PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Trent Morrow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Koji Murosaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Murosaki has chosen Now We Are Free as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Koji Murosaki will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Morrow
vs
Murosaki

170 cm
38
165 lbs
33 - 25 - 0

185 cm
32
165 lbs
20 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Trent Morrow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Koji Murosaki!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Murosaki misses.
Murosaki blocks the body kick.
Murosaki changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Murosaki has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Morrow throws a lazy right hand but Murosaki sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Morrow.
Murosaki walks forward, straight into a front kick from Morrow.
Murosaki is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Morrow.
Morrow throws a leg kick that misses.
Murosaki bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Morrow goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Murosaki lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Morrow backs up against the cage.
Morrow wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Morrow looks to score with a jab to the body but Murosaki is just out of range.

Morrow feints and as Murosaki raises his hands in defense, Morrow changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Morrow throws a big elbow that misses.
Murosaki is looking to stand up but Morrow isn't so interested in that idea.
Morrow throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murosaki working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Morrow.
Murosaki is looking to stand up but Morrow isn't so interested in that idea.

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

Morrow gets a takedown into half guard.
Morrow missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murosaki pushes Morrow off looking to stand but Morrow dives back in and keeps control.
Morrow drops an elbow to the side of Murosaki's head.
Morrow trying to control the pace.

Morrow is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Murosaki doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Morrow.
Morrow seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrow uses his free foot to push down on Murosaki's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Murosaki.
Morrow lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Murosaki hang on?
Morrow lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Murosaki squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Morrow unloading with bombs!
Morrow putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Morrow trying to control but Murosaki is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morrow landing punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Morrow thowing shots but they're missing.
Morrow misses with a head shot.
Morrow working the ground and pound effectively.
Murosaki blocking the ground and pound.
Murosaki is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Trent Morrow dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Murosaki throws a looping overhand right but Morrow ducks down to avoid it.
Morrow keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Morrow fails with a takedown attempt.
Morrow throws a head kick but Murosaki moves out of range.
Murosaki on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A slapping body kick lands there for Morrow.
Morrow displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Murosaki throws out the jab.
Murosaki misses with an uppercut
and Morrow counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Morrow.
Morrow thuds his shin into the meat of Murosaki's side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morrow fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Murosaki lands a lovely overhand right.

It looks like Trent Morrow has been cut.
Morrow misses with a body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Morrow thuds a left hand into Murosaki's body.
A slow jab from Morrow misses its intended target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murosaki throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Morrow.
Morrow is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Murosaki can do to turn this around?
Murosaki's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Murosaki duly obliges.
Murosaki attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Good exchange - Morrow coming out on top.
Murosaki throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Murosaki staying out of range there.
Murosaki is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
A big right from Murosaki misses.
Murosaki misses with a body shot.

Morrow fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Murosaki sprawls well initially but Morrow persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Murosaki scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Morrow manages to mount him!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Morrow lands a couple of good shots and Murosaki has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Murosaki is covering up but some of the strikes from Morrow are getting through and doing damage.
Trent Morrow overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Even with his hooks in, Morrow manages to miss with strikes from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morrow lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Murosaki.
Murosaki wants to get back to his feet.
Murosaki is keeping busy.
Murosaki is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Murosaki is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrow scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Morrow struggling to land strikes to the head as Murosaki covers up.
Murosaki is trying to get back to his feet but Morrow has full control of the position and if anything, Murosaki has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Murosaki is trapped and Morrow is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Morrow cracks Murosaki with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Murosaki from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Murosaki manages to escape to his feet.
Murosaki misses with a low kick.
Murosaki takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Morrow waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Murosaki.
Morrow misses the shot to the body.
Murosaki connects with a single shot there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Morrow takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Morrow takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Murosaki takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Morrow pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Murosaki feints and then cracks Morrow's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Morrow down.
Murosaki throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Morrow counters with a body kick.
Morrow throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Morrow throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Murosaki. Morrow does a little dance to reset his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Morrow throws a half hearted mid kick.
Murosaki with the counter takedown but Morrow avoids it easily.
Murosaki has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Morrow.
Morrow misses with an uppercut. Murosaki saw that one coming.
Morrow misses with a right hand
and Murosaki counters with a straight right hand.
Murosaki misses with a looping right.
A telegraphed right hand from Morrow misses the target.
Morrow scores with a punch to the head.
Murosaki fails to land with a series of punches.
Murosaki throws a sloppy head kick and Morrow moves out of range easily.
Morrow throwing a counter right hand but Murosaki manages to avoid it.
Murosaki misses with a body shot
enabling Morrow to counter with a crisp jab.
Morrow lands a nice leg kick that just misses Murosaki's sensitive parts.
Morrow swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Trent Morrow is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morrow defending well as Murosaki loads up on a big left hand.
Morrow thinks about countering with a body kick.
Murosaki cracks Morrow with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Morrow - that will leave a mark!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Morrow jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Morrow moves forwards but Murosaki connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murosaki walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Morrow swings for the body but Murosaki moves out of range.
Morrow lands with a thumping leg kick.
Jab from Morrow.
Murosaki throws a looping overhand right but Morrow ducks down to avoid it.
Morrow avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Murosaki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Morrow misses with a kick to the body.
Murosaki is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A jab from Murosaki misses.
A swing and a miss from Murosaki.
Morrow ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Morrow uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Murosaki.
Morrow throws an overhand right that lands on Murosaki's shoulder, as Murosaki tries to avoid the shot.
Morrow looks for a takedown but Murosaki sprawls well.
Morrow misses with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Morrow bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Murosaki pushes Morrow away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Morrow gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Morrow tries to score with some ground and pound. Murosaki controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Murosaki wants to get back to his feet.
Morrow in side control lands a decent elbow.
Murosaki is trying to get back to his feet.
Morrow misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Morrow in side control lands a decent elbow.
Morrow is looking to take a break and control but Murosaki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Morrow tries to advance to mount but Murosaki denies him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murosaki wants to get back to his feet but Morrow drags him back down.
Morrow throws an elbow but Murosaki slips to the side and avoids it well.
Morrow is chipping away with strikes.
Morrow throws a strike aimed at the side of Murosaki's head but Murosaki avoids it well.
Morrow misses with the ground and pound.
Morrow throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Morrow working the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murosaki gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Morrow working Murosaki over with strikes here.
Morrow looking to ground and pound but Murosaki is blocking nicely.
Morrow punishing his opponent with strikes.
Murosaki wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Morrow fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Murosaki really wants to buck Morrow off and get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morrow is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Murosaki can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Murosaki is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Morrow lands a big shot to the head and Murosaki winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Trent Morrow!
Trent Morrow thanked the fans post fight for their support.