PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Murdok (ranked 5523 p4p, 25107 weight class) and Backy Izback (ranked 555 p4p, 606 weight class). Izback is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Without me. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Murdok
vs
Izback

177 cm
26
180
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
169
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matt Murdok!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Backy Izback!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Izback walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nice uppercut lands for Murdok. That snapped Izback's head back.

Izback drives through and clinches with Murdok against the cage.
Izback blocks the elbow strike.
Murdok has a couple of punches blocked by Izback.
Izback is looking for a takedown.
Murdok tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Izback avoids it.
Murdok working aggressively here.
Murdok is looking to control Izback's arms but Izback gets an underhook and turns him. Now Murdok has his back to the cage.
Izback misses with a hook to the ribs.
Murdok takes an elbow to the temple.
Izback is looking to control Murdok's arms but Murdok gets an underhook and turns him. Now Izback has his back to the cage.
Izback unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Murdok wants to break the clinch but can't.
Izback stalls.
Murdok stalling in the clinch but Izback improves position.
With the fighters up against the cage, Izback throws an elbow but misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Izback throws an elbow but misses.
Izback pressing his opponent against the cage.
Izback lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murdok throws a head punch that misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Murdok creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Murdok prevents a body shot from Izback.
Izback tries to score a body lock takedown but Murdok shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Murdok lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Backy Izback has been cut.
Murdok lands a body shot in the clinch.
Izback changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Murdok fights it off and pushes away nicely.
We've been told by Murdok's head coaches at Hyperbolic Time Chamber that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Matt Murdok has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Backy Izback.

Murdok clinches up against the cage.
Murdok tries a body shot but Izback blocks it.
Izback scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Murdok effectively controlling the action here.
Izback looking to stall.
Izback is looking for a takedown.
Murdok lands with a short shot to the head.
Murdok trying to control the position but instead, Izback has worked for underhooks and has pushed Murdok into the cage.
Izback wants to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murdok takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Matt Murdok has been cut.
Izback is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Izback blocks a body shot from Murdok.
Murdok throws a head punch that misses.
Izback throws an elbow but it misses.
A head punch on the inside from Murdok fails to land.
With the fighters up against the cage, Murdok throws an elbow but misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Murdok tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Murdok tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Izback has Murdok pressed against the cage.
Izback prevents Murdok from breaking the clinch.
Come on Izback - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Murdok tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Izback's elbow.
Izback blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murdok managing to block the knees to the body from Izback.
Izback pressing his opponent against the cage.
Izback tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Izback has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Murdok seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Izback can turn it around.
Izback landing knees to the body.
Izback tries to score a body lock takedown but Murdok shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Murdok lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Izback backwards.
Izback slowing the pace effectively.
Murdok lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Murdok is trying to stall.
Izback blocks an uppercut.

Murdok breaks from the clinch.

Murdok clinches.
Izback tries to score a body lock takedown but Murdok shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Izback misses with an elbow strike.
Izback blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Murdok's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Murdok takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murdok is pressed up against the cage. Izback has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Murdok down to the mat. Murdok avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Murdok throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Izback.
Murdok throws a right and a left that both miss.
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!
The fighters circling - Izback throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Murdok misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Murdok's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Murdok duly obliges.
Murdok lands with a cross.

Izback closes the distance and pushes Murdok back into the cage.
Murdok avoids the elbow strike from Izback, against the cage.
Izback lands an elbow that stopped Murdok in his tracks for a moment.
Izback cracks Murdok with a nice body shot.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Izback misses with a punch to the body.
Murdok stops a takedown attempt from Izback.
Murdok lands with a short shot to the head.
Izback is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Murdok gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Murdok lands a right hand that snaps the head of Izback backwards.
Izback is working for takedown but Murdok is calmly controlling the position for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Murdok dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Murdok throws a right hand that Izback ducks under and follows up with a left that Izback also avoids with ease.

Murdok moves into the clinch successfully.
Izback lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Izback lands an elbow inside that Murdok shrugs off.
Murdok lands a nice uppercut.
Murdok is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Murdok takes a shot to the head.
Izback is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Murdok is defending well for now.
Izback wants to stall.
Murdok throws a head punch that misses.
Nice body punch from Murdok - that landed with a thud.
Matt Murdok has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Izback has Murdok pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Izback pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Murdok tumbling to the mat - Izback dives into Murdok's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Murdok keeping moving, preventing Izback from controlling successfully.
Izback throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murdok wants to stand and escape but Izback is having none of it.
Izback working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Murdok working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Izback.
Izback slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Murdok lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Izback has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Murdok is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Izback lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Murdok or not.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Murdok tries to work over Izback's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Murdok wants to break the clinch but can't.
Izback tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Murdok blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Izback landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Izback misses with an elbow strike.

