PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Titus Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leslie Morrow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Titus Johnson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Johnson
vs
Morrow

175 cm
19
135 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

160 cm
25
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Titus Johnson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leslie Morrow!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, George Francis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson looking to score a takedown here. Morrow is defending well but Johnson drives through and ends up in Morrow's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Morrow looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johnson is one step ahead there.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Morrow can do anything to dispel that myth.

Johnson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Morrow dives on top into guard.
Morrowis looking to pass into half guard but Johnson pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Johnson is in guard.
Johnson pushing down on Morrow's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Morrow moves into full guard.
Morrow wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson stops Morrow from standing up.

Johnson has gone for a leg lock! Morrow slips out almost immediately though and dives into Johnson's guard.
Morrow wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
Morrow's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Morrow tries to clinch up.

Johnson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Johnson tries for a takedown. No joy.

Johnson lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Johnson seems to be looking for submissions.

Johnson seems to be looking for submissions.
Morrow is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Johnson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Let's hope that Morrow has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.
Johnson is breathing heavily.

Morrow pushes Johnson off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrow pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Morrow moves into the clinch.

Morrow jumps guard and drags Johnson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Johnson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Morrow is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Johnson, into his guard.
Morrow is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Leslie Morrow hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Johnson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Morrow darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leslie Morrow 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.

Johnson instigates a clinch.
Morrow with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Johnson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Morrow is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Come on Morrow - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Johnson goes for a takedown attempt but Morrow pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Morrow showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johnson.
A head kick misses from Johnson.

Morrow gets a clinch.
Morrow prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Titus Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morrow lands with a short shot to the head.
Johnson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Morrow pulls his leg out and moves away.
Titus Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morrow closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Johnson quickly recovers to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnson is trying to stand up here but Morrow is controlling him well.
Leslie Morrow has got the better of the ground game so far.

Morrow stands up and beckons Johnson to join him on the feet.

Morrow gets a takedown into half guard.
Morrow uses his free foot to push down on Johnson's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morrow looking to control and managing it successfully.
Morrow's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Leslie Morrow wasn't active enough on the ground.

Johnson tries to keep at a distance but Morrow has taken the fight into the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Morrow throws an elbow but misses.
Morrow throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Johnson wants a takedown.

Morrow's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Johnson gets tackled into the cage by Morrow. Morrow maintains the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Morrow just misses with a elbow thrown towards Johnson's brow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Morrow pulls his leg out and moves away.

Morrow closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leslie Morrow showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Morrow closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Morrow throws an elbow that misses.
Johnson avoiding damage as Morrow throws knees to the body.
Morrow works on Johnson's body with a couple of short punches.
Johnson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Johnson is trying to drag Morrow to the mat but Morrow just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Morrow prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Titus Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson blocks an elbow strike from Morrow.
Johnson wants a takedown.
Johnson managing to block the knees to the body from Morrow.
Johnson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Johnson blocks an elbow strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Morrow gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morrow has picked Johnson up - he's going for a ride! Morrow dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Morrow is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Morrow perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Leslie Morrow.

Morrow closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Morrow fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Johnson dives in and grabs Morrow's left leg, looking for a takedown. Morrow pushes down on Johnson's head and hops out.

Morrow drives through and clinches with Johnson against the cage.
Johnson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Johnson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Morrow avoiding damage.

Morrow jumps guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Morrow is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Morrow is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Morrow is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Johnson, into his guard.
Morrow controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Titus Johnson just wasn't active enough.

Morrow clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morrow misses with a knee strike.

Morrow has hold of one of Johnson's legs. Johnson is fighting the takedown attempt but Morrow gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Johnson being controlled here, momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Leslie Morrow was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt
and Morrow counters with a one-two to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Morrow throws an elbow but it's blocked.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson is working for takedown but Morrow is calmly controlling the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Morrow is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Johnson is defending well for now.

Morrow manages to break the clinch.

Johnson gets tackled into the cage by Morrow. Morrow maintains the clinch.
Johnson managing to block the knees to the body from Morrow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leslie Morrow really dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Johnson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Johnson tries to score a body lock takedown but Morrow shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Morrow breaks the clinch.
Morrow slips under a jab from Johnson.

Johnson tries to keep at a distance but Morrow has taken the fight into the clinch.
Johnson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Morrow jumps guard and drags Johnson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Morrow uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Johnson darts in and clinches Morrow up against the cage.
Morrow prevents the takedown attempt.
Morrow prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Titus Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Morrow breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson instigates a clinch.
Morrow tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Johnson avoids it.
Morrow misses with a knee to the head.

Morrow ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Morrow no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Johnson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Morrow manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Johnson has Morrow in his guard.
Morrow content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Leslie Morrow has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Johnson looks to score with a jab to the body but Morrow is just out of range.
Johnson shoots in for a double leg but Morrow sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Johnson moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Morrow turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Morrow manages to end up in side control.
Morrow controls the position from side control.
Johnson tries to escape but Morrow is in control.

Morrow decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Morrow avoids the head kick by Johnson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Morrow rushes Johnson and presses him up against the cage.
Johnson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Morrow is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Morrow jumps into guard, dragging Johnson to the mat.
Morrow wants to get back to his feet but Johnson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Morrow controlling Johnson's posture.

Johnson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Morrow dives on top into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Morrow slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leslie Morrow dominated that fourth round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Morrow is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Morrow forces Johnson back against the cage and clinches.
Johnson tries to score a body lock takedown but Morrow shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Johnson managing to block the knees to the body from Morrow.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Morrow just misses with a elbow thrown towards Johnson's brow.
Johnson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Morrow after a bit of a struggle.
Johnson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Titus Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Morrow has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Johnson uses from the top position.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Morrow lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Johnson!
Morrow takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Leslie Morrow has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Morrow moves into the clinch.
Johnson has Morrow pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Morrow manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Johnson has Morrow pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Morrow manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Morrow throws an elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrow creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Johnson avoids the elbow strike from Morrow, against the cage.
Johnson dodges an elbow strike from Morrow.
Johnson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Morrow pulls his leg out and moves away.

Morrow instigates a clinch.
Morrow prevents a takedown attempt there.
Morrow is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Johnson is defending well for now.
Johnson goes for a takedown attempt but Morrow pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Johnson avoids a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Morrow moves into range and clinches up with Johnson.
Morrow pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Johnson is looking for a takedown.
Leslie Morrow is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Johnson blocks the elbow strike.
Morrow misses with a knee strike.

Morrow jumps guard and drags Johnson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Morrow trying to control the position here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morrow manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Johnson manages to get himself to full guard.
Titus Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
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!
Johnson being controlled here, momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leslie Morrow comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Morrow 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 45:50
Judge George Francis scores the fight 45:50
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leslie Morrow!
Leslie Morrow is the new bantamweight champion!