PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Brian Fantana (ranked 1141 p4p, 119 weight class) and Iko Morrowind (ranked 3054 p4p, 255 weight class). Morrowind has chosen The Foggy Dew as his entrance music. 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.

Fantana
vs
Morrowind

165 cm
42
144 lbs
25 - 12 - 2

187 cm
37
157 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 12 - 2, fighting out of New York, Brian Fantana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Iko Morrowind!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Trevor Gratis and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fantana takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Morrowind has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Nice cross by Fantana.

Fantana bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Fantana is looking to take a break and control but Morrowind is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morrowind is trying to get back to his feet.
Fantana working the ground and pound.
Morrowind is looking to regain half guard here but Fantana keeps moving and retains side control.

Fantana tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Fantana has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Fantana working the body and head with strikes.
Morrowind is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Fantana landing strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morrowind on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Morrowind is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Morrowind tries to improve position but can't.
Morrowind taking punishment in the form of punches.
Fantana creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Morrowind sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Fantana wants to control but Morrowind is keeping him busy.

Fantana is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Morrowind knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Fantana is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Morrowind has escaped the position, nice work there.
Fantana working the ground and pound from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantana scoring with punches and elbows.

Fantana is trying to get an arm triangle but Morrowind is defending well.
Morrowind is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Fantana has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Fantana throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Morrowind sneaks out the side door and pushes Fantana away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Fantana looks to land a combination but Morrowind avoids it well.
Fantana walks into a stiff left hand from Morrowind.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morrowind rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fantana moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Fantana throws a hook but Morrowind blocks it.
Fantana waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Morrowind.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrowind avoids the body shot from Fantana.
Morrowind misses with a few strikes there.
Morrowind walks into a straight right hand from Fantana.
Fantana misses with a wild combination.
Fantana throws a right and a left that Morrowind avoids nicely.
Morrowind tries to bum rush Fantana with a series of wild strikes but Fantana uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Morrowind throws out a loose jab but Fantana uses good head movement to avoid it.
Morrowind throws a body shot but no joy.
Fantana attempts a counter takedown but Morrowind avoids it well and moves away.
Morrowind throws a jab but it's blocked by Fantana.
Fantana goes for a double leg but Morrowind avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Morrowind continues to drive forward.
Fantana slips under a jab from Morrowind.
Morrowind slips under a jab from Fantana.
Fantana's jab looks to have found its range, popping Morrowind under the eye.
Morrowind walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Morrowind just misses with a punch to the body.
Fantana connects with a solid leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fantana tries to land a leg kick but Morrowind saw it coming and moves away.

Morrowind gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Fantana to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Morrowind pushes Fantana off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Fantana misses with an uppercut.
Fantana jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Morrowind tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Fantana was well out of range. Poor timing from Morrowind.
Iko Morrowind is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Morrowind thows a left - swing and a miss!
Fantana missing with a left hand there. Morrowind was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Fantana misses with a takedown attempt - Morrowind sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Morrowind misses with a jab, cross combination.
Fantana misses with a combination
and Morrowind counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A punch combination from Morrowind misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Brian Fantana will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Fantana swings for the body but Morrowind moves out of range.
Brian Fantana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantana throws an overhand right that lands on Morrowind's shoulder, as Morrowind tries to avoid the shot.
Fantana fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Fantana darts in looking for a takedown but Morrowind gets double underhooks and turns Fantana into the cage.
Fantana throws a lazy right hand but Morrowind sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Fantana scores with a hook to the body. Morrowind takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Fantana misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Morrowind.
Fantana showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Morrowind.
A low kick from Fantana misses
and Morrowind counters with a three punch combo that has Fantana backing up. Fantana nods at Morrowind to acknowledge the strikes.
Morrowind swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Fantana throws a lazy uppercut
and Morrowind counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Fantana misses with a straight left.
Morrowind is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Fantana with a body shot.
A swing and a miss from Morrowind.
Fantana misses the shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Morrowind cracks a nice hook into Fantana's ribs.
Danga de danga de dang - Fantana scores with a four punch combination!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fantana keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fantana walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Morrowind checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A little jabbing left from Morrowind on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Morrowind misses with the combination.
Morrowind takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A punch combination from Morrowind misses.
Morrowind jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Morrowind throws a jab but it's blocked by Fantana.
Morrowind misses with an uppercut.
Decent striking displayed by Morrowind there.
Fantana rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Morrowind counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Morrowind looks to land a combination but Fantana avoids it well.
Fantana scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Morrowind doesn't seem bothered though.
Fantana swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Some wild striking there from Morrowind.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Fantana shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Fantana showed some decent athleticism there.
Fantana has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Fantana tries to pass the half guard into mount. Morrowind knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Morrowind is defending against the submission attempts here by Fantana.
Morrowind is trying to stand back up but Fantana is controlling him

Fantana looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Fantana connects with a nice short shot to Morrowind's temple.

Fantana is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Morrowind doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Fantana.
Fantana drops an elbow to the side of Morrowind's head.
Fantana scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Fantana working over Morrowind with some ground and pound. Morrowind looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Fantana stops Morrowind from getting back to his feet.
Morrowind tries to get to full guard but Fantana has control of the leg.
Fantana controlling the action here.
Fantana missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Morrowind won't allow Fantana to pass to mount.
Brian Fantana overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Morrowind taking some punishment here, with Fantana in his half guard.
Fantana is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Morrowind!
Fantana connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Brian Fantana will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Fantana misses with a looping left.
Fantana uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Morrowind.
Morrowind throws a lazy right hand but Fantana sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Fantana tries to counter with a takedown but Morrowind is quick to defend against it.
Fantana throws a body punch but Morrowind moves out of range.
Fantana moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Fantana decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Fantana is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Morrowind sees it coming and defends easily.
Fantana slips a nice elbow through Morrowind's hands, connecting with Morrowind's forehead.
Morrowind pushes Fantana off looking to stand but Fantana dives back in and keeps control.
Fantana wants to lay and pray for a moment but Morrowind keeps working.
Fantana scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morrowind is not content to let Fantana control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Morrowind looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Fantana keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Fantana scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Fantana wants to control but Morrowind is keeping him busy.

Morrowind manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Fantana keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Morrowind blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Fantana tries to throw a body punch but Morrowind avoids it by throwing Fantana back against the cage.
Morrowind wants to break free but Fantana has control.
Fantana pushes Morrowind back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fantana pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A right-left combo lands from Fantana.
Fantana uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Fantana has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Fantana there as he acknowledges the shot.
Morrowind takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Morrowind misses with a looping left.
Morrowind misses with a jab, cross combination.
Fantana throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Morrowind throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Fantana misses with a looping left.
A big right from Fantana misses.
Morrowind looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Fantana moves out of range of the strikes.

Fantana decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Morrowind is trying to escape back to his feet but Fantana uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Fantana creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrowind is not content to let Fantana control the position.
Fantana lands some shots froms side control.
Fantana is putting a hurting on Morrowind here, landing some big shots from side control.

Fantana is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Morrowind is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
A lull in the action here.
Morrowind is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's four 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.
Fantana working the ground and pound.
Morrowind is looking to reverse the position.
Morrowind regains half guard.
Morrowind won't allow Fantana to pass to mount.
Brian Fantana is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fantana lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Fantana is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Morrowind trying to control from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brian Fantana showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Fantana, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian Fantana!
During a confident post fight interview, Brian Fantana thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.