanchez blocks nicely.
Morrison postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Morrison is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sanchez wants to sweep here but Morrison controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morrison trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Morrison tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sanchez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Morrison throws a right hand that misses
and Sanchez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Morrison has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Sanchez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morrison swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sanchez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Morrison throws a shot from downtown. Sanchez moves away and avoids it.
Sanchez wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Morrison changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sanchez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Morrison scoring with punches and elbows.
Morrison in side control, throwing shots but Sanchez defends.
Morrison cracks Sanchez with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The strikes coming from Morrison are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Morrison working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Morrison working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Morrison scoring with punches from side control.
Morrison is trying to ground and pound but Sanchez uses the momentary lack of control by Morrison to regain half guard.
Morrison missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrison thows a huge punch but Sanchez dodges it nicely.
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 thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sanchez's head.
Morrison has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sanchez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Morrison.
Sanchez is trying to get back to full guard.
Morrison thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sanchez gets full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Morrison accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Morrison accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Morrison trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Morrison trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Morrison connects with a looping right hand.
Morrison misses with an uppercut.
Sanchez ducks right into an uppercut from Morrison.
Morrison fails in his attempt to clinch.
Morrison misses with an uppercut
and Sanchez counters with a stiff right hand.
Morrison misses with a lunging right hand
and Sanchez counters with a stiff right hand.
Morrison just misses with a punch to the body.
Sanchez misses with a hook.
Morrison throws a body punch but Sanchez moves out of range.
Morrison cracks Sanchez with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Sanchez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sanchez looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Morrison misses with a right hand
and Sanchez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Morrison jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Morrison dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Morrison feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Morrison throws an elbow that misses. Sanchez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Morrison's guard. Nice move by Sanchez!

Sanchez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Morrison has control of Sanchez's left arm, preventing Sanchez from doing any damage.
Morrison manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sanchez manages to get himself to full guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morrison makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez is pulling down on Morrison's head to control his posture.
Morrison works over Sanchez with some ground and pound from guard.
Sanchez wants to sweep but no luck.
Morrison throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sanchez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Morrison's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Morrison accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Morrison missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Morrison scoring with punches to the head and body.
Morrison in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Morrison working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Morrison wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.
Sanchez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Morrison trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Morrison misses with a wild body shot.
Morrison misses with an uppercut.
Sanchez keeps the fight on the outside.
Samuel Sanchez is winning the standup battle so far.

Sanchez throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Morrison was covering up waiting for the punch and Sanchez finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Sanchez is fighting to break Morrison's control of his arms but Morrison is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Frank Morrison has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sanchez trying to control but Morrison is working from the bottom.
Morrison seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but Morrison keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrison controlling Sanchez's posture.
Sanchez postures up in Morrison's guard and throws a big left but Morrison blocks it.
Morrison has control of Sanchez's left arm, preventing Sanchez from doing any damage.
Morrison has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Frank Morrison seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Morrison misses with a straight right.
Morrison swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sanchez.
Morrison looks to land a right hand but Sanchez moved out of range.

Morrison moves into the clinch.
Morrison lands with a light punch inside.
Morrison blocking some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morrison lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sanchez.
Morrison lands a nice uppercut.
A short right from Morrison on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Morrison.
Morrison can't find room to land a body shot as Sanchez controls the action.
Morrison misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sanchez blocks a body shot from Morrison.
Morrison throws a punch but it's blocked by Sanchez.

Morrison escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A swing and a miss from Morrison.
Morrison lands with a cross.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morrison throws out a powerful jab.
Morrison avoids the body shot from Sanchez.
Sanchez misses with a takedown
and Morrison cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sanchez stuns Morrison with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Morrison takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Morrison 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. And we move into the final round!

Sanchez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Morrison throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sanchez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Morrison.
Morrison drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Sanchez looks to land a right hand but Morrison moved out of range.
Morrison throws a right and a left that Sanchez avoids nicely.
Nice jab there from Morrison.
Morrison tries to clinch but Sanchez moves out of range.
Morrison swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sanchez tries to keep at a distance but Morrison has taken the fight into the clinch.
Morrison swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sanchez tries to throw a body punch but Morrison avoids it by throwing Sanchez back against the cage.
Morrison struggles to land a body shot inside as Sanchez controls his hands.
Sanchez stops a takedown attempt from Morrison.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morrison fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sanchez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sanchez blocks an uppercut.
Morrison blocks an uppercut.
Morrison lands an uppercut.
Morrison misses with a short punch on the inside.
Morrison blocks an uppercut.
A short uppercut from Morrison.
Sanchez lands a right hand.
A nice right hand lands inside from Morrison.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sanchez.
Sanchez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Morrison blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Morrison breaks from the clinch.
Morrison listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Morrison throws a body shot but no joy.
Sanchez bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Morrison tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Samuel Sanchez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morrison thows a left - swing and a miss!
Morrison misses with a double jab
and Sanchez counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sanchez listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Sanchez misses with a low kick.
Morrison is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sanchez.
It looked like Sanchez was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
A telegraphed right hand from Morrison misses the target.

Morrison instigates a clinch.
Frank Morrison seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Morrison misses with a body punch.
Morrison fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sanchez lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Morrison stops a takedown attempt from Sanchez.
Morrison wants to take the fight to the mat but Sanchez manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Morrison fails to land.
Sanchez working aggressively here.
Morrison stops a takedown attempt from Sanchez.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuel Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Morrison fails to land.
Morrison presses Sanchez against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Sanchez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Morrison misses with some punches.
Morrison pushes Sanchez back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Sanchez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Morrison gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Morrison scores with a shot to the side of Sanchez's head.
Morrison lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sanchez slowing the pace effectively.
Morrison lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sanchez misses with a punch on the inside.
Sanchez misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Morrison.
Morrison struggles to land a body shot inside as Sanchez controls his hands.
Morrison lands with a light punch inside.
Morrison lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Morrison lands an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morrison working aggressively here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Morrison lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Morrison misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sanchez misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sanchez working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Morrison makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Sanchez swings wildly with an uppercut but Morrison uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sanchez swings wildly with an uppercut but Morrison uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sanchez trying to stall but Morrison improves his position.
Frank Morrison is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sanchez.

Morrison breaks from the clinch.
Morrison cracks Sanchez with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Sanchez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sanchez tries for a takedown but Morrison sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Morrison connects with a single shot there.
Sanchez fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Morrison looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Morrison comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Morrison has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Morrison!
After winning the bout, Frank Morrison thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.