PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mehdi Kanaani (ranked 879 p4p, 961 weight class) and Frank Morrison (ranked 117 p4p, 127 weight class). Kanaani comes to the cage accompanied by Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Dogg - Nuthin' But A G Thang. Morrison is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Dead By Daylight - Legion Theme. This should be fireworks!

Kanaani
vs
Morrison

170 cm
23
170
11 - 4 - 0

181 cm
23
170
12 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

FEEBLE FIGHTWEAR
Brooklyn Apothecary

KOMBAT KLOTHING
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mehdi Kanaani!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frank Morrison!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Morrison forces Kanaani back against the cage and clinches.

Kanaani manages to break the clinch.
Morrison misses with a hook.
Morrison throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kanaani has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Brooklyn Mixed Martial Arts in the buildup to the fight.
Nice cross by Morrison.
Kanaani lands a leg kick that knocks Morrison off balance momentarily.
Kanaani on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Morrison misses with a straight right.
Kanaani takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Morrison throws an overhand right that lands on Kanaani's shoulder, as Kanaani tries to avoid the shot.
Kanaani moves out of range of the strikes.
Kanaani wants to clinch.

Kanaani drives through and clinches with Morrison against the cage.
Kanaani takes a shot to the head.
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!
Morrison misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morrison can't get the takedown.
Kanaani wants to take the fight to the mat but Morrison manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Morrison lands a hook to the side of the head.

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

Kanaani clinches.

Kanaani lands a takedown into guard.
Kanaani being controlled here momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morrison avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Morrison has Kanaani pulled in close to control his posture.
Morrison preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kanaani trying to control the position from guard on top but Morrison is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kanaani postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kanaani stopping the sweep attempt from Morrison.
Morrison working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kanaani.
Kanaani wants to control from the top but Morrison keeps moving.
Kanaani might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kanaani throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Morrison works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kanaani accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kanaani stopping the sweep attempt from Morrison.
Morrison seems keen to control Kanaani's posture.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Morrison preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kanaani preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kanaani works over Morrison with some ground and pound from guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Morrison holds on and takes a little breather.
Morrison's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Kanaani throwing strikes but missing.
Morrison is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kanaani drives through and clinches with Morrison against the cage.
Morrison tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Morrison wants a takedown but no success here.
Morrison throws a punch but it's blocked by Kanaani.
Morrison can't find room to land a body shot as Kanaani controls the action.
Morrison lands a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Morrison fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morrison wants a takedown.
Mehdi Kanaani has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Morrison.
Morrison lands a body punch in the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kanaani.
A short right from Morrison.
Kanaani tries for a takedown but Morrison manages to get underhooks.
Kanaani is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Morrison pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kanaani blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kanaani misses with a punch to the body.
Morrison struggles to land a body shot inside as Kanaani controls his hands.
A body shot lands from Kanaani.
Morrison lands with a right to the head.
Morrison lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kanaani backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Morrison throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kanaanis head.
A head punch on the inside from Morrison fails to land.
A nice right hand lands inside from Morrison.
Kanaani can't find room to land a body shot as Morrison controls the action.
Morrison misses with a short punch on the inside.

Morrison works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Morrison dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kanaani clinches with his opponent.

Morrison breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Morrison tries to keep at a distance but Kanaani has taken the fight into the clinch.
Frank Morrison seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Morrison fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kanaani wants a takedown.
Kanaani takes a shot to the head.
Morrison doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Morrison gets through Kanaani's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kanaani has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Morrison is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Morrison presses Kanaani against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kanaani is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mehdi Kanaani. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morrison swings wildly with an uppercut but Kanaani uses good head movement to avoid it.
Morrison is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Morrison has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Morrison can't get the takedown.
Morrison lands with a left to the head.
Kanaani blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kanaani creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Morrison lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kanaani backwards.
Morrison misses with the head strike.
Morrison misses with a body punch.

