PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Piroco Murcho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riley Freeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Riley Freeman has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Murcho
vs
Freeman

179 cm
21
185 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

183 cm
23
198 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Piroco Murcho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Riley Freeman!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Freeman on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Freeman scores with a nice strike.
Murcho moves forwards but Freeman connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Freeman throws a hook to the side of Murcho's head but Murcho sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Freeman scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Murcho doesn't seem bothered though.
Freeman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Freeman wants it to stay on the feet.
Murcho takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Freeman misses with a double jab.
Freeman fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Murcho manages to avoid it.

Murcho looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Freeman!
Murcho tries to control but Freeman wriggling away.
Freeman really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Murcho. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Murcho looking to secure an arm triangle but Freeman defends it well.
Freeman is squirming around, avoiding Murcho's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Murcho wants to control the pace but Freeman is squirming around nicely.

Murcho is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Freeman has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Murcho is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Freeman to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Freeman shrugs it off.
Murcho looking to control but Freeman is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Freeman tries to lock up and control but Murcho gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

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.
Freeman manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murcho wants to control but Freeman is keeping him busy.

Murcho is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Freeman has managed to free his arm - good work.
Murcho is trying to control. Freeman wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Murcho controlling the action here.
Freeman won't allow Murcho to pass to mount.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murcho has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Murcho looking to secure an arm triangle but Freeman defends it well.

Murcho swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Freeman is now in Murcho's guard. A big mistake from Murcho there, giving up the dominant position!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murcho working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Freeman.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Murcho manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Freeman manages to get himself to full guard.
Murcho trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Murcho wants to control from the top but Freeman keeps moving.
Freeman pulls Murcho in close to his closed guard and prevents Murcho from doing any damage or advancing position.
Murcho stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Freeman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Freeman keeping moving, preventing Murcho from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Piroco Murcho will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Freeman misses with a body shot

and Murcho counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Freeman!
Freeman has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Murcho's lack of action.
Murcho controlling the action here.
Murcho is keen to just control but Freeman is a slippery customer.
Freeman wants to improve his position but Murcho is controlling well.
Well, if Murcho is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Freeman is doing well to control the position and prevent Murcho from advancing to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Murcho is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Murcho is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Freeman reverses the position - he's now on top in Murcho's guard.
Murcho pulls Freeman in close to prevent any damage.
Freeman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Murcho is keeping the position for now.
Freeman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Murcho looking to hit a scissor sweep but Freeman is one step ahead there.
Murcho trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Murcho utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Murcho wants to sweep but no luck.
Murcho controlling Freeman's posture.
Freeman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Murcho is trying to control the position but Freeman postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Piroco Murcho.
Murcho takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A lazy left from Freeman finds it's target.
Freeman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Murcho was well out of range. Poor timing from Freeman.
Some wild striking there from Murcho.
Riley Freeman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Freeman misses with a straight right.
Freeman throws a combination that misses

and Murcho counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Murcho sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Freeman's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murcho looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Murcho wants to take a breather but Freeman is having none of it.
Murcho content to control rather than advance.
Murcho works his foot free and advances to mount.
Freeman can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Murcho trying to control but Freeman is having none of it.
Freeman is working to get back to half guard.
Murcho looking to control but Freeman is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Murcho has hold of Freeman's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Freeman manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Piroco Murcho dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Freeman misses with a kick to the body

and Murcho counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Freeman keeping moving, preventing Murcho from controlling successfully.
Murcho missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Murcho sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Freeman's guard.

Murcho is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Murcho prevents Freeman from improving his position.
Freeman is trying to control but can't.
Murcho trying to pass the guard but Freeman defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murcho prevents Freeman from improving his position.

Murcho decides to return to a standing position.
Freeman throws a body punch but Murcho moves out of range.

Murcho closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Freeman did well to prevent Murcho getting side control.
Murcho perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Freeman is looking to control Murcho's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Freeman avoid being mounted?

Murcho wants to work for an arm triangle but Freeman is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Murcho wants to take a breather but Freeman is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freeman is looking to control Murcho's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Freeman avoid being mounted?

Murcho is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Freeman sees it coming and defends easily.

Murcho is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Freeman is just riding it out for now. Murcho eventually gives up the hold.

Murcho is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Freeman still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Freeman has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Murcho regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murcho moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Freeman throwing strikes but missing.
Freeman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Riley Freeman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Freeman trying to control the position from guard on top but Murcho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Freeman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Murcho works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Freeman scoring with punches to the head and body.
Freeman won't allow Murcho to get back to his feet.
Freeman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Murcho is keeping the position for now.
Freeman trying to control but Murcho is working from the bottom.
Murcho is trying to keep Freeman in close.

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.

Murcho looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Murcho is pulling down on Freeman's head to control his posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Murcho is on top in guard.
Freeman keeping moving, preventing Murcho from controlling successfully.
Murcho trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Murcho trying to control but Freeman is working from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Murcho is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Freeman is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Freeman has escaped and now he's on top!
Piroco Murcho is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Freeman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

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

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Piroco Murcho!