PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hazel Murphi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akseli Hammar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hammar has chosen Matti ja Teppo - Näitä Polkuja Tallaan 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.

Murphi
vs
Hammar

181 cm
23
205 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

199 cm
25
220 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hazel Murphi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Akseli Hammar!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Daniel Cesar and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hammar closes the distance and clinches.
Hammar lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short right from Hammar on the inside.
Murphi tries to break free but Hammar pushes him back against the cage.
Hammar scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hammar prevents the takedown attempt.
Hammar lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Murphi or not.
Murphi is breathing heavily.
Hammar looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hammar lands a nice shot to the body.
Hammar manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Hammar lands an uppercut.
Hammar tries for a takedown but Murphi manages to get underhooks.
Hammar lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Murphi backwards.

Hammar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Murphi takes a shot to the body in his stride.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hammar is defended easily by Murphi.
Hammar throws a lazy right hand but Murphi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hammar thows a body shot but no joy.
A jab lands there for Hammar.

It looks like Hazel Murphi has been cut.
Some wild striking there from Hammar.
Hammar throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphi dodges the punch combination from Hammar.

Murphi tries to keep at a distance but Hammar has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hammar scores with a shot to the side of Murphi's head.
Hammar lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A bit of stalling here from Hammar.
Murphi avoids the elbow strike from Hammar, against the cage.
Hammar lands with a left to the head.
Nice body punch from Hammar.
Hammar softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hammar creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A short right from Hammar on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hammar.
Hammar lands a body shot.
Hammar makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Hammar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hammar scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Hammar looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Hammar thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Murphi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hammar on the ground.
Murphi wants to stand up but Hammar is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hammar drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hammar jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Murphi is looking to stand back up but Hammar counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Murphi.
Hammar is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Murphi looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hammar works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hammar is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Hammar drives through and clinches with Murphi against the cage.
Hammar lands with a light punch inside.
A frustrated look appears on Murphi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hammar scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hammar is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Murphi pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hazel Murphi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akseli Hammar.
Murphi takes a shot to the head.
Hammar tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hammar lands a good knee to the midsection. Murphi won't want to take too many of those.
Hammar stalls.
Hammar lands a hook that snaps the head of Murphi backwards.
Hammar on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Hammar.
Hammar lands a shot to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hammar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammar prevents Murphi from breaking the clinch.
Hammar lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hammar.
Murphi is trying to force a seperation but Hammar has the dominant position.
Murphi is looking to break free of the clinch but Hammar has double underhooks.
Murphi is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hammar is defending well for now.
Hammar lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hammar lands a left hand.
Hammar scores with a shoulder strike.
Hammar working some nice short punches in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hammar creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hammar scores with a shoulder strike.
Hammar lands with a right to the head.
Hammar lands a body punch in the clinch.

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

Hammar drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hammar slips nicely into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Murphi trying to control here.

Hammar is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Murphi doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hammar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akseli Hammar dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hazel Murphi's cut.
That's time! Murphi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Murphi scores with a spinning back kick!
A combination from Hammar does no damage.
Murphi wants to clinch
enabling Hammar to counter with a crisp jab.
Hammar throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Murphi stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Hammar throws a body punch but Murphi moves out of range.
Hammar shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Murphi defends it nicely.
Murphi gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hazel Murphi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hammar comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hammar lands with a nice body punch.

Hammar shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Hammar was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Hammar is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammar bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Hammar changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Murphi looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hammar lands a decent elbow from side control.

Hammar decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Hammar darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Hammar wants to control but Murphi is keeping him busy.
Hammar is looking to advance position but Murphi won't allow it.
Murphi is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hammar seems to be working for a kimura but Murphi defends the submission attempt.
Murphi wants to improve his position but Hammar is controlling well.

Hammar is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Hammar stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Murphi to get to his feet.
Hammar is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Hammar throws a chopping leg kick but Murphi manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Murphi throws a head kick that half lands.

Hammar closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hammar lands a right hand.
Murphi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Hammar lands a nice uppercut.
Hammar gets through Murphi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammar presses Murphi against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Murphi is trying to maintain a safe position but Hammar gets an underhook and turns Murphi into the cage.
Hammar scores with a shoulder strike.
Hammar prevents the takedown attempt.
Hammar has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Murphi managing to block the knees to the body from Hammar.
Hammar is pressed up against the cage. Murphi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hammar down to the mat. Hammar avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Murphi stuffs the takedown.
Hammar takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Hammar misses with a series of wild punches.
Murphi stuffs the takedown.
Hazel Murphi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akseli Hammar.
Hammar dives in and grabs Murphi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Murphi pushes down on Hammar's head and hops out.
Murphi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Hammar chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Murphi can pounce on him.
Murphi slaps away a takedown attempt from Hammar, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hammar is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Murphi rather than just go for the knockout.
Murphi looks to clinch
and Hammar makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Murphi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hammar paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hammar fails to land with a series of punches.
Hammar changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Murphi tries to avoid it but Hammar manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Murphi to the ground. Murphi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammar throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Murphi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hammar.
Hammar has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Hammar lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Murphi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Murphi wants it to stay on the feet.
Murphi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hammar fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Murphi tries to clinch but Hammar is having none of it.
Hammar shoots in looking for a takedown. Murphi tries to sprawl out of it but Hammar keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Murphi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck for Hammar with that takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hammar misses with a hook.
Hammar misses with a takedown attempt - Murphi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Hammar misses the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akseli Hammar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hazel Murphi's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Both fighters circling a little - Murphi finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Akseli Hammar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hammar wants to clinch.
Murphi misses with a head kick.
A jab lands there for Hammar.
Hammar's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Hammar duly obliges.
Hammar shoots for a double leg takedown but Murphi sprawls well. He's pushed Hammar's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Hammar throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Murphi was covering up waiting for the punch and Hammar finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Murphi can't keep his opponent in guard - Hammar advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Akseli Hammar has got the better of the ground game so far.
Murphi pushes Hammar off but Hammar dives into side control.

Hammar working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hammar is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Murphi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hammar is looking to take a break and control but Murphi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Murphi wants to control but Hammar postures up.
Hammar has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Murphi!
Hammar takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hammar trying to control but Murphi is having none of it.
Murphi wants to control but Hammar is having none of it.
Murphi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hammar pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Murphi working to try and regain half guard.
Murphi is trying to escape the mount but Hammar keeps good control and instead manages to take Murphi's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphi trying to control the hands but Hammar won't let him.

Hammar is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! Murphi is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Akseli Hammar!