PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Reese Rumbalo (ranked 1668 p4p, 3145 weight class) and Sean Murphy (ranked 242 p4p, 418 weight class). Sean Murphy will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Rumbalo
vs
Murphy

185 cm
26
195
4 - 2 - 0

187 cm
26
194
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

Highland Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Reese Rumbalo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Sean Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Michael Johnstone and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rumbalo missing with a left hand there. Murphy was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rumbalo feints and then cracks Murphy's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Murphy down.
Murphy looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Rumbalo throws a hook but Murphy avoids it easily.
Murphy moves forwards but Rumbalo connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Murphy misses with a hook.
Murphy moves forwards but Rumbalo connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Murphy misses with a straight right.
Rumbalo throws a big shot that misses.
Rumbalo throws a right hand that misses
and Murphy counters with a nice uppercut.
Murphy is looking to clinch.
Rumbalo does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Murphy walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Rumbalo throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Rumbalo misses the target.
Rumbalo throws a low kick, looking for Murphy's leg but Murphy calmly moves out of range.
Murphy tries to clinch there but Rumbalo circles away.
Rumbalo drops down looking for a counter takedown but Murphy sprawls and moves away.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rumbalo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rumbalo looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Some wild striking there from Murphy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Rumbalo.
Murphy wants to counter with a clinch but Rumbalo pushes him away.
Rumbalo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rumbalo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Rumbalo throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Murphy moves forwards but Rumbalo connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Murphy throws a leg kick but Rumbalo checks it.
Murphy with a nice cross.
Murphy has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Rumbalo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Murphy tries to clinch up.
Rumbalo looks to land a right hand but Murphy moved out of range.
Murphy connects with a looping right hand.
Rumbalo scores with a push kick.
Rumbalo listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
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!
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch but Rumbalo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Murphy moves into range and connects with a jab.
Rumbalo connects with a jab.

Murphy is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rumbalo cracks Murphy with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends Murphy tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but Rumbalo pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! Murphy is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:09 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Reese Rumbalo!
Reese Rumbalo made sure to mention his sponsor, Highland Clothing in his post fight interview.