Kanaani's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Morrison misses the shot to the body.
Morrison lands with a straight right. Kanaani didn't see that one coming.
Morrison tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kanaani swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kanaani ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kanaani takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Frank Morrison seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kanaani scores with a punch to the head.
Kanaani avoids the body shot from Morrison.
A looping hook to the body misses from Morrison. Kanaani does a little dance to reset his feet.
Morrison takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Kanaani drives through and clinches with Morrison against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Morrison struggles to land a body shot inside as Kanaani controls his hands.
Morrison has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Kanaani seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Morrison can turn it around.
Morrison changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kanaani fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kanaani uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Morrison.
Kanaani throws a leg kick but Morrison sees it coming and moves out of range.
Morrison tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kanaani defends well and Morrison ends up having to push Kanaani into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Morrison swinging wildly here.
Kanaani wants to clinch up but Morrison keeps it at a distance.
Morrison just misses with a punch to the body.
Kanaani wants to clinch up but Morrison keeps it at a distance.
Kanaani attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Morrison looks to throw the jab but Kanaani is out of range.
Morrison connects with a looping right hand.
Morrison is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Morrison jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kanaani throws a series of punches but Morrison avoids them all with ease.
Morrison throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The fight stays on the outside here - Morrison looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kanaani is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Morrison.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrison misses with a wild body shot.
Morrison circles away from the clinch attempt.
Frank Morrison seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Morrison swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kanaani appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Kanaani throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Morrison fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kanaani throws a good cross that connects.
Morrison tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Morrison looks to land a left hand but Kanaani moved out of range nicely.
Morrison moves into range and connects with a jab.

Kanaani drives through and clinches with Morrison against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kanaani.
Morrison lands on the inside with an uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Morrison lands a hook that snaps the head of Kanaani backwards.
Morrison lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kanaani backwards.
Morrison struggles to land a body shot inside as Kanaani controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morrison tries to work over Kanaani's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kanaani swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short left from Morrison.
Kanaani drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Morrison lands with a light punch inside.

Kanaani breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice sprawl there from Kanaani as Morrison shoots in.
Kanaani lands a nice leg kick that just misses Morrison's sensitive parts.
Morrison closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Mehdi Kanaani has been cut.
Morrison works over Kanaani's head and body with a nice combination.
Morrison catches Kanaani with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Morrison looks for a takedown but Kanaani sprawls well.
Kanaani avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kanaani swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
And that is 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 cut man is working on Mehdi Kanaani's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kanaani ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Morrison moves away.
Morrison throws a body punch but Kanaani moves out of range.
Morrison dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Morrison is looking to clinch.
Kanaani fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kanaani moves out of range of the strikes.
Morrison misses with a looping right.
Kanaani wants to clinch up but Morrison keeps it at a distance.
Kanaani walks into a straight right hand from Morrison.
Kanaani tries to clinch up but Morrison circles away and keeps his distance.
Kanaani loads up on a big right hand but Morrison slips the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morrison fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kanaani takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kanaani shoots in looking for a takedown but Morrison manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kanaani's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Morrison throws a poor cross that misses
and Kanaani counters with an outside leg kick.
Kanaani takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morrison missing with a left hand there. Kanaani was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kanaani throws a push kick but Morrison slaps the foot to one side.
Kanaani scores with a body shot.
Kanaani looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Morrison tries to close the distance and clinch but Kanaani swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kanaani takes one to the side of the head.

Morrison throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kanaani tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Morrison is in Kanaani's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Kanaani manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
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!
Kanaani gets through Morrison's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A short uppercut from Morrison.
Morrison tries to throw a body punch but Kanaani avoids it by throwing Morrison back against the cage.
Kanaani can't find room to land a body shot as Morrison controls the action.

Morrison breaks the clinch.
Morrison thows a left - swing and a miss!
Morrison lands with an overhand left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morrison throws the left hand but Kanaani avoids the punch easily.
A low kick lands for Kanaani.
Morrison scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kanaani doesn't seem bothered though.

Kanaani rushes Morrison and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Morrison.
Kanaani is looking to control Morrison's arms but Morrison gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kanaani has his back to the cage.
Kanaani blocking some punches.

Kanaani has Morrison pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Kanaani pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Morrison tumbling to the mat - Kanaani dives into Morrison's guard.
Morrison lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Morrison postures up in Kanaani's guard and throws a big left but Kanaani blocks it.
Morrison throws a strike but Kanaani rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrison trying to control the position here.
Morrison is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kanaani working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Morrison bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kanaani's guard.

Morrison lands a couple of digs.
Morrison throwing strikes but missing.
Morrison throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kanaani works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kanaani preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kanaani is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Morrison content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kanaani wants to get back to his feet but Morrison is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Morrison cracks Kanaani with a solid left hand.
Frank Morrison is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Morrison postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Mehdi Kanaani has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Morrison postures up.
Kanaani avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
A telegraphed right hand from Morrison misses the target.
Morrison tries to move into range but Kanaani moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Frank Morrison.
I've got Morrison winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Morrison!
An out of breath Frank Morrison thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.