PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Black Dawn (ranked 5768 p4p, 2430 weight class) and James Murray (ranked 637 p4p, 334 weight class). James Murray has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Black Dawn's chin.

Dawn
vs
Murray

185 cm
28
185
6 - 4 - 0

185 cm
19
197
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Black Dawn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Murray!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Dillan Fox and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dawn tries to move into range but Murray moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Murray displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Dawn throws out the jab.
Dawn blocks a jab.
Murray shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dawn pinned against the cage. Dawn gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Murray.
Murray throws a solid leg kick but Dawn takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Murray.
Dawn ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Murray moves away.
Murray only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Murray looks to land a right hand but Dawn moved out of range.
Murray blocks a jab.
Nice defenses there by Dawn.
Dawn throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Murray sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The fighters circling - Dawn throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Murray ducks under a wild hook from Dawn.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Murray! But no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murray fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dawn avoids it really well and circles away.
Black Dawn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Murray.
Dawn uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Murray.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Dawn is looking to clinch but Murray is avoiding it.
A jab lands there for Dawn.
Murray dives in for a single leg takedown but Dawn sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Dawn misses.
Murray shoots in and drives through. Dawn sprawls well.
Dawn lands a jab to the head.

It looks like James Murray has been cut.
Dawn looks to land a right hand but Murray moved out of range.
Dawn thows a left - swing and a miss!
Murray slips a jab from Dawn.
A swing and a miss from Dawn.
Murray throws a body shot but no joy.
Murray ducks under a wild hook from Dawn.
Black Dawn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Murray ducks under a wild hook from Dawn.
Dawn lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Murray tries for a takedown but Dawn sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Murray will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Dawn connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Murray's hands.
Dawn moves out of range of the body kick from Murray.
Black Dawn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dawn bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Murray is looking to slow Dawn down with leg kicks.
Murray gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Dawn.

Murray is rocked!
Nice body punch from Murray.
Murray looks to throw the jab but Dawn is out of range.
Dawn swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dawn jabs at Murray's body.
Murray throws out a leg kick but Dawn moves out of range and Murray only half commits.
Dawn scores with a jab. Murray acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Murray is still on wobbly legs! Can Dawn finish him?
Murray ducks under a wild hook from Dawn.
Murray seems to have recovered his senses.
Dawn moves in looking to clinch but Murray pushes him off.
Murray shoots in for a double leg but Dawn sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Murray cracks Dawn with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Murray looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Murray throws a looping overhand right but Dawn ducks down to avoid it.
Murray fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Dawn.

Murray closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Dawn is looking for a sweep. Murray is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Dawn blocking the ground and pound attempt from Murray.
Murray works his foot free and advances to mount.
Murray sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murray avoids the attempt from Dawn to control.
Murray controlling from the full mount.
Dawn blocking the ground and pound.
Murray throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Dawn avoids a series of strikes thrown by Murray.

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.
Murray controlling the position easily from mount.
Murray looking to finish with strikes here!
Murray controlling the position easily from mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Black Dawn will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on James Murray's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Murray shoots in for a takedown but Dawn shows good takedown defense.
Murray misses with a double jab.
Dawn was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Dawn swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Dawn misses with a body punch
and Dawn takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Dawn lands the left hand.
Dawn misses with a wild body shot.
Dawn works Murray's body with a nice hook.
Murray tries to score with a low kick but Dawn moves his leg out of the way.
Dawn is looking to clinch.
Murray looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Murray ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Dawn thows a left - swing and a miss!
Murray steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Dawn.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dawn tries to keep at a distance but Murray has taken the fight into the clinch.
Murray misses with a punch on the inside.
Dawn throws a punch but it's blocked by Murray.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Murray.
Murray tries to score a body lock takedown but Dawn shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Black Dawn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Murray.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murray blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dawn.
Murray is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Murray lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Murray changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Dawn fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Dawn connects with the punch.
Dawn on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A telegraphed right hand from Dawn misses the target.
Dawn scores with a nice strike.
Dawn throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Black Dawn is winning the standup battle so far.
Dawn throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Murray stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Dawn lands with a right hand.
Dawn throws a shot from downtown. Murray moves away and avoids it.

Murray moves into the clinch successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Murray misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dawn.
Murray scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dawn has a couple of punches blocked by Murray.
Dawn lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Dawn lands with a short shot to the head.
Dawn blocks an uppercut.
Dawn misses with the head strike.
Dawn throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Murrays head.
Dawn throws a head punch that misses.
Murray blocking some punches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Dawn.
Dawn lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Murray lands with a left to the head.

