PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nobu Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Hendricks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Murphy
vs
Hendricks

200 cm
18
168 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

186 cm
19
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nobu Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steven Hendricks!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Bruno Hogan and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Murphy tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hendricks swivels and escapes.

Hendricks fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Murphy, pushing him back against the cage.
Hendricks goes for a takedown in the clinch but Murphy prevents it.

Hendricks manages to break the clinch.

Hendricks gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Hendricks lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Murphy backwards.

Hendricks breaks the clinch.
Hendricks slaps away a takedown attempt from Murphy, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Murphy throws a nice looking combination but Hendricks bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hendricks showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Murphy.
Some wild striking there from Murphy.
Murphy thows a body shot but no joy.

Hendricks looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murphy is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hendricks pulls his head out easily.
Murphy is breathing heavily.

Murphy looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hendricks keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Hendricks is looking to stall here but Murphy recovers full guard.
Hendricks distracts Murphy with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hendricks tries to free his leg and advance position but Murphy is retaining full guard.

Murphy is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hendricks is aware though and is defending well.
Hendricks not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hendricks tries to free his leg and advance position but Murphy is retaining full guard.

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.
Hendricks working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Murphy's head.
Hendricks chips away with some ground and pound.
Murphy really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hendricks tries to stand but Murphy is controlling from the bottom.
Hendricks wants to control from the top but Murphy keeps moving.

Hendricks gets to his feet - Murphy follows without any prompting.
Murphy throws a series of punches but Hendricks avoids them all with ease.
Hendricks buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Hendricks looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hendricks tries to free his leg and advance position but Murphy is retaining full guard.
Hendricks seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hendricks wants to control from the top but Murphy keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy has momentary wrist control but Hendricks slips an elbow through the middle.
Murphy will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Murphy looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hendricks trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hendricks tries to stand but Murphy is controlling from the bottom.
Murphy 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.
Hendricks lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hendricks goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Hendricks clobbers Murphy with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Hendricks feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Hendricks really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Murphy. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Hendricks looking to pass the guard.
Murphy keeping moving, preventing Hendricks from controlling successfully.

Murphy escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hendricks gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hendricks tries to free his leg and advance position but Murphy is retaining full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Murphy is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hendricks defends well.
Hendricks wanted to stand there but Murphy had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Hendricks dominated that round.
That's time! Murphy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hendricks rushes Murphy and presses him up against the cage.
Murphy is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hendricks pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Hendricks manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Murphy preventing the sweep.
Murphy throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murphyis looking to pass into half guard but Hendricks pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Hendricks is in guard.
Murphy keeping full guard, as Hendricks tries to pass.

Murphy working for a triangle but Hendricks defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Murphy keeping moving, preventing Hendricks from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendricks throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Murphy works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hendricks tries to stand but Murphy is controlling from the bottom.

Hendricks stands and steps away. Murphy gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Murphy tries for a takedown but Hendricks circles away easily
and Hendricks counters with a nice low kick that buckles Murphy's knee momentarily.

Hendricks looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hendricks slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Hendricks landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Hendricks postures up in Murphy's guard and throws a big left but Murphy blocks it.
Hendricks wants to control from the top but Murphy keeps moving.
Hendricks makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hendricks must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Murphy keeping moving, preventing Hendricks from controlling successfully.

Hendricks gets to his feet - Murphy follows without any prompting.
Hendricks staying out of range there.
Murphy throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Hendricks counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hendricks.

Hendricks gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Murphy regains guard.

Murphy is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy keeping moving, preventing Hendricks from controlling successfully.

Murphy is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Murphy looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hendricks trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hendricks showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hendricks trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hendricks lands a nice leg kick that just misses Murphy's sensitive parts.
Hendricks stuns Murphy with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Hendricks has taken the fight to the clinch.

Hendricks breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Murphy stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hendricks.

Hendricks has Murphy up against the cage in a clinch.

Hendricks is trying to trip Murphy. He has hold of a leg but Murphy is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Hendricks persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hendricks decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Murphy, up you get!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Murphy tries to keep at a distance but Hendricks has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hendricks utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Hendricks breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Hendricks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hendricks throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Murphy.
Murphy throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hendricks makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hendricks has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Left hook, right uppercut from Hendricks.

Hendricks rushes Murphy and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Murphy is trying to break free.

Hendricks escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Murphy tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Hendricks counters with a slapping leg kick.
Murphy throws a combination that misses

and Hendricks decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Murphy's guard.
Hendricks has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Murphy is proving hard to escape from.
Murphy keeping moving, preventing Hendricks from controlling successfully.
Hendricks looking to pass the guard.

Hendricks stands up and waves to Murphy to follow him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hendricks rushes Murphy and presses him up against the cage.
Hendricks lands a damaging elbow.

Hendricks breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hendricks tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Hendricks.

Hendricks shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Murphy napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Hendricks wants to control for a moment but Murphy uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Murphy has hold of Hendricks's hands but Hendricks slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Murphy pushes Hendricks off looking to stand but Hendricks dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Murphy is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hendricks pulls his head out easily.
Hendricks is trying to control. Murphy wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hendricks takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Hendricks stops Murphy from getting back to his feet.
Hendricks takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Murphy is trying to control but can't.
Hendricks looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Murphy looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hendricks tries to pass to full mount but Murphy defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy trying to control from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Hendricks throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Murphy was covering up waiting for the punch and Hendricks finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Steven Hendricks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hendricks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Murphy is keeping the position for now.
Hendricks is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Murphy working for a triangle but Hendricks defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks looking to pass the guard.

Murphy looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hendricks looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Nobu Murphy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Hendricks decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Murphy, up you get!

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven Hendricks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hendricks 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 26:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 25:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Hendricks!