PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cajetan Shashi (ranked 17390 p4p, 4007 weight class) and Cathail Murphy (ranked 221 p4p, 139 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Shashi
vs
Murphy

185 cm
43
169
18 - 23 - 1

175 cm
36
175
9 - 15 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 23 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cajetan Shashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 15 - 1, fighting out of London, Cathail Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Taro Takaoka and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Shashi.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Murphy! But no joy.
Shashi motions for Murphy to come forward. Shashi throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Murphy raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Murphy is looking to clinch but Shashi is avoiding it.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Murphy has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Shashi scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Murphy looks for a takedown but Shashi sprawls well.
Cajetan Shashi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Shashi enables Murphy to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Shashi manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Murphy throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy distracts Shashi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Murphy working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Shashi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Shashi working for a triangle but Murphy defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Murphy stands up and waves to Shashi to follow him.
Shashi takes a swing at Murphy's ribcage but misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shashi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown but Shashi shows good takedown defense.

Murphy clinches up with Shashi and pushes him back against the cage.
Murphy is working for takedown but Shashi is calmly controlling the position for now.
Cajetan Shashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cathail Murphy.

Shashi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Shashi rushes Murphy and presses him up against the cage.

Shashi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shashi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Murphy moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Murphy lands a really nice looking cross but Shashi seems unphased.
Shashi throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Murphy.

It looks like Cathail Murphy has been cut.
Murphy goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Murphy drives through with a takedown into Shashi's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Shashi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Murphy is trying to maintain the position but Shashi is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shashi is working for an americana but Murphy has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Shashi was thinking about the submission.
Murphy is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Shashi being controlled here momentarily.
Shashi postures up in Murphy's guard and throws a big left but Murphy blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Shashi prevents Murphy from getting back to his feet.
Murphy is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Shashi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Murphy is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Murphy is controlling Shashi's posture.
Shashi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Murphy swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Murphy is controlling Shashi's posture.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Murphy wants to stand but Shashi is controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Cajetan Shashi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Cathail Murphy's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Murphy scores with a punch to the head.
Shashi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Murphy tries to avoid it but Shashi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Murphy to the ground. Murphy escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Shashi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shashi misses with an attempted mid kick.
Shashi goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Murphy avoids the head kick by Shashi.
Shashi throws a series of punches but Murphy moves out of range.
Murphy tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Shashi defends well and Murphy ends up having to push Shashi into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy lands a leg kick that knocks Shashi off balance momentarily.
Shashi shoots in but Murphy avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Murphy fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shashi throws a sloppy body shot
and Murphy counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cajetan Shashi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Murphy scores with a takedown into Shashi's guard.

Shashi pushes Murphy off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Shashi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cajetan Shashi is winning the standup battle so far.
Shashi is looking to clinch.
Murphy let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Shashi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shashi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Murphy throws the kick towards the body but Shashi avoids it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Murphy fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cajetan Shashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cathail Murphy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy shoots in looking for a takedown. Shashi tries to sprawl out of it but Murphy keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shashi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Shashi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Murphy.
Murphy swinging wildly here.
Shashi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Murphy fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shashi manages to avoid it.
Murphy dives in and grabs Shashi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Shashi pushes down on Murphy's head and hops out.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Murphy.
Shashi struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shashi tries to bench press Murphy off him but Murphy keeps the position.
Murphy is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Shashi will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Murphy advances nicely into full mount.
Shashi is working to get back to half guard.
Murphy raining down shots from the mount!
Murphy dominating with strikes here.
Murphy lands a couple of good shots and Shashi has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Shashi up.
What can Shashi do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Murphy's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Cathail Murphy has got the better of the ground game so far.
Murphy throwing damaging strikes from the back! Shashi could be in trouble here!
Shashi rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Murphy content to control rather than advance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Cathail Murphy will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Cathail Murphy's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Shashi tries to sprawl but Murphy drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Murphy is thwarting Shashi's attempts to control the position.
Murphy sitting and controlling from the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shashi is trying to stand up here but Murphy is controlling him well.
Murphy has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Murphy prevents Shashi from improving his position.
Shashi manages to get to full guard.
Murphy is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Shashi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Murphy can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Murphy stands and steps away. Shashi gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
A punch combination from Shashi misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Murphy feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Shashi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Murphy defends it easily.

Murphy stands up from Shashi's guard - Murphy perhaps looking for a knockout.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Murphy checks a low kick from Shashi.
Murphy with the counter takedown but Shashi avoids it easily.

Murphy fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Shashi to the ground. Murphy is now in Shashi's guard.

Shashi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Shashi working for a triangle but Murphy defends it easily.
Murphy slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murphy stands up and waves to Shashi to follow him.
Shashi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Murphy as he jumps to the side.
Shashi lands with a kick to the temple. Murphy shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Shashi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Murphy moves into the clinch.

Murphy manages to break the clinch.
Shashi tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Murphy counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Shashi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Murphy fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Shashi to the ground. Murphy is now in Shashi's guard.
Shashi tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Shashi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Murphy sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cathail Murphy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Murphy has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cathail Murphy!
After the big win, Cathail Murphy made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Brooklyn Apothecary and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.