PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shug Skinner (ranked 1292 p4p, 802 weight class) and Liam Murphy (ranked 179 p4p, 114 weight class). Murphy is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: I'm Shipping Up To Boston- Dropkick Murphy's. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Skinner
vs
Murphy

175 cm
28
153
7 - 5 - 1

172 cm
28
165
8 - 7 - 0

Decent wrestler
Great elbows
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

Voodoo Nutrition
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 7 - 5 - 1, fighting out of London, Shug Skinner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Liam Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Colin Fotheringham and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Murphy shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Murphy clinches up against the cage.
Murphy swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Murphy avoids the elbow strike from Skinner, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skinner lands an elbow inside.
Murphy avoids a wild elbow strike from Skinner.

Skinner breaks the clinch.
Skinner looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Skinner lands with a cross.
Skinner misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Murphy with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Skinner to score with a decent uppercut.
Nice takedown defense from Skinner. No joy for Murphy on that attempt.
It looked like Skinner wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Murphy staying out of range there.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
The fighters circling - Skinner throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Murphy tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Murphy takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy ducks under a wild hook from Skinner.
Murphy is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Skinner misses with a looping left.
Skinner throws a right hand that misses

and Murphy counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Murphy.
Murphy trying to control the position from guard on top but Skinner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Murphy might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Skinner haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Murphy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Skinner is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Skinner throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Murphy not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Skinner keeping full guard, as Murphy tries to pass.

Skinner throws his legs up looking for a submission but Murphy uses it to pass to side control.
Skinner on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Skinner tries to get out of the position.

Murphy tries for a kimura but Skinner is defending well.

Murphy thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skinner can't do much from the bottom here.
Murphy wants to control but Skinner is keeping him busy.
Skinner is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Skinner actively working from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Skinner wants to control but Murphy is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shug Skinner dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Murphy wants to clinch up but Skinner keeps it at a distance.
Murphy closes the distance looking to clinch
and Skinner counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Murphy thinking.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Skinner sprawls well. Skinner wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Murphy gets slowly back to his feet.
Skinner appears to be looking for a big counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Skinner manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A swing and a miss from Skinner.
Murphy is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skinner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Murphy tries to clinch but Skinner moves away
letting Skinner counter with a right hand.
Murphy tries to clinch but Skinner is having none of it.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Skinner as he jumps to the side.

Murphy shoots in and gets a takedown into Skinner's guard.
Murphy tries to free his leg and advance position but Skinner is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Skinner working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Skinner keeping full guard, as Murphy tries to pass.

Skinner 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.
Skinner looking to hit a scissor sweep but Murphy is one step ahead there.
Murphy wants to control from the top but Skinner keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is looking to clinch.
Skinner throwing a counter right hand but Murphy manages to avoid it.
Horrible takedown attempt by Murphy or perhaps it was just good defense by Skinner, which made it look bad.
Shug Skinner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam Murphy.
Murphy moves forwards but Skinner connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Skinner as he avoids it easily.
Skinner throws a looping overhand right but Murphy ducks down to avoid it.
Skinner misses with an uppercut.
Murphy is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy tries to clinch but Skinner moves away
and Skinner counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Skinner throws a big shot that misses.
Murphy tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Murphy uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Skinner.

Murphy closes the distance and pushes Skinner back into the cage.

Skinner breaks from the clinch.
Murphy dives in for a single leg takedown but Skinner sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Murphy tries for a takedown but Skinner circles away easily
letting Skinner counter with a right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shug Skinner dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Murphy takes one to the chin there.
Skinner circles away from the clinch attempt.
A counter left hand to the body from Skinner misses its target.
Murphy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Murphy moves to clinch but Skinner breaks away
and Skinner counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Skinner is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Murphy can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy shoots in for a double leg but Skinner sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Skinner was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Murphy has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skinner lands a big right hand and follows it up with an uppercut. Oh and another big punch and a knee - Murphy can't take much more of this! Another big shot to the jaw from Skinner and Murphy drops to the floor. Beaten and bloodied - he had enough there. A vicious beatdown by Skinner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:12 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Shug Skinner!
During a confident post fight interview, Shug Skinner thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.