PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh Murray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benny Bula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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?

Murray
vs
Bula

193 cm
20
233 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
19
225 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Murray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Benny Bula!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Stewart Dunkirk and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bula misses with a body shot.
Murray throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bula.
A punch combination from Murray misses.
Murray cracks a nice hook into Bula's ribs.
Murray throws a head kick that misses.
Bula dives in and grabs Murray's left leg, looking for a takedown. Murray pushes down on Bula's head and hops out.
Murray tries to clinch but Bula is having none of it.
Bula shoots in for a takedown but Murray shows good takedown defense.
Murray fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Murray wants to clinch up but Bula keeps it at a distance.

Murray has managed to clinch.
Murray swings wildly with an uppercut but Bula uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bula tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Murray breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bula misses with a takedown attempt
and Murray counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Josh Murray has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benny Bula.
Bula gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Murray counters with a left and a right that stings Bula.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murray cracks Bula with an open hand slap.

Bula closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bula lands in his opponent's guard.
Murray is trying to control the position but Bula postures up.
Murray is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bula loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bula looks gassed!
Murray is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bula is controlling him.
Bula has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Bula avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Murray wants to get back to his feet but Bula is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murray looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Murray wants to stand and escape but Bula is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Murray clinches with his opponent.
Murray throws an elbow but it misses.
Murray tries to pull guard but Bula won't allow it.
Bula tries to break the clinch but Murray is controlling the position.
Bula stops a takedown attempt from Murray.
Bula goes for a takedown in the clinch but Murray prevents it.
Murray tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bula smiles and moves away.
Murray lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bula circles away quickly and effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bula with a lazy takedown attempt

and Murray counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Murray takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
Bula not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Murray wants to stand and escape but instead Bula has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Murray is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bula is controlling him.
Bula postures up.
Murray is looking to stand up but Bula isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bula throwing strikes from guard but Murray blocks nicely.
Bula trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Murray drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Bula is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Bula trying to mount his opponent but Murray defends it.
Bula prevents Murray from standing back up.
Murray on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bula wants to control but Murray is keeping him busy.
Bula is nestled in close to Murray, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Murray regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Murray dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Bula shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Murray counters with a shoot takedown. Bula fights it but they end up in guard.
Bula working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Murray.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bula keeping moving, preventing Murray from controlling successfully.
Bula is trying to control the position but Murray postures up.
Murray trying to control the position from guard on top but Bula is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Murray wants to stand but Bula has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Murray postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bula utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Murray lands a front kick.
Murray misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Josh Murray is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Murray throws a head kick that half lands.

Murray shoots in and bounces Bula off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Murray distracts Bula with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murray wanted to stand there but Bula had control of the position.

Bula has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Murray can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Murray wanted to stand there but Bula had control of the position.
Bula 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.
Murray trying to control but Bula is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murray stands up and waves to Bula to follow him.
Bula is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Murray.
Bula has his takedown stuffed

so Murray counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Bula wants to stand and escape but Murray is having none of it.
Murray throwing strikes from guard but Bula blocks nicely.
Bula looking to hit a scissor sweep but Murray is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Murray stands up and waves to Bula to follow him.

Murray drives through and clinches with Bula against the cage.
Murray changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bula fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Bula has his takedown stuffed

and Murray counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bula's guard now.
Josh Murray has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benny Bula.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Bula looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Bula has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Murray off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Murray dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Bula misses with a wild combination.
Murray misses with a few strikes there.
Bula with a lazy takedown attempt

and Murray decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bula's guard.
Bula is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bula working a defensive guard but Murray passes into half guard.
Bula wants to get back to his feet.
Murray content to control rather than advance.
Murray stops Bula from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murray tries to stand and escape but Bula is controlling the position.
Murray is looking to take a break and control but Bula is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Murray prevents Bula from standing back up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bula takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Bula misses with a takedown attempt
and Murray counters with a head kick.

Bula gets caught flat footed, as Murray shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Bula seems keen to control Murray's posture.
Bula looking to hit a scissor sweep but Murray is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bula is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Bula has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Murray can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Murray throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bula wants to sweep but no luck.
Murray is looking to stand up but Bula won't let him.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bula doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Murray counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Josh Murray has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benny Bula.
Bula holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Murray thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bula's head.
Bula wants to control but Murray is keeping busy.

Bula makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Bula is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bula misses with a takedown attempt

and Murray counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Murray.
Murray goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bula prevents it.
Murray is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Bula looking to slow down the pace here.
Benny Bula has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Murray crunches a lovely knee into Bula's ribcage.

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

Murray shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bula bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Josh Murray is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Murray trying to keep a closed guard but Bula is proving a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Murray showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Murray has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Murray!