PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joey Morris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Salvatore Lucania (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joey Morris has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Morris
vs
Lucania

187 cm
19
214 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
24
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joey Morris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Salvatore Lucania!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Daniel Franklin and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lucania fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Morris, pushing him back against the cage.
Lucania has Morris pushed against the cage.
Morris wants a takedown but no success here.

Lucania jumps guard.

Morris got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lucania has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Morris has managed to get both his arms back between Lucania's legs - danger averted.
Morris landing with the ground and pound.

Morris is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Lucania is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Lucania has escaped and now he's on top!

Morris can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lucania controls the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morris avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucania slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Lucania drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Morris dives on top into guard.

Morris loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Morris distracts Lucania with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Lucania is controlling Morris's posture.
Morris landing some decent shots from guard.
Morris working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Morris is looking to work some ground and pound but Lucania has wrist control.

Lucania has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Morris is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Morris tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lucania smiles and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lucania has taken the fight to the clinch.
Morris tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Morris. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lucania drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lucania missing with knees to the body.

Lucania pulls Morris into guard.
Lucania seems keen to control Morris's posture.

Morris drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Lucania dives on top into guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lucania sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lucania trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lucania engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Morris is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lucania controls from within his opponent's guard.
Morris wants to stand up but Lucania is controlling him.
Morris is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four 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.
Morris is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Lucania is trying to maintain the position but Morris is very close to passing his half guard.
Lucania keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Morris is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Lucania blocking the ground and pound attempt from Morris.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lucania gets full guard.

Morris is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Lucania is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Lucania has escaped and now he's on top!

Lucania missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salvatore Lucania dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lucania instigates a clinch.
Morris fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Morris jumps guard but Lucania turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Lucania is pushing Morris up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Morris is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Lucania to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Morris. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Lucania jumps guard.
Lucania has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lucania bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Morris's guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lucania is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lucania trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lucania advances to half guard.
Lucania not doing much here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morris blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lucania.
Lucania is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Let's hope that Lucania has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Lucania throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Lucania looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two 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.

Lucania stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Morris to get to his feet.
Lucania shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Morris sprawls well. Morris wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lucania gets slowly back to his feet.
Lucania darts in looking for a takedown but Morris gets double underhooks and turns Lucania into the cage.
Morris tries to counter with a takedown but Lucania is quick to defend against it.
Morris throws a poor cross that misses
and Lucania counters with a straight right hand.
Morris fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lucania avoids it really well and circles away.
Lucania wants to counter with a clinch but Morris pushes him away.

Lucania clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morris jumps guard but Lucania turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Lucania can't get the takedown.
Lucania has had enough of the clinch but Morris keeps him there for the moment.
Morris tries to pull guard but Lucania won't allow it.
Lucania has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Morris is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Morris is trying to break the clinch but Lucania has him pressed against the cage.

Lucania breaks from the clinch.

Morris takes the fight into the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Lucania can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morris goes for a takedown attempt but Lucania pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Lucania has Morris up against the cage in a clinch.

Lucania manages to pull guard.

Lucania looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Morris has gone for a leg lock! Lucania slips out almost immediately though and dives into Morris's guard.

Lucania postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salvatore Lucania showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Lucania keeps the fight on the outside.
Lucania shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Morris as he jumps to the side.
Morris misses with a takedown attempt - Lucania sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lucania keeps the fight on the outside.
Morris shoots and misses
and Lucania counters with a straight right hand.
Lucania throws a low kick but it's checked well by Morris.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lucania looks to land a body kick but Morris moved away.
Morris tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lucania manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lucania changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Morris doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lucania counters with a two punch combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Morris. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morris fails in his attempt to clinch.
Morris slaps away a takedown attempt from Lucania, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Lucania moves into the clinch.

Lucania drags the fight down to the ground.
Lucania is adopting a defensive guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lucania scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Lucania fails with a takedown attempt.
Morris shoots in for a takedown but Lucania shows good takedown defense.
Morris tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Lucania defends well and Morris ends up having to push Lucania into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Morris fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lucania goes for a double leg but Morris avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Morris continues to drive forward.
Morris defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lucania.
Lucania takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lucania pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lucania shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Morris as he jumps to the side.
Nice sprawl there from Morris as Lucania shoots in.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Morris.
Morris keeps the fight on the outside.
Morris moves in looking to clinch but Lucania pushes him off.
Lucania throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Morris's waist but Morris gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lucania off to one side.

Morris drives through with a takedown into guard.

Lucania pushes Morris off and gets back to his feet.
Lucania is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morris shoots in for a double leg but Lucania sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice sprawl there from Morris as Lucania shoots in.
Morris shoots in for a takedown but Lucania shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
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!
Morris looks for a takedown but Lucania sprawls well.
Lucania tries a head kick but it misses.
Morris tries to counter with a takedown but Lucania is quick to defend against it.
Lucania rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Morris moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Joey Morris has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Salvatore Lucania is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Lucania stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

And that's the end of the fight!
Salvatore Lucania comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lucania 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Salvatore Lucania!