PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brooks Morrow (ranked 8189 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Joshua (ranked 5413 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Morrow
vs
Joshua

185 cm
25
279 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

198 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brooks Morrow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Anthony Joshua!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Summer Carpenter and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joshua throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Joshua throws a sloppy head kick

and Morrow counters by moving into the clinch.
Morrow could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Joshua pulls guard effortlessly.
Morrow won't allow Joshua to sweep him here.
Joshua is looking to stand up but Morrow isn't so interested in that idea.
Morrow might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Morrow is looking to work some ground and pound but Joshua has wrist control.
Joshua is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Morrow is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joshua with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Morrow is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Joshua is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morrow tries to get to full guard but Joshua has control of the leg.
Joshua wants to pass to mount but Morrow is defending the position.
Morrow is refusing to be controlled, as Joshua sits in half guard.

Morrow looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Joshua prevents Morrow from improving his position.
Joshua sitting and controlling from the half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Morrow gets tackled into the cage by Joshua. Joshua maintains the clinch.

Joshua breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Joshua scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrow is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joshua sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Morrow is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Joshua decides to stand back up.
Joshua stuffs the takedown attempt from Morrow. Morrow gets slowly back to his feet.
Joshua tries to counter with a clinch but Morrow shakes him off and moves away.
Morrow keeps the fight on the outside.

Joshua gets a takedown into half guard.
Morrow is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joshua throws a strike but Morrow avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Morrow preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Morrow lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Joshua is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Joshua is trying to keep Morrow in close.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Joshua pulls Morrow in close to his closed guard and prevents Morrow from doing any damage or advancing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Joshua dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Morrow gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Joshua pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Morrow is keeping the position for now.
Joshua missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Morrow wants to sweep but no luck.
Joshua trying to control the position from guard on top but Morrow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joshua controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Morrow is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Joshua defends well.
Joshua working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joshua controls from within his opponent's guard.
Joshua stopping the sweep attempt from Morrow.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Morrow shoots in looking for a takedown but Joshua manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Morrow's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Joshua fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Morrow.
Joshua throws a body shot but no joy.

Joshua moves into range and clinches up with Morrow.

Joshua breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morrow shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Joshua pinned against the cage. Joshua gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Joshua appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

Joshua has managed to clinch.

Joshua pulls guard.
Morrow won't allow Joshua to sweep him here.
Joshua utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Joshua uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Morrow is defended easily by Joshua.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brooks Morrow. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Joshua has managed to clinch.

Morrow ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Morrow no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Joshua stopping the sweep attempt from Morrow.
Morrow being controlled here, momentarily.
Joshua trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Morrow throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Joshua trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Joshua missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Morrow keeping moving, preventing Joshua from controlling successfully.
Morrow looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Morrow had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Joshua defends it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Joshua is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Joshua showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Joshua has taken the fight to the clinch.

Joshua breaks from the clinch.
Morrow with a lazy takedown attempt
and Joshua counters with a left and a right that stings Morrow.
Morrow shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Joshua defends it nicely.

Joshua clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Joshua has Morrow pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Joshua pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Morrow tumbling to the mat - Joshua dives into Morrow's guard.
Joshua is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morrow wants to sweep here but Joshua controlling him for the moment.
Joshua has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Joshua tries to free his leg and advance position but Morrow is retaining full guard.
Morrow can't keep his opponent in guard - Joshua advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Joshua passes the guard and advances to mount!

Joshua goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Morrow turns into him and now he's in Joshua's guard.
Anthony Joshua has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joshua is striking but Morrow is not phased and passes to half guard.
Joshua works his way to full guard. Good work.
Morrow keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Joshua's head.
Morrow connects with a couple of short punches.

Joshua is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Morrow is aware though and is defending well.
Morrow throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Morrow throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joshua has control of Morrow's left arm, preventing Morrow from doing any damage.
Morrow throws a strike but Joshua rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Morrow bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Joshua's guard.

Joshua throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Joshua is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Morrow defends well.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Morrow's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Morrow postures up.
Joshua wants to sweep here but Morrow controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joshua takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Morrow trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Morrow loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Morrow has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Joshua is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Joshua preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Joshua lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Morrow circles away quickly and effectively.
Morrow darts in looking for a takedown but Joshua gets double underhooks and turns Morrow into the cage.
Brooks Morrow has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anthony Joshua is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brooks Morrow. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morrow throws a leg kick but Joshua checks it.
Joshua throws a counter combo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Joshua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Joshua 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 Darius Henderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Joshua!