PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Juan Morales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy O Brien (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Morales
vs
O Brien

178 cm
28
183 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

182 cm
27
185 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

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 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Juan Morales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Billy O Brien!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
O Brien swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Morales.
Billy O Brien seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
O Brien throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A little feinted left hand from Morales on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
O Brien swings for the body but Morales moves out of range.
O Brien misses with a body kick.
O Brien lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
We've been informed that O Brien has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
O Brien ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Morales moves away.
It looked like Morales was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from O Brien.
Morales throws a series of strikes that have O Brien backpedaling.
Morales lands the left hand.
Morales looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
O Brien moves out of range of the body kick from Morales.
Morales tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and O Brien is able to avoid easily.
Morales rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and O Brien counters with a stiff right hand.
O Brien fails with the takedown.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
O Brien ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Morales moves away.
O Brien misses with a hook. Morales ducked under it nicely.
Morales lands a nice looking body shot.
O Brien takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
O Brien swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Morales changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Some wild striking there from O Brien.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morales throws a body punch but O Brien moves out of range.
O Brien throws a body punch but Morales moves out of range.
O Brien goes for a double leg but Morales avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Morales continues to drive forward.
O Brien is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Morales rather than just go for the knockout.
O Brien lands a nice looking body kick.
Morales uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from O Brien.
O Brien throws a lazy head kick
and Morales counters with a stiff right hand.
Morales will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
O Brien misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
O Brien is looking to chop away at Morales's legs.
O Brien avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
O Brien wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Morales connects with a right hand. O Brien shakes it off.
O Brien misses with a shot to the body
and Morales counters with a nice uppercut.
O Brien misses with a head kick.
A slow jab from O Brien misses its intended target.
O Brien takes one to the chin there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
O Brien works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from O Brien. Morales does a little dance to reset his feet.
O Brien lands a lovely overhand right.
Morales lands a leg kick that knocks O Brien off balance momentarily.
A good leg kick by O Brien.
Morales uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before O Brien has time to react.
O Brien avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
O Brien throws a front kick aimed at Morales's knee but Morales avoids it well.
Morales missing with a left hand there. O Brien was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from O Brien! But no joy.
Decent striking displayed by Morales there.
Morales shoots in and drives through. O Brien sprawls well.
O Brien throws a solid leg kick but Morales takes the impact on his shin and smiles at O Brien.
O Brien misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Morales.
Morales walks into a straight right hand from O Brien.
O Brien is looking to clinch but Morales is avoiding it.
O Brien staying out of range there.
Morales slips under a jab from O Brien.
Morales uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Brien misses with a straight right.
Morales slips under a jab from O Brien.
O Brien works Morales's body with a nice hook.
Morales ducks right into an uppercut from O Brien.
O Brien misses the shot to the body.
Morales throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
O Brien misses the shot to the body.
Morales has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from O Brien.
Morales is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
O Brien misses with a right hand
and Morales counters with a nice uppercut.
O Brien ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Morales moves away.
O Brien misses the jab.
Morales misses with a low kick as O Brien jumps back.
Morales throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
O Brien lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Morales shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as O Brien sprawls well. O Brien wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Morales gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morales scores with a leg kick.
Morales takes one on the button.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
O Brien misses with a wild body shot.
O Brien lands with a good body shot.
Morales lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Morales misses with an uppercut
and O Brien counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
O Brien throws the left hand but Morales avoids the punch easily.
O Brien bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Morales's head.
Morales throws a hook but O Brien avoids it easily.
O Brien throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
O Brien fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Juan Morales has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Billy O Brien.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
O Brien connects with an inside leg kick.
Morales keeps O Brien at a distance using the push kick.
O Brien lands a right hook to the body.
Morales connects with a nice looking jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy O Brien dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

O Brien is looking to chop away at Morales's legs.
As O Brien tries to get set, Morales tries to push him back and clinch up but O Brien manages to avoid the attempt.
Morales uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by O Brien.
O Brien throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
O Brien tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Morales was well out of range. Poor timing from O Brien.
Morales tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and O Brien is able to avoid easily.

Morales shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Morales was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
O Brien is working to avoid the ground and pound but Morales connects with a decent elbow.
O Brien takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
You can see the frustration on O Brien's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Morales working the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
O Brien sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

O Brien is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Morales pulls his head out easily.
Morales prevents O Brien from improving his position.
O Brien trying to hold on to Morales's head to control him but Morales postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Brien holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Morales lands with a punch from half guard.
Morales missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

O Brien looking for submissions off his back.
Morales wants to take a breather but O Brien is having none of it.
O Brien gets full guard.
O Brien working a defensive guard here.
Morales wants to control from the top but O Brien keeps moving.
Morales cracks O Brien with a solid left hand.
Morales stands up over O Brien, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morales with a nice head shot there.
O Brien is controlling Morales's posture.
O Brien utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Morales throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
O Brien keeping moving, preventing Morales from controlling successfully.

O Brien working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Morales doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Morales manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Morales connects with a couple of short punches.
O Brien has momentary wrist control but Morales slips an elbow through the middle.
O Brien preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

O Brien working for a triangle but Morales defends it easily.
O Brien is trying to control the position but Morales postures up.
Juan Morales overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

O Brien is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Morales is aware though and is defending well.
O Brien is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

O Brien has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Morales can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Morales with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Morales is in close to O Brien's body, working some short punches and elbows.
O Brien is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Morales looking to pass the guard.
O Brien preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

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.
Morales wants to pass the guard but O Brien is keeping the position.
Morales working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Morales throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as O Brien works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

O Brien is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Morales defends well.
Morales scoring with some ground and pound.
Morales makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morales trying to control but O Brien is working from the bottom.
Morales working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Morales postures up and lands a big shot to O Brien's brow.
Morales controls from within his opponent's guard.
Morales trying to control the position from guard on top but O Brien is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Morales dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Morales closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming O Brien to the mat! O Brien manages to get full guard.
O Brien is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

O Brien is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

O Brien looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

O Brien working for a triangle but Morales defends it easily.
O Brien avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
O Brien not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

O Brien is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Morales is aware though and is defending well.
Morales is working O Brien over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morales content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

O Brien is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
O Brien takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Morales with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Morales cracks O Brien with a solid left hand.
Morales cracks O Brien with a solid left hand.
Morales trying to control but O Brien is working from the bottom.
O Brien trying to control the position.
Morales is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Morales working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
O Brien trying to keep a closed guard but Morales is proving a slippery customer.

O Brien looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

O Brien working for a triangle but Morales defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morales trying to control but O Brien is working from the bottom.
Morales scoring with some ground and pound.

O Brien working for a triangle but Morales defends it easily.
Morales tries to free his leg and advance position but O Brien is retaining full guard.
Morales wants to control from the top but O Brien keeps moving.
Morales working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Brien looking to control.
Morales has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
O Brien utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

O Brien escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Morales gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Morales is looking to work some ground and pound but O Brien has wrist control.

O Brien has his foot on Morales's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Morales works his way back into a safe position though.
Morales wants to control from the top but O Brien keeps moving.
Morales is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Morales is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Morales missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Morales accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Morales makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Morales throwing strikes but missing.
Morales works over O Brien with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morales distracts O Brien with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Morales postures up.
O Brien avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
O Brien is trying to hold Morales in close to prevent damage but Morales has managed to pass into half guard.
Morales tries to pass to full mount but O Brien defends it.
O Brien trying to control from the bottom.

O Brien looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

O Brien looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Morales landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan Morales showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Morales has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Morales!
A relieved looking Juan Morales thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.