It looks like Black Dawn has been cut.
Black Dawn has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Dawn softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Murray looking to slow down the pace here.
Dawn makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Murray.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dawn lands a hook to the side of the head.
Murray is working for takedown but Dawn is calmly controlling the position for now.
Murray blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murray has a couple of punches blocked by Dawn.
Murray blocks a body shot from Dawn.
Murray lands a nice uppercut.
Dawn throws a punch but it's blocked by Murray.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Murray takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Murray lands a right hand.
Dawn lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Murray backwards.
Murray scores with a nice hook to the head.
Murray blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Murray.
Murray lands a left hand that snaps the head of Dawn backwards.
Murray changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Dawn fights it off and pushes away nicely.
The fighters circling - Murray throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Murray fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Dawn clobbers Murray with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Murray keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
As Dawn backs off Murray throws a huge counter combo but Dawn manages to avoid it all.
Murray dives in for a single leg takedown but Dawn sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A little feinted left hand from Dawn on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dawn lands with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dawn misses with an uppercut. Murray saw that one coming.
Murray shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dawn as he avoids it easily.
The fighters circling - Dawn throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Murray throws out a counter right but Dawn avoids it with no problem.
Murray shoots in looking for a takedown but Dawn manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Murray's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Good standup being displayed there by Dawn as he connects with a hook.
Dawn throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Murray on the side of the head.
Murray throws a hook but Dawn blocks it.
Dawn throws a hook but Murray blocks it.
Dawn ducks right into an uppercut from Murray.
Murray misses with a body shot.
Dawn tries to clinch but Murray is having none of it.
Dawn waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Murray.
Dawn is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Murray can do to turn this around?
Murray tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Dawn is able to avoid easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dawn looks to land a right hand but Murray moved out of range.
Dawn misses with a hook.
Dawn jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Dawn misses with a hook.
Murray attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Black Dawn dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Dawn's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Murray attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Murray looks for a takedown but Dawn sprawls well.
Murray misses with a hook.
Dawn with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Murray displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Dawn throws out the jab.
Dawn dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Murray displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Dawn throws out the jab.
Dawn tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Murray paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Murray shoots in but no luck this time.
It looked like Dawn wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Dawn pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Murray uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Dawn.
A swing and a miss from Dawn.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murray moves out of range of the strikes.
Murray looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A jab from Murray misses.
Dawn slips under a jab from Murray.
Murray dips to his left and cracks Dawn with an uppercut!
Dawn tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Murray was well out of range. Poor timing from Dawn.
Dawn lands with a good body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murray looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dawn is fending him off so far but Murray persists. Nope, Dawn circles away and we're back to standing.
Black Dawn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Murray.
A solid leg kick lands there for Murray.
Murray swats away the attempt to clinch by Dawn.
Dawn waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Murray.
Murray staying out of range there.
Dawn scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Dawn takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Murray darts in looking for a takedown but Dawn gets double underhooks and turns Murray into the cage.
Jab, jab by Dawn - just one landing.
Dawn lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Murray swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Dawn slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Murray jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nice sprawl there from Dawn as Murray shoots in.
Murray takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dawn connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Murray's hands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dawn misses with a looping left.
Murray avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Dawn misses the target.
Murray uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dawn.
Murray takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Murray takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Nice defenses there by Murray.
Dawn throws out a powerful jab.
Dawn jabs Murray to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Murray lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Murray takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Murray moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Dawn scores with a sloppy right hand. Murray should have avoided that one.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dawn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Murray looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Dawn dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Dawn tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Murray manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Murray throws a big shot that misses.
James Murray has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dawn chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Murray can pounce on him.
Murray throws a low kick but Dawn avoids it.
Murray has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Murray changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dawn tries to avoid it but Murray manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dawn to the ground. Dawn escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Dawn uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Murray.
Murray closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dawn circles away.

Murray gets a double leg takedown into Dawn's guard.
Murray with a flurry of punches that miss.
Black Dawn is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dawn being controlled here, momentarily.
Dawn is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murray is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Let's hope that Murray has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Murray ducks under a wild hook from Dawn.

And that's the end of the fight!
Black Dawn showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dawn, 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Black Dawn!
Black Dawn seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.