Izback has Murdok pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Izback pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Murdok tumbling to the mat - Izback dives into Murdok's guard.
Izback loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Izback must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Izback looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Murdok working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Izback.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Izback not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Izback throwing strikes from guard but Murdok blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Izback seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Izback throws an elbow that misses. Murdok uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Izback's guard. Nice move by Murdok!

Murdok has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Izback is proving hard to escape from.

Izback has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Murdok off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murdok stuffs the takedown.
Murdok misses with a jab, cross combination.
Izback has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Matt Murdok is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Izback darts in looking for a takedown but Murdok gets double underhooks and turns Izback into the cage.
Izback takes one on the button.
Izback shoots in but no luck this time.
Matt Murdok has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Backy Izback.
Izback shoots in for a takedown but Murdok shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Izback tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Murdok throws a series of strikes that have Izback backpedaling.

Murdok rushes Izback and presses him up against the cage.
Murdok takes an elbow to the forehead.
A short left from Murdok.
Murdok takes an elbow to the forehead.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Izback just misses with a elbow thrown towards Murdok's brow.
Izback trying to land knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Izback wants to take the fight to the mat but Murdok manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Backy Izback will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Izback doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Murdok counters with a one-two to the body.

Izback moves into the clinch.
Izback comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Still in the clinch, Izback scores with a nice short uppercut.
Murdok pushes Izback back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Izback slowing the pace effectively.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Murdok lands with a right to the head.
Izback drops down looking for an ankle pick but Murdok pulls his leg out and moves away.

Murdok moves into the clinch.
Murdok lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Izback backwards.
Izback throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Izback tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Izback takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Murdok wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Good body shot from Murdok.
A hook to the body from Murdok.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murdok working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Murdok scores with a nice short uppercut.
Murdok lands an elbow inside.
A short right from Murdok on the inside.
Izback pushes off an throws an elbow but Murdok leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Murdok throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Izbacks head.
Murdok cracks Izback with a nice body shot.
Murdok is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Izback misses with a hook to the ribs.
Murdok comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Izback tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Izback tries to land knees in the clinch but Murdok avoids the damage to the body.
Murdok gets through Izback's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Murdok lands an elbow just above Izback 's eye.
Murdok throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
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!
Murdok lands with a short shot to the head.
Murdok is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Izback can do to turn this around?
Murdok is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Izback's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Murdok putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Izback in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Murdok lands a shot to the body.
Murdok looking to slow down the pace here.
Murdok is leaning against Izback and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Nice elbow from Murdok.
Izback looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Murdok's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Murdok feints a jab promting Izback to slip. Murdok then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Izback slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Izback closes this distance looking for a takedown but Murdok circles away.
Matt Murdok has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Backy Izback.
Izback has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Good leg kick by Murdok.
Matt Murdok is winning the standup battle so far.
Izback tries to close the distance and clinch up but Murdok swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Murdok lands with a nice combination. Izback backs away looking to recover.
Murdok scores with a one two! Izback had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Izback looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Murdok is fending him off so far but Izback persists. Nope, Murdok circles away and we're back to standing.
A left lands for Murdok.
Murdok throws a combination. Izback tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Murdok!
Murdok throws a right hand that Izback ducks under and follows up with a left that Izback also avoids with ease.

Izback has Murdok up against the cage in a clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Murdok.
Izback pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Murdok lands a left hand that snaps the head of Izback backwards.
Murdok lands with a light punch inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee calls for Izback to work.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Murdok as Izback tries to tie him up.
Murdok misses with a body punch.
Murdok swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Izback is looking to take this one to the mat.
Izback is trying to drag Murdok to the mat but Murdok just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Murdok tries to stall but Izback uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Murdok holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Murdok swings wildly with an uppercut but Izback uses good head movement to avoid it.
Izback gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Izback is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Murdok is defending well for now.
Izback looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Izback tries to land knees in the clinch but Murdok avoids the damage to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Murdok breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Murdok scores with a one two! Izback had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Izback is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Murdok showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Murdok has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Murdok!
Backy Izback was interviewed post fight and said 'it sucks'.