PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lee Murrray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damico Smalls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Murrray kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Original Nuttah - Shy Fx. Smalls has chosen Jay Z- My President is Black as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Murrray
vs
Smalls

190 cm
22
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
190 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

TechNutri - HIGHEST quality with LOWEST price.
TechNutri - HIGHEST quality with LOWEST price.

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Lee Murrray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Damico Smalls!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Steven Brown and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murrray avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smalls will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Murrray avoids the head kick by Smalls.
Murrray keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Murrray scores with a hook to the body. Smalls takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Murrray scores with a nice head shot.
Smalls walks into a left hand.

It looks like Damico Smalls has been cut.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Smalls.
Murrray defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Smalls.
Lee Murrray has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damico Smalls.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smalls bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Smalls looks gassed!
Murrray is not content to let Smalls control the position.
Murrray is trying to buck Smalls off.
Smalls wants to lay and pray for a moment but Murrray keeps working.
Murrray is looking to regain half guard here but Smalls keeps moving and retains side control.

Smalls working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Smalls goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Murrray has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Smalls but great work by Murrray.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murrray sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Smalls is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Murrray looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Smalls sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Murrray tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Smalls tries to get to full guard but Murrray has control of the leg.

Smalls looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smalls makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Smalls.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murrray looking to pass the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smalls is on top in guard.
Murrray working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smalls.
Murrray is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smalls is controlling him.
Smalls tries to free his leg and advance position but Murrray is retaining full guard.
Murrray knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smalls on the ground.
Murrray working a defensive guard here.
Smalls sitting in guard, not really doing much.

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.
Smalls trying to control the position from guard on top but Murrray is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Smalls drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Murrray dives on top into guard.
Smalls looking to hit a scissor sweep but Murrray is one step ahead there.
Murrray has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Smalls has a closed guard, preventing Murrray from standing up.
Smalls trying to keep a closed guard but Murrray is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lee Murrray dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Damico Smalls's cut.
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 Murrray.
Murrray throws a nice looking combination but Smalls bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A head kick lands from Murrray that sends Smalls to the canvas. Smalls tries to scramble back to his feet but Murrray brings him back down into side control.

Smalls is rocked!
Smalls manages to get back to half guard.
Murrray seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Smalls wants to control but Murrray is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Smalls is trying to get back to full guard.
Smalls gets back to full guard.
Smalls is breathing heavily.

Smalls is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Murrray is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smalls working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Murrray doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Murrray manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Smalls working for a triangle but Murrray defends it easily.
Murrray won't allow Smalls to sweep him here.
Murrray scoring with punches to the head and body.
Smalls keeping moving, preventing Murrray from controlling successfully.
Murrray postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Murrray throwing strikes but missing.
Murrray tries to free his leg and advance position but Smalls is retaining full guard.
Smalls is adopting a defensive guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Murrray throws a head kick that misses.
Murrray lands a glancing blow to the side of Smalls's head.
Murrray throws a jab but it's blocked by Smalls.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smalls fails with the takedown.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Smalls.
Murrray throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smalls takes a kick to the side of the head.
Smalls uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Murrray.

Smalls feints and as Murrray raises his hands in defense, Smalls changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murrray is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Murrray will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Smalls wants to pass the guard but Murrray is keeping the position.
Smalls is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Smalls stops Murrray from standing up.
Murrray is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Smalls is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Smalls won't allow Murrray to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lee Murrray dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Damico Smalls's cut.
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 is the final round!

Smalls moves forwards but Murrray connects with a nice, crisp jab.
No joy there for Murrray, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A swing and a miss from Smalls.
Smalls tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Smalls ducks under a wild hook from Murrray.
Smalls uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Murrray.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murrray with a hook.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Murrray.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smalls shoots in but Murrray avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Smalls takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Murrray is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Smalls.
Murrray avoids the head kick by Smalls.
Smalls shoots in looking for a takedown. Murrray tries to sprawl out of it but Smalls keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Murrray manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A head kick by Murrray misses

and Smalls counters with a takedown into side control.
Smalls prevents Murrray from escaping the position.

Smalls is trying to get an arm triangle but Murrray is defending well.
Murrray is looking to regain half guard here but Smalls keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smalls is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Murrray knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Murrray wants to get back to his feet.
Murrray tries to buck Smalls off but Smalls is having none of it.
Murrray wants to control but Smalls postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Smalls throws a hook but Murrray blocks it.
Smalls closes the distance and clinches up with Murrray, looking for a takedown. Smalls pushes Murrray against the cage but Murrray circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lee Murrray has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damico Smalls.
Murrray throws a sloppy head kick and Smalls moves out of range easily.
Murrray stuffs the takedown.
Murrray misses with a straight right.
Smalls slips a jab and a cross from Murrray.
Murrray throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Murrray tries a head kick but it misses.
Damico Smalls has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Smalls throws a sloppy head kick and Murrray moves out of range easily.
Smalls has a takedown stuffed.
Lee Murrray is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Murrray lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Murrray scores with a one two! Smalls had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Murrray throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Smalls stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Murrray with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lee Murrray showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Murrray, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lee Murrray!