PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Diarmuid Murphy (ranked 5661 p4p, 5976 weight class) and Peter Tham (ranked 524 p4p, 535 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Murphy
vs
Tham

174 cm
18
164
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
162
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Diarmuid Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Peter Tham!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Dillan Fox and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy shoots in but Tham avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Tham catches Murphy with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Murphy dives in and scores a takedown into Tham's guard.

Tham manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Murphy misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Tham has managed to clinch.
Murphy drops down looking for an ankle pick but Tham pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diarmuid Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Tham sprawls well. Tham wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Murphy gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murphy avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tham drives through and clinches with Murphy against the cage.
Murphy tries for a takedown. No joy.
Murphy is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Tham is defending well.
Murphy is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Murphy has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tham avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Tham escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Murphy tries for a takedown but Tham sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tham scores with a punch to the head.
Tham lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Murphy circles away quickly and effectively.

Tham closes the distance and pushes Murphy back into the cage.
Tham lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Tham breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Tham instigates a clinch.
Murphy looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tham stops a takedown attempt from Murphy.
Tham prevents a takedown attempt there.
Tham gets underhooks to prevent Murphy's takedown attempt.
Tham lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Tham prevents the takedown attempt.
Murphy wants to take the fight to the mat but Tham manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Murphy goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tham prevents it.
Tham struggles to land a body shot inside as Murphy controls his hands.
Tham lands with a light punch inside.

Tham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Tham darts in and clinches Murphy up against the cage.
Tham lands with a light punch inside.
Tham gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Murphy.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tham stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Tham pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Murphy walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Tham clinches.
Tham doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tham goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Murphy is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Murphy prevents a body shot from Tham.
Murphy has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tham avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Murphy tries for a takedown but Tham manages to get underhooks.
Tham lands a body shot in the clinch.
Murphy is breathing heavily.
Tham tries to work over Murphy's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tham is working Murphy over against the cage.
Tham lands a body shot in the clinch.
Tham tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A left hand lands to the body for Tham.

Tham escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tham drives through and clinches with Murphy against the cage.
Tham is leaning against Murphy and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Tham escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tham slaps away a takedown attempt from Murphy, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Murphy is looking to take this one to the mat.
Tham works on Murphy's body with a couple of short punches.
Murphy prevents a body shot from Tham.
Murphy is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Tham gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Murphy can't get the takedown.
Tham lands a right hand that snaps the head of Murphy backwards.
Tham lands a left hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Tham dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Tham.
Left hook, right uppercut from Tham.

Tham clinches.

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

Tham forces Murphy back against the cage and clinches.
Tham is trying to maintain a safe position but Murphy gets an underhook and turns Tham into the cage.
Tham lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Murphy looking for a takedown.
Tham misses with a punch to the body.
Murphy tries to score a body lock takedown but Tham shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Murphy goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tham prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diarmuid Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murphy drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Murphy prevents a body shot from Tham.
Murphy has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Tham after a bit of a struggle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy has Tham pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tham manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tham has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tham lands with a right to the head.
Tham works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Tham works on Murphy's body with a couple of short punches.
Tham struggles to land a body shot inside as Murphy controls his hands.

Tham escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Tham darts in and clinches Murphy up against the cage.
Tham is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Tham digs a right hand underneath Murphy's ribcage. Murphy let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Tham tries a body shot but Murphy blocks it.

Tham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Tham has Murphy up against the cage in a clinch.
A short left from Tham.
Murphy is working for takedown but Tham is calmly controlling the position for now.

Tham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Tham darts in and clinches Murphy up against the cage.
Peter Tham seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy wants to take the fight to the mat but Tham manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Tham lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Murphy or not.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice body punch from Tham - that landed with a thud.

Tham escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Tham clinches.
Murphy is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tham pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A nice left hand lands by Tham.
Tham lands a nice uppercut.
A hook to the body from Tham.
Tham misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Tham pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tham jabs Murphy right on the nose. Murphy blinks but takes it well.

Tham pushes Murphy up against the cage in a clinch.
Still in the clinch, Tham scores with a nice short uppercut.
Tham looking to slow down the pace here.
Still in the clinch, Tham scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tham throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Tham is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Tham lands a right hand that snaps the head of Murphy backwards.

Tham's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Murphy tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tham swivels and escapes.
Tham scores with a shot to the body.
Nice shot lands for Tham.
Peter Tham is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Murphy gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Tham connects with a right hand. Murphy shakes it off.
Murphy misses with a takedown attempt
and Tham counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Murphy closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Tham moves into the clinch successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tham lands a body shot in the clinch.
Murphy tries for a takedown. No joy.
Murphy is trying to drag Tham to the mat but Tham just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Tham will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Murphy up against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Tham as the two fighters clinch.
Murphy has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Tham after a bit of a struggle.

Tham escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tham paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Tham lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Tham darts in and clinches Murphy up against the cage.
Tham gets underhooks to prevent Murphy's takedown attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Tham showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Murphy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Tham lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Tham.
Tham throws a body punch but Murphy moves out of range.
Murphy fails with the takedown
and Tham counters with a straight right hand.
Murphy shoots for a takedown but Tham saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Tham forces Murphy back against the cage and clinches.
Tham lands a right hand that snaps the head of Murphy backwards.
Murphy is trying to drag Tham to the mat but Tham just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diarmuid Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Tham's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Tham does it's job there.
Tham cracks Murphy with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Tham gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tham breaks the clinch.

Murphy fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Tham to the ground. Murphy is now in Tham's guard.
Murphy trying to control but Tham is working from the bottom.
Tham pulls Murphy in close to prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Murphy has gone for a leg lock! Tham slips out almost immediately though and dives into Murphy's guard.

Tham looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy controls Tham momentarily but Tham frees himself.
Tham working some strikes from top position.
Murphy is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tham working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Murphy had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tham defends it easily.
Murphy wants to sweep but no luck.

Murphy had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tham defends it easily.
Tham trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Murphy is looking for a triangle but Tham pushes his legs off easily.
Tham lands a couple of digs.

Murphy has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Tham is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Murphy.
Diarmuid Murphy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tham working the head with strikes.
Murphy wants to control but Tham postures up.
Tham is looking to take a break and control but Murphy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Murphy manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tham working over Murphy with some ground and pound. Murphy looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Murphy looking for submissions off his back.
Murphy moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Peter Tham is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Murphy is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tham really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Murphy. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Murphy is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Murphy is looking for a triangle here but Tham uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Diarmuid Murphy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Murphy tries to strike but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Peter Tham comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tham winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 25:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 25:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Peter Tham!