PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Shinobu Morita (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Welds (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Morita
vs
Welds

178 cm
20
181 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

180 cm
22
179 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Very confident

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinobu Morita!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Danny Welds!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Welds bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Morita takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Morita manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Morita manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Morita is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Morita is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Welds throwing strikes from guard but Morita blocks nicely.
Welds postures up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Welds's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Welds with a nice head shot there.
Welds must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Morita working for a triangle but Welds defends it easily.
Morita tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Morita is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morita looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Welds throwing strikes but missing.

Morita is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Welds is aware though and is defending well.
Morita is breathing heavily.

Morita kicks Welds off and gets to his feet.

Welds looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Welds drops an elbow to the side of Morita's head.
Welds is nestled in close to Morita, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Welds scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Morita actively working from the bottom here.
Welds winds up and cracks Morita with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Welds winds up and cracks Morita with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Still in half guard, Welds seems content to control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Morita is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Welds drops an elbow to the side of Morita's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Welds lands strikes from half guard.

Morita actively working from the bottom here.
Welds looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Morita with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Welds is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Welds uses his free foot to push down on Morita's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Morita.
Morita sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Welds working Morita over with strikes.
Welds landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Welds drops an elbow to the side of Morita's head.
Welds working Morita over with strikes.
Welds scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Welds landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Morita is looking for a sweep. Welds is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Morita trying to control from the bottom.
Welds scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morita is pressing down on Welds's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Welds distracts Morita with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Welds makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Morita throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Welds escapes and throws Morita's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Welds creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Welds cracks Morita with a big elbow.
Welds is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Morita is not content to let Welds control the position.
Morita tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morita taking punishment in the form of punches.
Morita on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Welds cracks Morita with a big right hand but Morita just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Morita taking punishment in the form of punches.
Welds scores with punches from side control.
Welds looks up at the clock and then as Morita takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Welds smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Welds lands a decent elbow from side control.
Welds grinds an elbow into Morita's temple.
Morita is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Welds's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Welds not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Morita tries to roll over but Welds keeps him under control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Morita is looking to control Welds's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Morita avoid being mounted?
Welds is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Morita!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Welds dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nice shot by Morita.
Some wild striking there from Morita.
Morita tries to clinch but Welds is having none of it.
Danny Welds seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horrible takedown by Welds or perhaps it was just good defense by Morita which made him look bad.
Welds shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Morita but Morita pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Welds circles away from the clinch attempt.
Morita moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Morita lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Welds drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Morita struggling a bit here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Danny Welds has got the better of the ground game so far.
Morita stops Welds from passing to mount.
Morita is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Welds's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morita trying to control but Welds postures up.
Welds lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Welds lands a nice short elbow.
Morita is refusing to be controlled, as Welds sits in half guard.
Welds working Morita over with strikes.
Morita on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Morita works his way to full guard. Good work.

Morita has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Welds off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Welds looks for a takedown but Morita sprawls well.
Shinobu Morita has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Welds.
A jab from Morita finds it's way through Welds's defenses.
Welds takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Welds looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Welds looking to pass the guard.

Morita looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Morita controls Welds momentarily but Welds frees himself.

Morita is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Welds is aware though and is defending well.
Welds with a nice head shot there.
Welds with a nice head shot there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Welds accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morita trying to control the position.

Morita escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Welds gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Welds connects with a couple of short punches.
Welds content to stall in guard here.
Welds working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Morita trying to control the position.
Welds is working Morita over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Welds postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Welds advances to half guard.
Morita is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Welds winds up and cracks Morita with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Welds landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Welds wants to control but Morita is keeping him busy.
Morita is looking to improve his position.
Morita is not content to let Welds control the position.
Morita avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Welds.
Morita is trying to control but can't.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A right-left combo lands from Morita.
Morita connects with a looping right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Welds shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Morita as he avoids it easily.
Welds takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Shinobu Morita is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Morita scores with a nice strike.

Morita darts in and clinches Welds up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinobu Morita dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Welds with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Morita to score with a decent uppercut.
Morita tries to close the distance and clinch up but Welds swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Morita bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Morita scores with a decent looking hook.
Morita tries to clinch there but Welds circles away.
Welds fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Morita lands with a thumping leg kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Morita.
Welds gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Morita fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Welds looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Morita lands a front kick.
Morita lands a jab-cross combination.
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!
Morita misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Welds tries for a takedown but Morita sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Morita scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Both fighters circling a little - Morita finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
A punch combination from Morita misses.
Morita misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welds fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Shinobu Morita has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Welds.
Morita scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Morita misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Morita gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Welds working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Morita throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Morita trying to control the position.
Morita wants to sweep but no luck.
Welds scoring with punches to the head and body.
Welds pushing down on Morita's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Welds looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Welds 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.

Morita looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morita is looking for a sweep. Welds is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Welds looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Morita with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Morita is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Welds scores with a couple of nice shots.
Morita avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Welds.
Welds throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Morita fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Welds.
A thudding body kick lands there by Morita!
Nice sprawl there from Morita as Welds shoots in.
Morita lands a jab to the head.
Welds takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Morita scores with a three punch combo!

Welds scores a takedown into full mount!
Morita tries to reverse the position but Welds maintains control.
Welds landing punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morita wants to hold on but Welds pushes him away.
Morita is in a horrible position here. Welds smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Welds landing strikes from the mount.
Morita tries to hold on but Welds postures up.
Welds lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Morita tries to reverse the position but Welds maintains control.
BOOM! Welds connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Morita wants to control but Welds is having none of it.
Morita in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Welds lands a nice shot to the head.
Welds with the ground and pound from mount.
Morita tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Morita takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Morita taking shots to the head.
Morita taking shots to the head.
Morita really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Morita sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Welds is trying to control the action in half guard but Morita is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Morita wants to control but Welds is keeping busy.

Morita looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Welds lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Welds sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Morita defending well though.
Morita is looking to escape.
Welds drops an elbow to the side of Morita's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shinobu Morita showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Morita has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shinobu Morita!