MMA Fighting has David Benavidez vs. David Morrell live round-by-round updates for one of the most anticipated boxing fights of the year at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., on Saturday night.
The main event is expected to begin around 11 p.m. ET on Amazon and PPV.com pay-per-view. Check out our Benavidez vs. Morrell results page to find out what happened on the undercard.
David Benavidez (29-0) hasn’t fought since last June when he defeated Oleksandr Gvozdyk via unanimous decision to win the WBC interim light heavyweight title. Prior to Gvozdyk, he knocked out four of his previous five opponents.
David Morrell (11-0) also only competed once last year. He defeated Radivoje Kalajdzic via unanimous decision to win the WBA light heavyweight championship.
Get Benavidez vs. Morrell round-by-round live blog below:
Walkouts: Morrell comes out in a dazzling black and silver robe. Benavidez meanwhile comes out in a sponsored shirt with a musical envoy accompanying him. He’s in red camo shorts. It’s almost time for these two to lock horns.
Round 1: Benavidez out in orthodox with Morrell in southpaw. Probing jabs from both early as Benavidez holds the center. Morrell is smiling in there already. And he does look very fast. Benavidez trying to size up a few right hands but no joy. Morrell goes to th ebody. Despite the bad blood there’s obvious respect here from both. Benavidez with some big hooks inside but Morrell catches them.
Neither man landing clean yet. A lot of gloves getting hit. Morrell firing the jab in there and Benavidez tries to loop around the guard to the body. And now Benavidez sits down on a few body shots in a big way and Morrell has to weather it. He then fires his ownback to the body. Morrell with a big shot that off-balances Benavidez just before the bell.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Benavidez.
Round 2: That was a deeply competitive round and according to the stats Benavidez only landed one more punch. Very close, could go either way.
Benavidez back to the center to start and he’s backing Morrell to the ropes quickly now. Neither man committing to combinations that often though, still one and two at a time. Good counter from Morrell. Benavidez with a looping right hook around the guard.
Morrell sits down on a sharp combination that partially lands. But Benavidez gets him into the corner and starts unloading power shots to the body. Morrell blocked but that’s not sustainable. Morrell is standing right in front of Benavidez and paying for it. He’s landing his own shots, but Benavidez is having more effect ad he chops with monster shots. Morrell punches back but he is not smiling anymore. Morrell and Benavidez swing at the end of the bell and Morrell drops his hands and showboats a little bit. Another close round.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Benavidez, 20-18 Benavidez overall.
Round 3: Morrell is definitely the quicker fighter while Benavidez definitely has more power. But Morrell is consenting to trading and that’s bad math.
Benavidez gets Morrell into the corner and unloads but Morrell punches his way off with a power combo of his own. And now Morrell strings together some power shots. OK, things are heating up here. Both men throwing heavy leather. Most are getting blocked on both sides but we’re scrapping.
Morrell sneaks a right hand in there as the crowd starts chanting “Cu-Ba!” Soe Benavidez stands in the middle and charges back with his own combos. Now Benavidez is smiling in there. His right hand is a piston.Morrell pressses him back and then gets Benavidez to the ropes and fires a strong hook. Short time and Morrell drops his hand and swings and then signals to the crowd.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Morrell, 29-28 Benavidez overall.
Round 4: Not great. Benavidez has a cut over his left eyelid. Small cut from a headbutt but never great. Also, each of these rounds have been razor close. No clue how the judges might have this.
Benavidez gets Morrell into the corner and they start trading! Benavidez gets the better of it but Morrell lands a huge left. Benavidez stays on him though and no daylight. He’s hammering power shots into the guard of Morrell. Morrell gets off it but strong start for Benavidez.
Benavidez gets Morrell to the ropes again. Both men take turns leveling huge shots in and Benavidez TAGS Morrell with a left hook. Morrell isn’t giving an inch though. Benavidez keeps hammering away and Morrell says something to him. Then lands a right hook. Morrell keeps getting backed up, then pivots out. He’s got the footwork when he wants it, but he’s content to fight this way.
OH!!!!! Benavidez had Morrell on the ropes and stepped in and Morrell clipped him!!! Benavidez jumped right into that and he’s hurt! Morrell swings at him but Benavidez punches throught it! He keeps coming but he’s on shaky legs! Morrell can’t find a big shot and Benavidez keeps punching until the bell.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Morrell, 38-38 overall.
Round 5: Benavidez out-landed Morrell in that last round by a fair margin but Morrell was razor close to a knockdown. Benavidez seems to have his feet under him now though.
Benavidez back on the march. Morrell using the jab more to keep him back. But Benavidez gets Morrell to the ropes and swings until Morrell pivots. Benavidez showing his own jab as Morrell walks him down now. Morrell puts Benavidez on the ropes and he unloads a nasty combination. Benavidez gets off the ropes and now Benavidez is advancing. They’re just taking turns in there.
Benavidez has Morrell on the ropes and lands a good right hand to the body, now to the head. Morrell flurries to end the round.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Benavidez, 48-47 Benavidez overall.
Round 6: Benavidez takes the centr with his jab again and starts backing Morrell up to the ropes. Can’t get him to settle there but landing some shots. Now he gets Morrell to the ropes and Benavidez is starting to come on strong. He breaks people down and this is vintage Benavidez.
