PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Juan Morales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Elwood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Elwood has chosen Ice Cube - Why We Thugs as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Morales
vs
Elwood

178 cm
25
180 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

180 cm
24
170 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juan Morales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jake Elwood!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Richard Clark and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Elwood fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Morales, pushing him back against the cage.
Morales misses with a hook to the ribs.
Morales misses with a punch to the body.
Morales struggles to land a body shot inside as Elwood controls his hands.
Morales works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Elwood lands a hook to the side of the head.
Morales lands a body shot.
Morales works on Elwood's body with a couple of short punches.
Morales has Elwood pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Elwood manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Morales tries to work over Elwood's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Elwood lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Morales.
Elwood throws a punch but it's blocked by Morales.
Morales blocking some punches.
Morales blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Elwood misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body punch from Morales.
Morales is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Morales creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Morales tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Morales blocks a body shot from Elwood.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Morales.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Morales - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Morales working aggressively here.
Good body shot from Elwood.
Morales tries to throw a body punch but Elwood avoids it by throwing Morales back against the cage.
I was talking to Morales's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Elwood scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Morales.

Morales is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Elwood can't fight it off and eventually Morales manages to take the fight to the floor. Elwood looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Elwood manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Morales manages to get himself to full guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Elwood trying to control but Morales is working from the bottom.
Elwood stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Morales swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elwood postures up.
Elwood trying to control but Morales is working from the bottom.
Elwood throws a big elbow that misses.
Elwood content to stall in guard here.
Morales keeping moving, preventing Elwood from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morales pulls Elwood in close to his closed guard and prevents Elwood from doing any damage or advancing position.
Elwood is stalling in the full guard.
Elwood in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Morales managing to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Morales ducks under a wild hook from Elwood.
Morales tries to work over Elwood's front leg with a kick but Elwood checks it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Elwood.
Elwood staying out of range there.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Morales is defended easily by Elwood.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Morales. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Elwood misses with a straight right.
Jake Elwood is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Elwood.
Elwood misses with a jab, cross combination.
A jab from Morales finds it's way through Elwood's defenses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Morales throws a hook but Elwood blocks it.
Morales throws a body punch but Elwood moves out of range.
Some bone on bone action there as Morales checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Morales just misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jake Elwood will probably get the nod.
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.

Morales jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Elwood looks to score with a jab to the body but Morales is just out of range.
Morales throws a combination. Elwood tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Elwood tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Morales was well out of range. Poor timing from Elwood.
Morales moves out of range as Elwood throws a body kick.
Elwood throws a hook to the side of Morales's head but Morales sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Elwood throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Elwood chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Morales can pounce on him.
Elwood walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Elwood lands a glancing blow to the side of Morales's head.
Elwood misses with a low kick as Morales jumps back.
Elwood throws a series of punches but Morales moves out of range.
Morales staying out of range there.
Elwood throws a head kick that misses.
Elwood catches Morales with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Morales lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Elwood attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elwood on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Morales throws a body punch but Elwood moves out of range.
Morales looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Morales will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Morales checks a low kick from Elwood.
Morales works over Elwood's head and body with a nice combination.
Morales swats away the attempt to clinch by Elwood.
Elwood takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Morales closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A leg kick checked by Morales.
Elwood chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A left lands for Morales.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Morales fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Morales wants to clinch.
A decent looking cross lands there for Elwood.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elwood connects with a solid leg kick.

Morales shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Morales was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Elwood is looking for a sweep.
Elwood holds on to Morales's head and controls the position momentarily.
Morales throws an elbow but Elwood slips to the side and avoids it well.
The ground and pound from Morales seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Elwood manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Elwood trying to control from Morales's half guard. Morales has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Elwood controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morales wants to sweep but no luck.
Elwood controlling from the top position.
Elwood wants to control from the top but Morales keeps moving.
Elwood seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Elwood scoring with punches to the head and body.
Elwood trying to control but Morales is working from the bottom.

Morales uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Elwood waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Morales.
Elwood misses with a low kick.
Elwood uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Morales.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Juan Morales will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Elwood tries to land a front kick but Morales steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Morales takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Elwood has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Elwood misses with a series of wild punches.
Elwood scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Jake Elwood seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Morales keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Elwood slips under a jab.
Morales looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Morales swings for the body but Elwood moves out of range.
Morales staying out of range there.
Morales misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body punch from Morales.
Elwood throws a big shot that misses.
Morales displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Elwood throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morales fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Morales is looking to clinch but Elwood is avoiding it.

Morales forces Elwood back against the cage and clinches.
Morales tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Morales misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Morales misses with a punch to the body.
Morales has Elwood pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Elwood manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Elwood can't find room to land a body shot as Morales controls the action.
Morales tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Elwood's elbow.
A nice left hand lands by Elwood.
Morales working aggressively here.
Morales goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Morales misses with a body punch.
Still in the clinch, Elwood scores with a nice short uppercut.
Elwood blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Elwood working aggressively here.
Elwood throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Moraless head.
Morales tries for a takedown but Elwood manages to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Elwood.
Morales drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Elwood gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Morales. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Elwood tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Elwood creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Morales blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Morales drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Elwood gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Morales tries to stall but Elwood uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Elwood lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Morales backwards.
Morales tries to throw a body punch but Elwood avoids it by throwing Morales back against the cage.
Elwood has a couple of punches blocked by Morales.
Elwood can't find room to land a body shot as Morales controls the action.
Morales working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Elwood misses with some punches.
Elwood makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elwood blocking some punches.
Jake Elwood seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A short uppercut from Morales.
Morales misses with a punch to the body.
Morales is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Elwood gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Elwood blocking some punches.
Elwood working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Elwood tries to throw a body punch but Morales avoids it by throwing Elwood back against the cage.
Morales is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Elwood lands with a short shot to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Morales.
Elwood working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Elwood tries to throw a body punch but Morales avoids it by throwing Elwood back against the cage.
Morales drops down looking for an ankle pick but Elwood pulls his leg out and moves away.
Morales connects with a body shot.
Morales doesn't manage to clinch there - Elwood circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elwood with a hook.
Morales keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Morales scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Elwood wants to get back to full guard.
Morales throwing shots but Elwood is blocking nicely.
Elwood blocking the ground and pound attempt from Morales.
Elwood tries to roll over but Morales keeps him under control.
Elwood preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Elwood is trying to maintain the position but Morales is very close to passing his half guard.
Morales throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jake Elwood.
I think Elwood has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jake Elwood!
Jake Elwood bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.
In defeat, Juan Morales stepped up to the mic, saying 'EI JUMALAUTA MITÄ PASKAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'.