PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kirk Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stan Marsh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Murphy
vs
Marsh

188 cm
26
222 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

187 cm
23
205 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 10 - 7 - 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 Los Angeles, Stan Marsh!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marsh fails to land with a series of punches.
Marsh on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Marsh dives in and grabs Murphy's left leg, looking for a takedown. Murphy pushes down on Marsh's head and hops out.
Murphy misses with a kick to the body.
Murphy throws a combination that misses
and Marsh connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

It looks like Kirk Murphy has been cut.
Marsh throws a hook but Murphy blocks it.
Marsh lands a jab.
Kirk Murphy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Good standup being displayed there by Murphy as he connects with a hook.
Marsh lands with an overhand left.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marsh keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Murphy stuffs the takedown attempt from Marsh. Marsh gets slowly back to his feet.
Marsh shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Murphy as he avoids it easily.
Kirk Murphy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stan Marsh.

Murphy shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Marsh is trying to defend but Murphy finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Murphy wants to lay and pray for a moment but Marsh keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Marsh is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Marsh is looking to escape.
Murphy wants to free his trapped foot but Marsh is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Murphy is working hard here to advance position.
Marsh looks like he's trying to stand up.
Marsh taking some punishment here, with Murphy in his half guard.
Murphy is looking to take a break and control but Marsh is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Marsh avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Murphy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murphy keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Murphy is looking to take a break and control but Marsh is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Marsh is trying to stand.
Marsh 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.
Ground and pound from Murphy.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Marsh can do anything to dispel that myth.
Murphy not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Murphy is looking to advance position but Marsh won't allow it.
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.
Marsh pushes Murphy off looking to stand but Murphy dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murphy is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Marsh is looking to escape.
Marsh looks gassed!

Murphy is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Marsh doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Murphy.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Marsh wants to get back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown but Marsh shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four 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.
Marsh misses with a body shot.
Marsh uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Murphy.
Murphy throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Murphy displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Marsh.
Marsh takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Murphy closes the distance and clinches up with Marsh, looking for a takedown. Murphy pushes Marsh against the cage but Marsh circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Marsh avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice defenses there by Marsh.
Murphy throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marsh throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Marsh shoots in but Murphy avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Marsh stuffs the takedown attempt from Murphy. Murphy gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stan Marsh dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kirk Murphy's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Murphy shoots in for a takedown but Marsh shows good takedown defense.
Marsh fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Murphy avoids it really well and circles away.
Marsh looks to score with a jab to the body but Murphy is just out of range.
Murphy misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Murphy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Marsh looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Marsh seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Murphy blocking the ground and pound attempt from Marsh.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marsh prevents Murphy from standing back up.
Murphy keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marsh working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Murphy scores with a few weak punches.
Marsh scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Murphy blocking the ground and pound attempt from Marsh.
Marsh trying to control from half guard but Murphy is working away.
Murphy keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Marsh is breathing heavily.
Murphy manages to get to full guard.
Marsh working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Murphy keeping moving, preventing Marsh from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Murphy is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marsh wants to stand and escape but Murphy is having none of it.
Murphy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marsh is keeping the position for now.
Marsh being controlled here, momentarily.
Murphy sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Marsh's guard.
Murphy looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Murphy throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is nestled in close to Marsh, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Murphy works his way into side control.
Murphy prevents Marsh from escaping the position.

Murphy is trying to get an arm triangle but Marsh is defending well.
Murphy tries to move to mount but Marsh blocks the move with his legs.
Marsh defending against the ground and pound.
Marsh wants to get back to his feet but Murphy drags him back down.
Murphy cracks Marsh with a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy wants to lay and pray for a moment but Marsh keeps working.
Murphy throws an elbow but Marsh slips to the side and avoids it well.
Murphy tries to advance to mount but can't.
Murphy postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Murphy throws a nice looking combination but Marsh bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Murphy swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Marsh to counter with a crisp jab.
Murphy misses the jab.

Murphy shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Marsh is not content to let Murphy control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Stan Marsh will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Kirk Murphy's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Murphy stuffs the takedown attempt from Marsh. Marsh gets slowly back to his feet.
Marsh connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Marsh doesn't succeed with the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Marsh is trying hard to land a takedown here. Murphy sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kirk Murphy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stan Marsh.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stan Marsh seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Murphy.
Murphy misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Murphy tries to keep at a distance but Marsh has taken the fight into the clinch.
Murphy managing to block the knees to the body from Marsh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy avoids a wild elbow strike from Marsh.
Murphy is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Marsh gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A head punch on the inside from Murphy fails to land.
Marsh tries to land a knee to the head but Murphy blocks with his arms.
Marsh lands a body shot.
Marsh looking to throw knees to the head but Murphy is blocking nicely.
Marsh throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Murphy blocks it with crossed arms.

Marsh is fighting off a takedown attempt but Murphy is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Marsh to the mat. Marsh regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Murphy working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Marsh is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Murphy is controlling him.
Murphy wants to control from the top but Marsh keeps moving.
Murphy tries to free his leg and advance position but Marsh is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy throws a strike but Marsh rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Murphy looking for a sweep. Not yet Murphy, not yet.

Murphy had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Marsh defends it easily.
Marsh lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Marsh preventing the sweep.
Marsh is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Marsh working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Murphy's head.
Murphy wants to sweep here but Marsh controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy keeping full guard, as Marsh tries to pass.
Murphy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marsh is one step ahead there.
Murphy trying to keep a closed guard but Marsh is proving a slippery customer.
Murphy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marsh is one step ahead there.
Marsh content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kirk Murphy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Marsh distracts Murphy with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Marsh lands a couple of elbows.
Marsh preventing the sweep.
Marsh cracks Murphy with a solid left hand.
Marsh thows a big elbow that misses.
Murphy throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Marsh lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Murphy working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Marsh doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Marsh manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Marsh got a little sloppy there for a moment and Murphy has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Marsh has managed to get both his arms back between Murphy's legs - danger averted.
Marsh with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stan Marsh comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Marsh winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Suge Night scores the fight 28:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stan Marsh!