PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kirk Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicholi Papalov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Murphy
vs
Papalov

188 cm
25
222 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

186 cm
25
219 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kirk Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nicholi Papalov!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Papalov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Papalov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Murphy circles away quickly and effectively.

Murphy closes the distance and clinches.
Murphy throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Papalovs head.

Murphy pulls guard successfully.
Murphy is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Murphy bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Papalov's guard.
Murphy wants to control from the top but Papalov keeps moving.
Murphy throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Papalov working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Murphy has passed into half guard!

Papalov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Murphy pulls his head out easily.
Papalov missing with punches from the bottom.

Papalov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Murphy not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murphy is looking to advance position but Papalov won't allow it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Papalov throws a right hand that Murphy ducks under and follows up with a left that Murphy also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy misses the shot to the body.
Papalov with a jab.
Murphy ducks right into an uppercut from Papalov.
Papalov lands a high kick!
Murphy misses with a body kick.
Papalov scores with a jab.
Papalov fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kirk Murphy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Murphy shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Murphy was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Papalov tries to reverse the position but Murphy maintains control.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Murphy cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Murphy with shots to the head and body - Papalov looks very uncomfortable down there.
Murphy has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Papalov flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Papalov is looking to get to half guard.
Murphy landing strikes from the mount and Papalov is in trouble!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Papalov throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Papalov swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy with a couple of short strikes.
Papalov throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Papalov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Murphy in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Papalov working to try and regain half guard.
Murphy looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Murphy lands a nice shot to the head.
Murphy has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Papalov's face.
Papalov throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Murphy lands a big shot there that rocks Papalov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The referee warns Papalov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Murphy scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Papalov?
Murphy dominating with strikes here.
Papalov sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Papalov looks gassed!
Papalov wants to get back to full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Murphy working over Papalov with some ground and pound. Papalov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Papalov is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papalov is refusing to be controlled, as Murphy sits in half guard.
Murphy works his foot free and advances to mount.
Papalov slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Murphy works his way into side control.
Murphy grinds an elbow into Papalov's temple.
Murphy in side control lands a decent elbow.
Papalov tries to bench press Murphy off him but Murphy keeps the position.
Check out the look on Murphy's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Murphy lands an elbow.
Papalov is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Papalov looking for submissions off his back.

Murphy is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Papalov sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papalov taking some punishment here, with Murphy in his half guard.

Murphy is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Papalov is just riding it out for now. Murphy eventually gives up the hold.
Murphy thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Papalov's head.
Papalov throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Murphy wants to control but Papalov is keeping him busy.
Papalov is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Papalov in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Papalov is desperately trying to improve his position but Murphy has a good base and remains in mount.
Murphy putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirk Murphy dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Papalov!
Murphy shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Papalov sprawls well. Papalov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Murphy gets slowly back to his feet.
Murphy ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Papalov lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Papalov avoids the body shot from Murphy.
Papalov looks to score with a jab to the body but Murphy is just out of range.
Papalov throws a head kick but Murphy moves out of range.
Murphy misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Papalov stuffs the takedown attempt from Murphy. Murphy gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Papalov. No joy for Murphy on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kirk Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Papalov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Murphy manages to avoid it.
Murphy throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Papalov misses with a wild combination.
Papalov throws an overhand right that lands on Murphy's shoulder, as Murphy tries to avoid the shot.
Murphy falls off balance throwing a combination
and Papalov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papalov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Murphy's sensitive parts.
Nicholi Papalov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Papalov throws a right and a left that Murphy avoids nicely.
Murphy misses with an uppercut. Papalov saw that one coming.
Murphy moves out of range of the body kick.

Murphy shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Papalov manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Murphy trying to control the position from guard on top but Papalov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kirk Murphy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Papalov looking for subs off his back but Murphy has passed one foot through into half guard.
Papalov flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Papalov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Papalov moves into full guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Murphy working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Papalov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Papalov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Papalov keeping moving, preventing Murphy from controlling successfully.
Murphy distracts Papalov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Murphy is in close to Papalov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Murphy working some strikes from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Papalov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Murphy gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Murphy passes Papalov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Papalov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Murphy scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Papalov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Murphy works his way into full mount!
A nice elbow there by Murphy.
Papalov can't escape the position.
Murphy in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Papalov is squirming around, avoiding Murphy's attempts to control the action.
Murphy looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Papalov sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Murphy looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Murphy is working for a kimura but Papalov is defending it quite comfortably.
Papalov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Papalov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy with a flurry of punches that miss.
Papalov keeping moving, preventing Murphy from controlling successfully.
Murphy is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Murphy throws a big right hand that misses.

Papalov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Murphy doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Murphy manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Murphy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Papalov is keeping the position for now.

Papalov 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.

Papalov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kirk Murphy will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Murphy throws a series of strikes that have Papalov backpedaling.
Papalov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Murphy.
Murphy wants to clinch.
A punch combination from Murphy misses.
Murphy misses with a jab, cross combination.
Murphy avoids the head kick by Papalov.
Papalov throws a lazy right hand but Murphy sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
No luck for Murphy with that takedown attempt.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No joy there for Murphy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Murphy tries to clinch but Papalov moves out of range.
Papalov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Murphy shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Papalov counters with a left to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kirk Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Papalov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Murphy counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papalov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Papalov throws a nice looking combination but Murphy bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Murphy fails with a takedown attempt.
Murphy fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Papalov is out of range.
Papalov throws a body punch but Murphy moves out of range.
Papalov misses with a wild combination.
Papalov tries to land a front kick but Murphy steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Murphy scores with a takedown into Papalov's guard.

Papalov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Murphy gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Papalov 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.

Papalov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Murphy gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nicholi Papalov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Papalov is on top in guard.
Murphy lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Papalov!
Murphy with a couple of short strikes.
Murphy landing punches.
Murphy lands with some strikes.
Papalov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Papalov gets back to half guard.
Murphy looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Papalov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Papalov actively working from the bottom here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Murphy lands a nice short elbow.
Murphy looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Papalov is not content to let Murphy control the position.

Papalov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Papalov taking some punishment here, with Murphy in his half guard.

Papalov actively working from the bottom here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Papalov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Murphy fails in his attempt to clinch.
Murphy is looking to wear down Papalov with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Murphy gets the takedown into side control.
Murphy gets to mount! Papalov was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Papalov working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy looking to finish Papalov with some ground and pound. This is bad for Papalov!
Papalov takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Papalov is in all sorts of trouble here.
BOOM! Murphy connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Murphy looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Murphy landing strikes, looking to finish!
Kirk Murphy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Papalov is looking to improve his position but Murphy isn't that keen on the idea.
Murphy controlling his opponent.
Murphy tries to control but Papalov wriggling away.
Murphy prevents Papalov from getting the reversal.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kirk Murphy showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Murphy, 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kirk Murphy!