PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eyvind Skallagrimsson (ranked 3578 p4p, 2801 weight class) and Patrick Murphy (ranked 396 p4p, 323 weight class). Murphy has chosen The Black Keys - Little Black Submarines as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Patrick Murphy enters the cage!

Skallagrimsson
vs
Murphy

195 cm
28
250
7 - 5 - 0

189 cm
30
233
11 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

Silverback Sweatshop

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Eyvind Skallagrimsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Patrick Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Percy O'Donnell and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy misses with a jab to the body
letting Skallagrimsson counter with a right hand.
Murphy tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Skallagrimsson was well out of range. Poor timing from Murphy.
Skallagrimsson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Murphy moves into the clinch.
Murphy struggles to land a body shot inside as Skallagrimsson controls his hands.
Skallagrimsson misses with a punch to the body.
Murphy lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Skallagrimsson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Skallagrimsson lands a hook to the side of the head.

Skallagrimsson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Skallagrimsson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Murphy missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Murphy has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Blacksmith MMA Gym 🇺🇲. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skallagrimsson being controlled here, momentarily.
Skallagrimsson is trying to control the position but Murphy postures up.
Murphy won't allow Skallagrimsson to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy controlling from the top position.
Murphy is continuing to stall.
Murphy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Skallagrimsson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Skallagrimsson wants to sweep here but Murphy controlling him for the moment.
Murphy is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Skallagrimsson pulls Murphy in close to prevent any damage.
Skallagrimsson is trying to control the position but Murphy postures up.
Murphy wants to control from the top but Skallagrimsson keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Murphy instigates a clinch.
Murphy is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Skallagrimsson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Skallagrimsson misses with a hook to the ribs.

Skallagrimsson breaks from the clinch.
Murphy misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Murphy fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Skallagrimsson manages to avoid it.
Skallagrimsson on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Patrick Murphy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Murphy tries to clinch but Skallagrimsson is having none of it.
An attempted straight right counter from Skallagrimsson misses the target.
Murphy throws a big shot that misses.
Skallagrimsson throws a quick counter head kick but Murphy was just out of range.

Murphy gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murphy breaks from the clinch.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch but Skallagrimsson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A counter left hand to the body from Skallagrimsson misses its target.
Skallagrimsson keeps the fight on the outside.

Murphy moves into the clinch.
A body shot lands from Murphy.
Murphy will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Skallagrimsson up against the cage.
Skallagrimsson tries to pull guard but Murphy forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Murphy tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Skallagrimsson pulls guard effortlessly.
Murphy postures up.
Murphy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Skallagrimsson is keeping the position for now.
Skallagrimsson controlling Murphy's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy with a flurry of punches that miss.
Murphy trying to control but Skallagrimsson is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Skallagrimsson is trying to keep Murphy in close.
Murphy showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Skallagrimsson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Murphy throws a sloppy body shot
and Skallagrimsson counters with a nice uppercut.

Murphy clinches.

Murphy is trying to trip Skallagrimsson. He has hold of a leg but Skallagrimsson is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Murphy persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Murphy comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Murphy wants to clinch up but Skallagrimsson keeps it at a distance.
Murphy moves in looking to clinch but Skallagrimsson pushes him off.
Murphy misses with an uppercut. Skallagrimsson saw that one coming.
It looked like Skallagrimsson was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Murphy.
Murphy is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Skallagrimsson rather than just go for the knockout.

Murphy moves into the clinch.
Murphy misses with a punch to the body.
Skallagrimsson lands a shot to the body.
Skallagrimsson lands a nice shot to the body.
Murphy blocking some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Skallagrimsson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Murphy misses the shot to the body.
A little feinted left hand from Skallagrimsson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Skallagrimsson slips a straight right by Murphy.
Skallagrimsson lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Murphy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Skallagrimsson throws a counter high kick but Murphy was just alert enough to avoid it.
Murphy misses with a body shot
letting Skallagrimsson counter with a right hand.
Murphy pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
An attempted straight right counter from Skallagrimsson misses the target.
Skallagrimsson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Skallagrimsson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Murphy takes the fight into the clinch.
Skallagrimsson works on Murphy's body with a couple of short punches.
Skallagrimsson throws a head punch that misses.