Morrell’s offense is non-existant thus far this round. He’s catching a lot of shots on defense, but Benavidez is punching away freely. OH! HUGE uppercut from Benavidez hurts Morrell! He’s putting on a brave face but he was staggered for a moment. Morrell finally starts throwing back and backs Benavidez off him. Now they’re exchanging in the center. Benavidez really looking for the uppercut now and he’s sneaking it between the guard. These dudes are taking a terrific beating in there and Benavidez unloads a series of power shot as the round ends.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Benavidez, 58-56 Benavidez overall.
Round 7: Benavidez back on the march to start but Morrell isn’t giving ground as easily now. He doesn’t want the ropes, so Benavidez jabs. Collision and body shots on both. Benavidez jabbing again. Morrell needs more offense. He’s starting to get out-worked.
Benavidez is keeping up with that pressure and Morrell can’t back him up. So he’s standing int he center and trading now. But Morrell may be fading. He’s taking a ton of body shots. Morrell keeps fighting back. Drops his hands and then fires. Benavidez steps off then comes right back on him.
Benavidez is constantly working. Morrell doesn’t have a moment to breath. Benavidez snapping the jab then hitting the body, and throwing an uppercut to catch him dipping.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Benavidez, 68-65 Benavidez overall.
Round 8: Benavidez stays on the march. Morrell getting backed to the ropes this round though then has to punch his way off it. He’s breathing heavy. But Morrell is keeping his distance well enough this round. And lands a good counter.
Benavidez still out-working him though. Morrell either needs a big shot or more. He stands down and fires back but Benavidez returns. Morrell keeps going he. He’s in the center and swinging. Morrell meeting the challenge to work more but can he withstand the reutn beating.
Morrell has a burst of action but Benavidez slides off and then punches him in the nose. Morrell cannot get Benavidez off him and Benavidez gets Morrell to the corner. Morrell punches off but eats a right hand and another.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Benavidez, 78-74 Benavidez overall.
Round 9: Morrell trying to hold the center early. He’s flashing the jab and pivoting and Benavidez is giving him a reprieve. Only for a moment though and now he advances. Benavidez keeps ripping the body and then he lands a 7-pucnh combination as Morrell is just covering up now. He’s fulling in a shell and Benavidez punches around the guard with hear.
Finally Morrell punches back but he’s slowing in a dangerous way. Benavidez with a left hook. Morrell catching a wing and moving and punching. Morrell has lost a lot of power and Benavidez keeps thudding him. The momentum is fully in Benavidez’s corner at this point. Morrell hanging tough but this is getting away from him as Benavidez keeps throwing combinations and landing while Morrell can’t get much going.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Benavidez, 88-83 Benavidez overall.
Round 10: Morrell is probably in KO or bust mode already and Benavidez smiles at him before the start of the round.
The march continues. He’s out-landing Morrell in almost every round, and he gets Morrell to the corner. Benavidez not throwing as hard as before but still throwing a lot. And he’s got plenty of juice on the punches. And Benavidez keeps working the body. Morrell has not invested in the body and that difference is starting to become evident.
Benavidez slugging a few hooks around the guard, then to the body. Morrell isn’t going anywhere though. So Benavidez keeps hitting him. Keeps working that body. Over and over again. Benavidez is visibly slower. Once a round he throws something fast and hard, but it’s taking him a lot to do so. Now Benavidez showboays with the Ali shuffle for fun.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Benavidez, 98-92 Benavidez overall.
Round 11: Benavidez is still very fresh and goes right back to work. Morrell looking a little fresher as well as he takes the center and puts some stink on a few hooks. Morrell really trying to take the initiative here and he’s having more success. Morrell doesn’t have the same power now though. And oof, he eats a chopping right hand during and exchange.
But Morrell is chargin forward. He’s got Benavidez against the ropes and he starts throwing with ill intent. Benavidez points to his chest and waives Morrell in. And Morrell backs off. Was that a last stand from Morrell? He’s retreating now. Might have gassed a bit. But Benavidez not making him pay. Morrell’s hands are by his hips and OH! Knockdown for Morrell!
Benavidez got caught with a chopping right hand and Benavidez touched the canvas! Benavidez seems fine but that counts.
Benavidez now trying to get it back and he’s unloading in anger on Morrell! Morrell in the corner and they are swinging! And OH MY GOD! Well after the bell and Morrell thumps Benavidez with nasty right hand. Benavidez got hurt and that was WAY after the bell.
Chaos in there as Morrell’s corner argues that Benavidez also landed after the bell. Not at all the same, it was a combination. And the referee takes a point! Honestly, probably justified.
MMA Fighting scores the round 9-8 Morrell, 106-101 Benavidez overall.
Round 12: Morrell almost certainly needs a finish and he comes out looking like it. Both men are going all out right from the jump! Standing in the enter and trading heavy leather. Benavidez snapping his jab and Morrell taking big breaths. Morrell has his hands low, then covers as Benavidez attacks.
Morrell leaving it all in there but Benavidez is equal to it! He’s putting hands into Morrell as hard as he can. Both men standing in the middle and slugging away. Accidental headbutt and we restart. Short time left and Morrell seems to be done. But he punches with what he’s got and Benavidez keeps coming at him. Morrell does an Ali shuffle before the end and that was quite the battle.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Benavidez, 116-110 Benavidez overall.
Official Decision: David Benavidez def. David Morrell via unanimous decision (115-111, 115-115, 118-108)
Post Fight: Benavidez gives credit to Morrell for being a tough fighter, saying he prepared well because he knew it would be tough. Says he actually thought Morrell would hit harder. Talks about the fracas after the bell and basically dismisses it but does mock the knockdown.
Benavidez ends by saying he wants to unify the titles so whoever he has to fight to make that happen, that’s what he wants next.
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