PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cao Cao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marshall Morrow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cao Cao has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Cao
vs
Morrow

185 cm
16
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
183 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good elbows
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cao Cao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marshall Morrow!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Lou da Vinci and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morrow tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cao was well out of range. Poor timing from Morrow.
A big right from Morrow misses.
Morrow jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cao with a lazy takedown attempt
and Morrow counters with a one-two to the body.
Cao steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Morrow.
Morrow waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cao.
Morrow looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Cao tries to keep at a distance but Morrow has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cao avoiding damage as Morrow throws knees to the body.
Cao letting Morrow take a breather here.
Morrow lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Morrow tries a knee to the head but Cao blocks it.
Knees to the body from Morrow.
Morrow effectively controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morrow prevents a takedown attempt there.
Morrow trying to land knees to the body.
Cao blocks an elbow strike.
Cao is trying to drag Morrow to the mat but Morrow just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cao Cao. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Morrow escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Morrow swinging wildly here.
Cao shoots and misses

and Morrow counters by clinching up.
Cao wants a takedown.
Morrow stalls.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morrow comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Cao blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cao avoids the elbow strike from Morrow, against the cage.
Cao goes for a takedown attempt but Morrow pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Morrow throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Marshall Morrow is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cao fails with the takedown
and Morrow counters with a three punch combo that has Cao backing up. Cao nods at Morrow to acknowledge the strikes.

Morrow moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Morrow is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Morrow tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cao avoids it.
Morrow effectively controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrow crunches a lovely knee into Cao's ribcage.
Morrow lands an elbow inside.
Cao wants a takedown but no success here.
Nice elbow from Morrow.
Knees to the body from Morrow.
Cao is breathing heavily.
Morrow has Cao pushed against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Morrow obliges.
Morrow scores with a knee to the head.

Morrow breaks from the clinch.

Morrow closes the distance and clinches.
Morrow connects with a nasty looking knee right to Cao's face.

It looks like Cao Cao has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Morrow prevents a takedown attempt there.

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

Morrow rushes Cao and presses him up against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Morrow.
Cao is trying to drag Morrow to the mat but Morrow just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Cao drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Morrow gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Morrow scores a nice knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marshall Morrow dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cao Cao's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Morrow digs a good hook to Cao's body.

Cao tries to keep at a distance but Morrow has taken the fight into the clinch.
Marshall Morrow seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Morrow connects with a knee to the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Cao drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Morrow misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cao.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cao takes an elbow to the temple.
Cao tries for a takedown. No joy.
Morrow is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Come on Morrow - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Cao is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cao Cao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cao on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Morrow has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Morrow just leaning against Cao, taking a breather.
Cao avoiding damage as Morrow throws knees to the body.
Cao is looking to take this one to the mat.
Morrow has Cao pushed against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Morrow.

Morrow breaks the clinch.
Cao shoots and misses

and Morrow counters by clinching up.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cao shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Morrow counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Morrow misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nice cross by Morrow.

Morrow gets a clinch.
Morrow prevents the takedown attempt.
Morrow manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Cao avoiding damage as Morrow throws knees to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Morrow lands an elbow that stopped Cao in his tracks for a moment.
Morrow is pressed up against the cage. Cao has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Morrow down to the mat. Morrow avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Cao walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Morrow dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrow connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Morrow lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cao circles away quickly and effectively.
A combination from Morrow does no damage.
Morrow throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cao fails with the takedown
and Morrow counters with a series of strikes. Cao will be more careful next time no doubt.

Cao is rocked!
Marshall Morrow is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Morrow misses with a jab, cross combination.
Oh Cao is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Cao shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Morrow counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Morrow.

Morrow's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cao seems to have got his legs back now.

Morrow clinches.
Cao can't get the takedown.
Morrow stops a takedown attempt from Cao.
Morrow is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cao takes an elbow to the forehead.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Morrow pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cao with a poor takedown

and Morrow counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Morrow unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Morrow breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Morrow swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Morrow misses with a wild combination.
Marshall Morrow seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Morrow takes the fight into the clinch.
Morrow trying to land knees to the body.

Morrow pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marshall Morrow showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Cao Cao's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Morrow clinches up with Cao and pushes him back against the cage.
Morrow lands a nice knee to the body.
Morrow lands an elbow inside.
The referee calls for Morrow to work.
Cao is trying to drag Morrow to the mat but Morrow just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Morrow manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cao fails with the takedown
and Morrow counters with a straight right hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Cao gets tackled into the cage by Morrow. Morrow maintains the clinch.
Morrow misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cao.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morrow lands a nice shot that snaps Cao's head back.

Morrow drives through and clinches with Cao against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Morrow.
Cao avoiding damage as Morrow throws knees to the body.
Morrow tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cao avoids it.
Morrow tries to land knees in the clinch but Cao avoids the damage to the body.
Morrow lands a nice elbow.
Cao is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Morrow gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cao Cao. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Morrow breaks the clinch.
Cao with a lazy takedown attempt

and Morrow counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Morrow.
Morrow missing with knees to the body.
Cao goes for a takedown attempt but Morrow pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cao with a lazy takedown attempt

and Morrow counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Morrow escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Morrow lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cao circles away quickly and effectively.

Cao gets tackled into the cage by Morrow. Morrow maintains the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cao is looking for a takedown.

Morrow escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cao doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Morrow counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Morrow.
Morrow lands an elbow that stopped Cao in his tracks for a moment.

Morrow breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cao takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Morrow throws a nice looking combination but Cao bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Morrow scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Morrow punishes Cao's body with a nice straight punch.

Morrow rushes Cao and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cao tries for a takedown but Morrow manages to get underhooks.

Morrow pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cao shoots and misses

and Morrow moves into the clinch.

Morrow breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cao moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Morrow looks to land a combination but Cao avoids it well.
Cao shoots and misses

and Morrow counters by moving into the clinch.

Morrow escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Morrow throws a right hand that Cao ducks under and follows up with a left that Cao also avoids with ease.
Morrow fails to land with a series of punches.
Cao doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Morrow counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Morrow.
Cao Cao has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cao is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Morrow pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Morrow misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cao.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morrow comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Morrow tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cao avoids it.
Morrow unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cao lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
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 pressing his opponent against the cage.
Morrow with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Cao tries to score a body lock takedown but Morrow shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Morrow using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cao has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Marshall Morrow is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Cao goes for a takedown attempt but Morrow pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marshall Morrow comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Morrow 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 24:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 24:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marshall Morrow!