PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Landin Durham (ranked 4181 p4p, 4326 weight class) and Ross Morrow (ranked 270 p4p, 278 weight class). Ross Morrow struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 136.9lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Durham
vs
Morrow

150 cm
25
130
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
150
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Landin Durham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ross Morrow!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Bart Greer and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morrow stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Morrow wants it to stay on the feet.
Durham fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Morrow checks it well.
Durham tries to land a leg kick but Morrow saw it coming and moves away.
Durham misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Morrow.
Morrow wants to counter with a clinch but Durham pushes him away.
Durham shoots for a double leg takedown but Morrow sprawls well. He's pushed Durham's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Morrow slaps away a takedown attempt from Durham, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Landin Durham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Durham throws a leg kick but Morrow moved away.
Morrow tries to counter by closing the distance.
Durham tries to clinch up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Durham throws a body punch but Morrow moves out of range.

Durham decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Durham looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morrow keeping control of the position.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Morrow's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Morrow really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Durham. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Morrow is staying active underneath Durham, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Durham seems to be working for a kimura but Morrow defends the submission attempt.
Morrow trying to control but Durham postures up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrow uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Durham has time to react.
Durham shoots for a takedown but Morrow saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Morrow steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Durham.
Morrow connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Durham takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Morrow leaves Durham with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Durham shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Morrow sprawls well. Morrow wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Durham gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durham attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Durham with a poor takedown

and Morrow holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Morrow stalls.
Durham tries to pull guard but Morrow forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Durham being controlled against the cage.
Durham is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Morrow to keep the fight standing.
Morrow lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Durham fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Durham tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Morrow just stands there and leans against the cage.
Durham tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Morrow drags the fight down to the ground.
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!
Morrow has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ross Morrow dominated that round.
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.

Durham ducks right into an uppercut from Morrow.
Durham tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Morrow was well out of range. Poor timing from Durham.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Durham tries to pull guard but Morrow holds him up against the cage and eventually Durham drops back down to his feet.
Durham is trying to pull guard but Morrow turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Durham tries to pull guard but Morrow forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Landin Durham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Durham tries to pull guard but Morrow won't allow it.
Morrow lands with a light punch inside.

Morrow pulls Durham into guard.
Durham stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Morrow swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durham preventing the sweep.
Morrow pulls Durham in close to prevent any damage.
Durham passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Durham tries for a kimura but Morrow is defending well.

Durham is trying to get an arm triangle but Morrow is defending well.

That's two 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.

Durham is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Morrow looks calm but he's in trouble here. Durham gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Morrow is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Durham lets go of the hold and Morrow can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Landin Durham!