PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mickey Backman (ranked 2093 p4p, 1796 weight class) and Bobby Morino (ranked 271 p4p, 233 weight class). Bobby Morino will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Backman
vs
Morino

181 cm
30
177
8 - 1 - 0

200 cm
25
184
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

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 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mickey Backman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bobby Morino!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Cecil Peabody and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Backman walks into a jab.
Morino throws a one two combo.
Backman throws a lazy body kick
and Morino cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A jab from Morino misses.
Morino avoids the head kick by Backman.
Donk. Morino catches Backman right on the button with a cross.
Backman tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Left hook, right uppercut from Morino.
A head kick by Backman misses
and Morino counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
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!
Backman thows a leg kick but Morino checks it
and Morino counters with a nice uppercut.
Morino cracks Backman with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Backman moves out of range of the strikes.
Backman changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morino checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Morino fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Backman, pushing him back against the cage.
Morino scores with a shot to the side of Backman's head.
Morino lands an uppercut.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Morino lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Morino lands a shoulder strike.
Morino takes a knee right on the jaw!
Backman missing with knees to the body.
Morino wants to stall.
Morino blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Backman misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Morino.

Morino pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Backman takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Backman misses with a head kick.
Morino looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Backman tries to work over Morino's front leg with a kick but Morino checks it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Morino. Backman does a little dance to reset his feet.
Backman changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Backman misses with the body kick
and Morino counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Backman thinking.
Backman takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Backman gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Morino counters with a stiff right hand.
Morino lands a jab to the head.
Backman shoots and misses
and Morino connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Backman throws a head kick that misses
enabling Morino to counter with a crisp jab.
Backman needs to keep his hands up - Morino had a free shot at his head there.
Morino cracks Backman with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Backman gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Backman throws a leg kick that is checked
and Morino counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Morino tries to clinch up.
Backman feinted with a counter takedown.
Backman throws a sloppy head kick and Morino moves out of range easily.
Despite the aggression on Morino's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Morino might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Backman misses with a takedown attempt
and Morino counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Morino is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Morino feints a jab promting Backman to slip. Morino then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Backman slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Morino scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
A low kick from Backman misses
and Morino counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
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!
Backman throws a half hearted mid kick.
Morino is working the combinations to good effect here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morino is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Backman.
Backman drops his hands momentarily and Morino takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Backman looks to land a body kick but Morino moved away.
Backman pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Backman misses with the body kick
and Morino counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A chopping leg kick lands by Backman.
Morino slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Backman thows a body kick. Morino tries to catch it but that hurt him.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Backman.
Morino throws an overhand right that lands on Backman's shoulder, as Backman tries to avoid the shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Morino dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Morino connects with a looping right hand.

Morino clinches up against the cage.
Morino lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Morino manages to break the clinch.
Backman shoots in looking for a takedown but Morino manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Backman's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Morino misses with a looping right.
Backman throws a head kick that misses.

Backman closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Morino is trying to control Backman's posture but Backman avoids it.
Morino has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Backman in the domination position with Morino hanging on.
Morino sneaks back into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morino is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Backman is looking to advance position but Morino won't allow it.
Morino wants to get back to full guard.
Backman works his way into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morino sneaks back into half guard.
Morino really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Backman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Morino has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Backman is working away from the top position though.
Backman trying to mount his opponent but Morino defends it.
Backman passes to side control.
Morino can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Backman scores with a couple of short elbows.
Backman working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Backman trying to control the action but Morino is working from the bottom.
Backman is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Morino's shoulder. That is not cool.
The ground and pound from Backman seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Morino felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
What's Morino going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Morino is not content to let Backman control the position.
Morino is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Morino is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Backman trying to control the action but Morino is working from the bottom.
Backman has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Backman looking to finish Morino with some ground and pound. This is bad for Morino!
Morino is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Backman looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Backman looking for a guillotine from mount but Morino is having none of it.
Backman punishing his opponent with strikes.
Backman trying to control but Morino is having none of it.
Backman has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morino tries to hold on but Backman postures up.
Backman trying to control but Morino is having none of it.
Backman looking to finish with strikes here!
Backman with good strikes from the mount here!
Backman controlling from the full mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Morino tries to lock up and control but Backman gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Backman scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Morino really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Backman dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Backman blocks a jab.
Morino avoids the head kick by Backman.
Backman shoots in but no luck this time.
Backman throws a sloppy head kick
and Morino counters with a stiff right hand.
An inside leg kick from Backman misses.
Backman misses with a takedown
and Morino counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morino smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
The fighters circle momentarily. Morino darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Morino has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Backman gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Morino.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morino connects with a good right hand that stumbles Backman. Backman circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Morino bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Backman's head.
Backman looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Backman throws a head kick that misses.
Backman bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Morino avoids the head kick by Backman.
A little jabbing left from Morino on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Backman throws a leg kick that is checked
and Morino counters with a two punch combo.
Backman uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Morino.
Morino slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Backman takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Bobby Morino seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Morino blocks a low kick nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morino lunges at Backman with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Backman's hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Backman tries to land a body kick
and Morino cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Morino misses with a series of wild punches.
Backman throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Morino wants to counter with a clinch but Backman pushes him away.
Morino scores with a crisp jab that stopped Backman in his tracks.
Bobby Morino is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Backman throws a wild body kick that Morino sees coming a mile off.
Morino throws out a counter right but Backman avoids it with no problem.
Backman steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Morino.
A lazy body kick from Backman
and Morino cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Backman or perhaps it was just good defense by Morino, which made it look bad.
A countering left hand to the body from Morino misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mickey Backman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Backman slips a jab from Morino.
Backman takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Morino clobbers Backman with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Backman misses with a low kick.
Backman throws a leg kick that is checked
and Morino connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Morino is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Backman drops his hands momentarily and Morino takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morino jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Morino avoids a kick to the body.
Backman takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Morino moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Morino misses the target.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Backman. Morino shrugs it off though.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Morino pushes Backman up against the cage in a clinch.
Morino avoiding damage.
Backman stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Morino lands a left hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bobby Morino comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Morino 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bobby Morino!