Skallagrimsson manages to pull guard.
Murphy with a flurry of punches that miss.
Murphy in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skallagrimsson is trying to keep Murphy in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Skallagrimsson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Skallagrimsson is looking for a triangle here but Murphy uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Skallagrimsson wants to control but Murphy postures up.
Sloppy strikes there by Murphy.
Skallagrimsson is trying to get back to half guard.
Murphy tries to score with some ground and pound. Skallagrimsson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Skallagrimsson is looking for a sweep.
Murphy scoring with punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy lands a few punches from side control.
Murphy taking a break here but Skallagrimsson is having none of it and regains half guard.
Skallagrimsson wants to improve his position but Murphy is controlling well.
Murphy wants to control but Skallagrimsson is keeping him busy.
Murphy looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Skallagrimsson is looking to improve his position.
Skallagrimsson is working hard here to advance position.
Murphy lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skallagrimsson trying to control from the bottom.
Murphy throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Murphy lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Skallagrimsson tries to get to full guard but Murphy has control of the leg.
Patrick Murphy has got the better of the ground game so far.
Skallagrimsson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Murphy preventing the sweep.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Skallagrimsson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Murphy works over Skallagrimsson with some ground and pound from guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Patrick Murphy will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Murphy tries to bum rush Skallagrimsson with a series of wild strikes but Skallagrimsson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Skallagrimsson throwing a counter right hand but Murphy manages to avoid it.
Murphy tries to clinch up
and Skallagrimsson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Murphy swings for the body but Skallagrimsson moves out of range.
Skallagrimsson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Murphy has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Murphy lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Eyvind Skallagrimsson has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skallagrimsson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Skallagrimsson misses its target.

Murphy forces Skallagrimsson back against the cage and clinches.
Patrick Murphy seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Murphy takes a shot to the head.
Murphy scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy tries to stall but Skallagrimsson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Murphy leaning his opponent against the cage.
A short left from Murphy.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Murphy.
Murphy tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Skallagrimsson lands a left hand.

Murphy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Murphy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Skallagrimsson feinted with a counter takedown.
Murphy falls off balance throwing a combination
and Skallagrimsson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Murphy throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Murphy pushes Skallagrimsson up against the cage in a clinch.
Murphy avoiding damage.
Murphy drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Murphy blocks a body shot from Skallagrimsson.
Murphy pushes Skallagrimsson back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Murphy has a couple of punches blocked by Skallagrimsson.
Skallagrimsson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Murphy lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Murphy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Murphy throws a body shot but no joy.
Skallagrimsson lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Murphy tries to clinch but Skallagrimsson is having none of it.
Skallagrimsson swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

Murphy closes the distance and pushes Skallagrimsson back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Skallagrimsson.
Skallagrimsson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Murphy is looking to control Skallagrimsson's arms but Skallagrimsson gets an underhook and turns him. Now Murphy has his back to the cage.
Skallagrimsson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Murphy or not.
A short uppercut from Murphy.
Skallagrimsson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Murphy or not.
Murphy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A short uppercut from Skallagrimsson.
Skallagrimsson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Murphy is keeping busy.
Patrick Murphy is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Skallagrimsson lands a left hand.
Skallagrimsson lands with a left to the head.
Skallagrimsson swings wildly with an uppercut but Murphy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Skallagrimsson is looking to break free of the clinch but Murphy has double underhooks.
Murphy can't get the takedown.
Skallagrimsson stalling in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy goes for a takedown attempt but Skallagrimsson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Eyvind Skallagrimsson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Patrick Murphy.
Skallagrimsson avoids the body shot from Murphy.
Murphy tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Skallagrimsson was well out of range. Poor timing from Murphy.
Skallagrimsson was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Murphy scores with a jab to the head.
Sloppy strikes from Murphy. Those never looked like landing.
A counter left hand to the body from Skallagrimsson misses its target.
Murphy tries to clinch but Skallagrimsson is having none of it.
A big left from Murphy misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Skallagrimsson misses its target.
Murphy misses with a hook.
Skallagrimsson drops down looking for a counter takedown but Murphy sprawls and moves away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murphy throws a body shot but no joy.
Skallagrimsson is looking to counter punch.
Eyvind Skallagrimsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Murphy misses with a double jab
and Skallagrimsson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

And that's the end of the fight!
Patrick Murphy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Patrick Murphy!
Patrick Murphy seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.