PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Cruz Price (ranked 6426 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Morello (ranked 5131 p4p, 0 weight class). Cruz Price has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Price
vs
Morello

188 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cruz Price!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tony Morello!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, John Kavanagh and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Morello darts in and clinches Price up against the cage.

Morello manages to break the clinch.
Morello throws a sloppy head kick and Price moves out of range easily.
Price lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

Morello looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Morello must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Morello seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Morello preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morello content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Morello not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Price is controlling Morello's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morello wants to pass the guard but Price is keeping the position.
Morello controlling from the top position.
Morello wants to stand but Price is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Morello throws a hook but Price blocks it.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Morello.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Morello is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Price is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Morello is looking to take a break and control but Price is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Price's face as Morello controls the position.
Morello landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Morello trying to control the action but Price is working from the bottom.
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.
Morello working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Morello misses with the ground and pound.
Morello taking a breather here.
Morello trying to control the position but Price is working away.
Morello working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Morello swings around for an armbar but Price sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Morello's guard.

Morello escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Price gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Price trying to control the position from guard on top but Morello is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Price throwing strikes but missing.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Morello can do anything to dispel that myth.
Price loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Price loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Price throws a big right hand that misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Price loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Price throwing strikes but missing.
Price really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Morello is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Price is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Morello dominated that round.
That's time! Price's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Morello misses with the combination.
Price avoids the body shot from Morello.
Morello doesn't manage to clinch there - Price circles away.
Price misses with a takedown attempt - Morello sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Morello lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Morello closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Price did well to prevent Morello getting side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Well, if Morello is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Price is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morello trying to control the pace.
Morello is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Morello has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Price wants to control but Morello is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Price is defending against the submission attempts here by Morello.
Morello looks to land a strike but Price avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

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.
Morello trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Price holds on and takes a little breather.

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

Price gets caught flat footed, as Morello shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Price is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Morello works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Price is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Morello looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Morello is pressing down on Price's thigh, looking to free his foot. Price is holding on for now.
Price wants to control but Morello is keeping busy.

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.
Morello performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Price looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Morello fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Morello is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Price's half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Morello showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Morello has closed the distance and engaged Price in a clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Price tries to throw a body punch but Morello avoids it by throwing Price back against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Price.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Morello takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Price tries to stall but Morello uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Price breaks the clinch.

Morello bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
You can see the frustration on Price's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Morello has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Price throws a head kick that misses.
Morello wants to clinch.
Morello throws a sloppy head kick and Price moves out of range easily.

Morello closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Price quickly recovers to half guard.
Morello looks to land a strike but Price avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Morello stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Price swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morello stopping the sweep attempt from Price.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Morello forces his way into half guard.
Morello keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Morello tries to stand but can't do so whilst Price controls his leg.
Morello not doing much here.
Morello looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morello working the head and body with strikes.
Morello seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Morello perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

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

Morello shoots in and gets a takedown into Price's guard.
Price will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Morello loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Price has control of Morello's left arm, preventing Morello from doing any damage.
Tony Morello has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morello trying to control but Price is working from the bottom.
Morello is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz Price has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tony Morello is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Price bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Morello's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Morello comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Morello 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Morello!