PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Taji Bolo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bolo's entrance music is This is how we do. A fine choice. Sean Murphy has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Taji Bolo's chin.

Bolo
vs
Murphy

157 cm
18
130 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

160 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Beast Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Taji Bolo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sean Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Nard Betker and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy is looking to clinch but Bolo is avoiding it.

Bolo shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Bolo was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Murphy is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Bolo works his way to his opponent's back.

Bolo working for the choke.
You can see the frustration on Murphy's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Bolo looking for the choke but no joy.
Bolo wants to control the position but Murphy frees himself and scrambles - Bolo manages to regain control in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Bolo asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Bolo tries for a kimura but Murphy is defending well.

Bolo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bolo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Bolo is breathing heavily.

That's two 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.
Murphy controls the position for a moment.

Bolo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Bolo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Murphy, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bolo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Murphy is pushing Bolo's head away, looking to escape. Bolo manages to hold on to the position though.

Bolo goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Murphy rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Bolo's guard! Nice work there by Murphy!

Bolo looking for a guillotine here but Murphy defends easily.
Bolo is trying to keep Murphy in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Murphy works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Murphy is controlling the pace.
Nice strikes from Murphy there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Murphy is looking to advance position but Bolo won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Murphy closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bolo looking for a takedown.

Murphy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Murphy throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Bolo clinches up with Murphy and pushes him back against the cage.

Bolo breaks from the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bolo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bolo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bolo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taji Bolo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A combination from Murphy does no damage.
Murphy fails in his attempt to clinch.

Bolo gets the takedown into side control.

Bolo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Murphy is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Murphy is trying to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy struggling a bit here.
Bolo in the domination position with Murphy hanging on.

Bolo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Murphy regains half guard.

Bolo wants to work for an arm triangle but Murphy is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Bolo postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Murphy to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolo closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Murphy counter with a right hand.
A combination from Murphy does no damage.
Murphy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bolo shoots in for a double leg but Murphy sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Murphy misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Murphy tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bolo swivels and escapes.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bolo as he avoids it easily.
Bolo misses with a takedown

and Murphy counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bolo's guard now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Bolo 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bolo looking for subs off his back but Murphy has passed one foot through into half guard.

Bolo with the active half guard here but Murphy passes nicely into side control.
Bolo is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Murphy trying to control the action but Bolo is working from the bottom.

Murphy decides to stand back up. Murphy steps back and let's Bolo get back to his feet.
Murphy shoots for a takedown but Bolo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Murphy fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bolo sprawls well initially but Murphy persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Bolo is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Bolo manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Murphy trying to control the position from guard on top but Bolo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Bolo looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Murphy has picked Bolo up and slammed him! Bolo can't keep hold of the triangle and Murphy manages to pass to side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Murphy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Murphy looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Bolo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bolo is looking to escape.
Bolo tries to get to full guard but Murphy has control of the leg.
Murphy seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Bolo wants to improve his position but Murphy is controlling well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Bolo looking for submissions off his back.
Sean Murphy has got the better of the ground game so far.

Bolo looking for submissions off his back.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Murphy with a lazy takedown attempt

and Bolo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Murphy won't be happy with that.
Murphy is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Bolo is stalling here. Murphy is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Bolo seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Murphy has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Murphy is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Bolo has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolo looks to move to half guard but instead Murphy has passed into mount! Damn!
Bolo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Murphy controlling from the full mount.
Bolo is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolo is working hard here to advance position.
Murphy scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Bolo?
Murphy controlling from the full mount.
Bolo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Murphy tries to control but Bolo wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Bolo wants to hold on but Murphy pushes him away.
Bolo trying desperately to get to his feet.
Bolo is looking to improve his position but Murphy isn't that keen on the idea.
Murphy raining down shots from the mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bolo is trying desperately to improve position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sean Murphy.
Well Murphy has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sean Murphy!