PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Liam Murphy (ranked 1783 p4p, 1369 weight class) and Aaron Tate Jr (ranked 231 p4p, 183 weight class). Murphy comes to the cage accompanied by I'm Shipping Up To Boston- Dropkick Murphy's. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Murphy
vs
Tate Jr

172 cm
29
165
10 - 10 - 0

180 cm
28
157
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Fast

Voodoo Nutrition
Groove Gear

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 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Liam Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aaron Tate Jr!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Winston Howard and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy walks into a jab.
Murphy uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tate Jr.

Murphy pushes Tate Jr up against the cage in a clinch.
Murphy misses with the head strike.

Tate Jr pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tate Jr keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tate Jr throws out a counter right but Murphy avoids it with no problem.
Murphy misses with a takedown attempt
and Tate Jr cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tate Jr misses with an uppercut. Murphy saw that one coming.
Tate Jr circles away from the clinch attempt
and Tate Jr counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Murphy moves into the clinch successfully.

Tate Jr pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tate Jr manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tate Jr scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Murphy doesn't seem bothered though.
Tate Jr lunges at Murphy with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Murphy's hand.
Murphy with a lazy takedown attempt
and Tate Jr counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Liam Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tate Jr misses with a looping right.
Aaron Tate Jr is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Murphy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Murphy with a lazy takedown attempt
and Tate Jr counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tate Jr throws a looping overhand right but Murphy ducks down to avoid it.
Murphy steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tate Jr.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tate Jr but Tate Jr pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tate Jr lands a jab to the nose.
Aaron Tate Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Murphy on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Tate Jr might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Tate Jr lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Murphy closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Tate Jr manages to break the clinch.
Murphy tries to clinch but Tate Jr is having none of it.
Tate Jr throws a hook but Murphy avoids it easily.
Tate Jr scores with a body shot.
Tate Jr misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Murphy.
Murphy feinted with a counter takedown.
Tate Jr circles away from the clinch attempt.
Murphy fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Murphy with that takedown attempt.
Murphy on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Murphy tries to clinch but Tate Jr moves out of range.
Tate Jr lands a head shot.
Tate Jr is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Murphy had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Murphy shoots in looking for a takedown but Tate Jr manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Murphy's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Tate Jr now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Murphy closes the distance and clinches up with Tate Jr, looking for a takedown. Murphy pushes Tate Jr against the cage but Tate Jr circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tate Jr looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Tate Jr scores with a jab. Murphy acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Murphy is rocked!
Murphy closes the distance looking to clinch
and Murphy takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Oh Murphy is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy takes one to the side of the head.
Murphy seems to have got his legs back now.
Murphy ducks right into an uppercut from Tate Jr.

Murphy looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Murphy looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Tate Jr can do anything to dispel that myth.
Murphy tries to free his leg and advance position but Tate Jr is retaining full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Tate Jr dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Tate Jr lands with a cross.
Tate Jr looks to throw the jab but Murphy is out of range.
Murphy feinted with a counter takedown.
Tate Jr throws a right hand that misses

and Murphy decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tate Jr's guard.
Tate Jr has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Black Swans. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Murphy sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

Tate Jr must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Tate Jr preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tate Jr avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Tate Jr postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tate Jr wants to stand up, so he's looking to wriggle free of Murphy's closed guard. He's half up but Murphy has locked on to an arm! Uh oh! Murphy pivots and extends the arm, Tate Jr falls face first to the mat and taps??... does he?? YES! He's tapping! Excellent counter grappling there by Murphy! Well done that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Liam Murphy!
After the big win, Liam Murphy made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.