PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Paulie Morelli (ranked 4482 p4p, 5221 weight class) and Kelsey Wright (ranked 227 p4p, 239 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Morelli
vs
Wright

171 cm
21
135
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
140
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Paulie Morelli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kelsey Wright!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wright throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

Wright gets caught napping as Morelli dives in and scores a takedown. Wright manages to retain guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Wright holds on and takes a little breather.
Morelli postures up in Wright's guard and throws a big left but Wright blocks it.

Wright is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Morelli wants to control from the top but Wright keeps moving.
Wright avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Wright keeping moving, preventing Morelli from controlling successfully.
Morelli has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Wright is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wright wants to sweep here but Morelli controlling him for the moment.
Morelli loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Morelli is looking to work some ground and pound but Wright has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wright has momentary wrist control but Morelli slips an elbow through the middle.
Wright looking to control.
Wright is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Morelli stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wright swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Morelli preventing the sweep.
Wright lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Wright pushing down on Morelli's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Wright seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Wright is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Morelli on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Morelli is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Wright scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morelli is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Wright jumps into side control!
Wright in side control, throwing shots but Morelli defends.
Morelli tries to improve position but can't.
Morelli gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Morelli is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Morelli on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Morelli tries to get out of the position.
Wright looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wright trying to control but Morelli is having none of it.
Wright landing shots from mount.
Wright content just to control the position here.
Morelli is wriggling around trying to escape.

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.

Wright goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Morelli turns into him and now he's in Wright's guard.
Morelli postures up.
Morelli trying to control but Wright is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wright not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Wright might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Morelli haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Wright is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Morelli loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Morelli throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kelsey Wright dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Morelli gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Wright trying to control the position from guard on top but Morelli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wright would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Wright won't allow Morelli to sweep him here.
Morelli knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Wright on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morelli trying to keep a closed guard but Wright is proving a slippery customer.
Wright wants to control from the top but Morelli keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wright working some strikes from top position.
Wright 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.
Wright trying to control the position from guard on top but Morelli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Morelli on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Wright. Wright obviously looking to wear him down.

Wright shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Morelli is striking from the bottom but Wright uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wright works his foot free and advances to mount.

Wright working for a submission but Morelli is keeping him at bay.
Morelli is looking to improve his position but Wright isn't that keen on the idea.
Wright has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wright looking to control but Morelli is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Morelli is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morelli tries to hold on but Wright pushes him away.

Wright looking for a guillotine from mount but Morelli is having none of it.
Wright can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Morelli is looking to escape.
Morelli really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Wright controlling from the full mount.
A nice elbow there by Wright.
Wright takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Wright stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wright lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Wright rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Morelli moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Wright throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kelsey Wright showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Wright closes the distance and clinches.
Wright prevents the takedown attempt.
Morelli has Wright pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Wright manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Wright jumps guard.

Wright kicks Morelli off and gets to his feet.
Morelli tries to score a power double leg takedown but Wright sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Morelli somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paulie Morelli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morelli misses with a double jab

and Wright counters with a single leg into guard. Morelli didn't expect that.
Wright looking to pass the guard.
Morelli is trying to control the position but Wright postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morelli can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Wright controls the pace.
Morelli 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.

Wright is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Morelli has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Wright has passed into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Wright is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Morelli will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Wright decides to stand back up. Wright steps back and let's Morelli get back to his feet.

Morelli gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Morelli has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Wright has passed into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Wright is trying to get an arm triangle but Morelli is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morelli tries to improve position but can't.
Morelli manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Morelli is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ground and pound from Wright.

Wright moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Morelli.
Kelsey Wright has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Morelli is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Wright works to advance to full mount. Morelli defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Wright working Morelli over with strikes here.
Wright sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Paulie Morelli has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wright with a couple of short strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kelsey Wright comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Wright 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 25:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 25:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kelsey Wright!