PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Murphy (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?

Junior
vs
Murphy

190 cm
28
209 lbs
15 - 18 - 0

188 cm
21
199 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue 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 15 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thiago Junior!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brandon Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Wesley Smith and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Junior is trying hard to land a takedown here. Murphy sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Murphy misses with a few strikes there.
Left hook, right uppercut from Murphy.

It looks like Thiago Junior has been cut.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Junior shoots in but no luck this time.
Murphy lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Murphy throws a wild body kick that Junior sees coming a mile off.
Murphy lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Junior backs up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Murphy misses with an attempted mid kick.
Junior gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Thiago Junior's cut is getting worse.
Murphy lands with a hook. Junior tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Brandon Murphy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Murphy lands a nice shot that snaps Junior's head back.
Murphy misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A punch combination from Murphy misses.

Junior bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Murphy wants to get back to his feet but Junior drags him back down.

Junior thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Junior is trying to get an arm triangle but Murphy is defending well.
Junior is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Junior is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Murphy is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Murphy is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Junior has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Junior thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Murphy is looking to get back to his feet here but Junior is keeping cool and he's managed to take Murphy's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Junior working for a choke but Murphy reverses nicely into Junior 's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Murphy trying to stand up but can't free himself from Junior's guard.
Murphy must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Junior is working an open guard so Murphy takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior avoids the head kick by Murphy.
Murphy throws a series of strikes that have Junior backpedaling.
Junior avoids the head kick by Murphy.
Junior shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Junior. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murphy works over Junior's head and body with a nice combination.
Murphy stalks Junior and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Junior's face. Junior staggers backwards, shaken.
Murphy lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Junior circles away quickly and effectively.
Murphy goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Murphy lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Murphy throws the kick towards the body but Junior avoids it.
Murphy clobbers Junior with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Murphy misses with the combination.
Murphy throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Murphy lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Murphy swinging wildly here.
Murphy looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy stuffs the takedown attempt from Junior. Junior gets slowly back to his feet.
Murphy defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Junior.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Murphy!
Murphy looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Murphy lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Junior changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Murphy looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Junior tries for a kimura but Murphy is defending well.

Junior has an Americana. Murphy didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Junior is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Junior hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Thiago Junior!