PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Erik Morales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darra Late (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Late has chosen Gangstarr - Full Clip as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Morales
vs
Late

168 cm
22
135 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

169 cm
21
140 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Erik Morales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Darra Late!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Tiny Johnson and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Late changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Morales tries to avoid it but Late manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Morales to the ground. Morales escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Late shoots in for a takedown but Morales shows good takedown defense.
Morales misses with a double jab.
Morales swinging wilding here.
Morales misses with a body shot.
Morales just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Late.
Erik Morales has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darra Late.
A jab from Morales finds it's way through Late's defenses.

It looks like Darra Late has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morales circles away from the clinch attempt.
Late fails with an attempt to clinch.
Late shoots for a takedown but Morales saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Erik Morales is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Morales throws a right hand that Late ducks under and follows up with a left that Late also avoids with ease.
Late closes the distance and clinches up with Morales, looking for a takedown. Late pushes Morales against the cage but Morales circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Late shoots in and bounces Morales off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Late postures up and lands a big shot to Morales's brow.
Morales is looking to stand up but Late isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Late throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Morales works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Late won't allow Morales to get back to his feet.
Morales utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Morales is looking to stand up but Late isn't so interested in that idea.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Late closes the distance and clinches up with Morales, looking for a takedown. Late pushes Morales against the cage but Morales circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Late tries to clinch but Morales is having none of it.
Late looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Morales is fending him off so far but Late persists. Nope, Morales circles away and we're back to standing.
Morales stuffs the takedown.
Morales lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Morales fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Decent striking displayed by Morales there.
Late takes one to the chin there.
Late tries to clinch up.
Morales swings for the body but Late moves out of range.
Late fails to land the takedown.
Late throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Morales's waist but Morales gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Late off to one side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erik Morales dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Darra Late's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Morales swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Morales misses with a straight right.
Late will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Late looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Morales is fending him off so far but Late persists. Nope, Morales circles away and we're back to standing.
Morales throws a one two combo.
Late fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Erik Morales has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darra Late.
Morales ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Late shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Late ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Late fails to land the takedown.
Late is breathing heavily.
Morales misses with a two punch combination.
Morales jabs Late right on the nose. Late blinks but takes it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morales lands a jab.
Late takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Morales throws a nice looking combination but Late bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Late fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Late uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Morales.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Late ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice takedown defense from Morales. No joy for Late on that attempt.
Morales throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Late takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Morales throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Morales misses with an uppercut. Late saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morales throws a looping overhand right but Late ducks down to avoid it.
Morales misses with a wild combination.
Erik Morales is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Morales fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Morales uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Morales throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erik Morales dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Darra Late's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Good standup being displayed there by Morales as he connects with a hook.
Morales fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A jab from Morales finds it's way through Late's defenses.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Late is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Late walks into a left hand.
Erik Morales is winning the standup battle so far.
Morales works the jab nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Late shoots in but no luck this time.
Late fails with a takedown attempt.
Morales rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Late moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Morales throws a right and a left that both miss.
Late fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Erik Morales has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darra Late.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Late fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Morales throws a series of punches but Late avoids them all with ease.
Morales throws a one two combo.

That has opened up Darra Late's cut even more.
Late doesn't manage to clinch there - Morales circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Late has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Late there as he acknowledges the shot.
Nice sprawl there from Morales as Late shoots in.
Late slips a jab and a cross from Morales.
Late shoots in but no luck this time.
Late takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Late closes this distance looking for a takedown but Morales circles away.

Late gets the takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morales is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Morales throws Late to one side and escapes!
Nice body punch from Morales.
Late tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Morales swivels and escapes.
Darra Late has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Morales lands with a cross.
No luck for Late with that takedown attempt.
Erik Morales is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd cheers as Morales lands an impressive looking overhand right. Late doesn't seem phased though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erik Morales showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Morales, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:26
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:26
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erik Morales!