PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Khalifman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Murray (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?

Khalifman
vs
Murray

185 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 1

185 cm
20
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Proof Supplements

Crippler's Corner
MMA's Best Nutrition

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 0 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Khalifman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Justin Murray!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Stewart Dunkirk and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murray will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Khalifman moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Murray lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Alexander Khalifman has been cut.
Murray looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Khalifman is fending him off so far but Murray persists. Nope, Khalifman circles away and we're back to standing.

Murray closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Murray is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Khalifman has escaped the position, nice work there.
Murray works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Khalifman is looking to regain half guard here but Murray keeps moving and retains side control.
Khalifman is working hard here to advance position.
Khalifman dodges the ground and pound from Murray.
Khalifman struggling a bit here.
Khalifman tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Murray wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
You can see the frustration on Khalifman's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Khalifman connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Murray momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalifman throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Murray stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A lazy left from Khalifman finds it's target.
Khalifman lands the left hand.
Khalifman scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Murray doesn't seem bothered though.
Khalifman misses with a two punch combination.
Khalifman will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Murray drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Murray drops back, looking for a kneebar! Khalifman looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Khalifman looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Khalifman!
Murray looks gassed!
Murray is trying to improve his position.
Khalifman cracks Murray with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Murray is trying to work for a sweep but Khalifman has mounted him!
Murray is desperately trying to improve his position but Khalifman has a good base and remains in mount.
Khalifman dominating with strikes here.
Murray is bucking up trying to escape but Khalifman cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khalifman content just to control the position here.
Murray tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Khalifman controlling from the full mount.
Murray in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Murray is wriggling around trying to escape.
Khalifman content just to control the position here.
Murray is trying desperately to improve position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Khalifman working Murray over with strikes here.
Khalifman looking to control but Murray is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Khalifman with good strikes from the mount here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalifman looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Murray is in a horrible position here. Khalifman smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Khalifman is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Murray can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Khalifman working Murray over with strikes here.
Khalifman lands with some strikes.
BOOM! Khalifman connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Khalifman prevents Murray from getting the reversal.
Khalifman trying to control but Murray is having none of it.
Murray taking shots to the head.
Khalifman landing punches.
Khalifman trying to control but Murray is having none of it.
Khalifman with a couple of short strikes.
Khalifman 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.
Murray is bucking up trying to escape but Khalifman cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khalifman working the ground and pound effectively.
Khalifman lands a big elbow.
Khalifman putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
The referee warns Murray that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Khalifman lands a big elbow.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Murray can do anything to dispel that myth.
A nice elbow there by Khalifman.
Murray is looking to get to half guard.
Khalifman is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Murray can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Murray wants to control but Khalifman is having none of it.
Khalifman landing strikes from the mount and Murray is in trouble!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Khalifman working the ground and pound effectively.
Murray is in all sorts of trouble here.
A nice elbow there by Khalifman.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Khalifman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Khalifman's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Khalifman moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Horrible takedown by Khalifman or perhaps it was just good defense by Murray which made him look bad.
Khalifman lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Nice takedown defense from Khalifman. No joy for Murray on that attempt.
Khalifman scores with a decent looking hook.
Murray stuffs the takedown attempt from Khalifman. Khalifman gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Murray as Khalifman shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Khalifman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Khalifman swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Murray.
Murray fails with the takedown.
Khalifman lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Murray is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Justin Murray seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Khalifman keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Murray takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Murray is breathing heavily.
Khalifman scores with a nice right hand.
Khalifman lands with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalifman lands a nice looking body shot.
Murray tries for a takedown but Khalifman circles away easily
and Khalifman counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Murray thinking.
Alexander Khalifman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Khalifman lands a glancing blow to the side of Murray's head.
Murray connects with a high kick.
Khalifman has his takedown stuffed

and Murray counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Khalifman!
Khalifman tries to reverse the position but Murray maintains control.
Murray can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Khalifman is looking to escape.

Murray looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Khalifman is desperately trying to improve his position but Murray has a good base and remains in mount.

Murray is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Khalifman has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Khalifman!
Murray is pulling down on Khalifman's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Khalifman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Khalifman trying to control but Murray is working from the bottom.
Khalifman sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Khalifman seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Murray for as long as he can get away with.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Khalifman lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Khalifman wants to control from the top but Murray keeps moving.
Khalifman working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalifman scoring with some ground and pound.
Khalifman trying to control but Murray is working from the bottom.
Khalifman controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Murray keeping moving, preventing Khalifman from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Khalifman scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Murray takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Khalifman ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Murray tries to close the distance and clinch up but Khalifman swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Khalifman throws a series of punches but Murray moves out of range.
Khalifman throws a shot to the body.
Khalifman fails to land with a series of punches.

Murray closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Alexander Khalifman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Khalifman is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Murray's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Murray is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khalifman wants to control but Murray is keeping busy.

Murray seems to be looking for submissions.
Khalifman gets full guard.

Murray drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Khalifman dives on top into guard.

Murray had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Khalifman is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Murray Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Khalifman's back instead.
Khalifman manages to reverse the position and now he's in Murray's guard. Nice work there by Khalifman.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Murray looking to control.
Khalifman stopping the sweep attempt from Murray.
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 Alexander Khalifman will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alexander Khalifman's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Murray slips a jab and a cross from Khalifman.
Khalifman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Murray.
Murray shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Khalifman as he jumps to the side.
Murray avoids a punch combination nicely.
Khalifman will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Khalifman scores with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice uppercut there from Khalifman.
Murray takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Khalifman swinging wilding here.
Murray shoots in for a double leg but Khalifman sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Alexander Khalifman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Murray.
Murray fails with the takedown.
Murray on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murray 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.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Murray slips nicely into half guard.
Khalifman is trying to get back to full guard.
Murray is trying to control the action in half guard but Khalifman is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Murray is looking to advance position but Khalifman won't allow it.

Murray is looking for a kimura but Khalifman is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Murray to get the leverage.
The fighters are battling for position here. Khalifman manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Khalifman trying to keep a closed guard but Murray is proving a slippery customer.
Khalifman is controlling Murray's posture.
Murray pushes down on Khalifman's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Khalifman keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Murray is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Khalifman doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Murray.
Murray not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Murray is looking for a kimura but Khalifman is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Murray to get the leverage.
Murray tries to pass the half guard into mount. Khalifman knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Murray seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Khalifman does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Murray is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Khalifman doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Murray.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Khalifman has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalifman misses the shot to the body.
Murray doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Khalifman counters with a stiff right hand.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Murray.
Murray is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Khalifman.
A swing and a miss from Khalifman.
Murray falls off balance throwing a combination
and Khalifman counters with a left and a right that stings Murray.
Khalifman lands a lovely overhand right.
Murray shoots in looking for a takedown. Khalifman tries to sprawl out of it but Murray keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Khalifman manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A punch combination from Khalifman misses.
Khalifman fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Murray avoids a punch combination nicely.
Khalifman scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Murray.

Khalifman gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Murray won't allow Khalifman to sweep him here.

Murray gets to his feet - Khalifman follows without any prompting.
No joy there for Khalifman, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A punch combination from Khalifman misses.
Justin Murray has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Khalifman throws a right and a left that Murray avoids nicely.
Khalifman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A punch lands to the side of Murray 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Murray has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Khalifman stuns Murray with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Khalifman misses with an uppercut. Murray saw that one coming.
Nice cross by Khalifman.
Khalifman stuffs the takedown attempt from Murray. Murray gets slowly back to his feet.
Murray tries to move into range but Khalifman moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Justin Murray.
I think Khalifman has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Khalifman!