PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Caio Victor (ranked 1612 p4p, 575 weight class) and Finn Murphy (ranked 205 p4p, 73 weight class). Finn Murphy will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Victor
vs
Murphy

165 cm
26
154
9 - 3 - 0

173 cm
26
164
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Caio Victor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Finn Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Winston Alpacca and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Victor.
A nice side step and Murphy releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Nice sprawl there from Murphy as Victor shoots in.

Victor feints and as Murphy raises his hands in defense, Victor changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Murphy keeping moving, preventing Victor from controlling successfully.
Victor works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Victor is working for a submission of some sort.
Victor content to control rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Victor is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Murphy has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Murphy.
Victor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Murphy is keeping the position for now.
Murphy looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murphy keeping moving, preventing Victor from controlling successfully.
Murphy controls Victor momentarily but Victor frees himself.
Murphy can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Victor controls the pace.
Victor pushes down on Murphy's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Victor is looking for a kimura but Murphy is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Victor to get the leverage.

That's two 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.

Victor is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Murphy is just riding it out for now. Victor eventually gives up the hold.

Victor seems to be looking for submissions.

Victor is working for a kimura but Murphy is defending it quite comfortably.
Victor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Murphy keeps working.

Victor is looking for a kimura but Murphy is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Victor to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Victor is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Victor passes to full mount!

Victor is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Murphy is surviving well by controlling Victor's body position as best he can.

Victor moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Murphy has worked his arm free - good work by Murphy!

Victor is trying to get an arm triangle but Murphy is defending well.
Victor moves into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Victor with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Victor swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Murphy is now in Victor's guard. A big mistake from Victor there, giving up the dominant position!
Victor looking to hit a scissor sweep but Murphy is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Victor had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Murphy defends it easily.
Victor looking to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Victor escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Murphy gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Victor working for a triangle but Murphy defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Caio Victor dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A big left from Murphy misses.
Victor pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Murphy is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Murphy gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Victor to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Victor slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Victor's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

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

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Victor controls Murphy momentarily but Murphy frees himself.

Victor is looking for a triangle but Murphy pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Victor wants to control the position but Murphy says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Murphy wants to take a breather but Victor is having none of it.
Victor is trying to control but can't.
Victor manages to get to full guard.
Murphy looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Victor has his foot on Murphy's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Murphy works his way back into a safe position though.

Victor looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Murphy passes into side control.
Victor is looking for a sweep.
Murphy works to advance to full mount. Victor defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Victor is wriggling around trying to escape.
Victor manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Victor gets back to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Victor is on top in guard.

Murphy wants to sweep but no luck.
Victor wants to control from the top but Murphy keeps moving.

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

Murphy tries to free his leg and advance position but Victor is retaining full guard.

Victor is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Murphy defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Victor had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Murphy defends it easily.

Murphy avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Victor keeping full guard, as Murphy tries to pass.
Victor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Victor is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Murphy is aware though and is defending well.

Victor has his foot on Murphy's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Murphy works his way back into a safe position though.
Murphy wants to control from the top but Victor keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Victor seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Victor is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Murphy can do to turn this around?
Murphy preventing the sweep.

Victor escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Murphy gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Murphy must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Murphy wants to control from the top but Victor keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Victor working for submissions but it's allowed Murphy to get to half guard.

Victor is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Murphy pulls his head out easily.
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 Caio Victor will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Murphy throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Victor counters with a nice double leg into side control. Murphy won't be happy with that.
Finn Murphy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Victor tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Victor has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Victor goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Murphy rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Victor's guard! Nice work there by Murphy!
Murphy trying to control the position from guard on top but Victor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Victor escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Murphy gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Victor looking for a guillotine here but Murphy defends easily.

Victor throws his legs up looking for a submission but Murphy uses it to pass to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy trying to control the position but Victor is working away.
Victor gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Victor regains half guard.
Victor is looking for a sweep. Murphy is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Victor is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Murphy pulls his head out easily.
Victor works his way to full guard. Good work.

Victor throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Murphy escapes and throws Victor's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy wants to control but Victor is keeping him busy.
Victor is looking for a sweep.
Victor sneaks back into half guard.
Victor wants to get back to full guard.
Caio Victor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Victor looking for submissions off his back.

Victor looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Murphy works his way into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Victor is looking to get to half guard.
Victor is working hard here to advance position.
Victor wants to hold on but Murphy pushes him away.
Victor tries to reverse the position but Murphy maintains control.
Murphy is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Victor is in real trouble.
Murphy is not going to allow Victor to sit and survive in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Victor is trying to break free.
Victor controlling his opponent's hands, preventing the submission attempt.
Murphy controlling well, preventing Victor from escaping the position.
Murphy trying to control.
Murphy throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Victor is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Victor trying to control the position but Murphy manages to sink in the hooks.
Murphy has the hooks in. Victor is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Caio Victor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Victor wants to control his opponent's hands but Murphy gets his hands free.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Finn Murphy.
I think Victor has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Caio Victor!