PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Murdock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Garth Fourie (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.

Murdock
vs
Fourie

190 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
24
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Enjoys gardening

Predator Clothing

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe Murdock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Garth Fourie!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, William Gold and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murdock stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Murdock wants it to stay on the feet.

Murdock pushes Fourie up against the cage in a clinch.

Murdock gets control of Fourie's arms and successfully pulls guard. Murdock will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Murdock wants to sweep here but Fourie controlling him for the moment.
Fourie sitting in guard here, content to control.
Fourieis looking to pass into half guard but Murdock pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Murdock is in guard.
Fourie is trying to control the position but Murdock postures up.
Murdock pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fourie is keeping the position for now.
Murdock trying to control the position from guard on top but Fourie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fourie has his foot on Murdock's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Murdock works his way back into a safe position though.
Murdock controlling from the top position.
Fourie seems keen to control Murdock's posture.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Murdock rushes Fourie and presses him up against the cage.
Fourie lands a nice uppercut.
Murdock just leaning against Fourie, taking a breather.

Murdock jumps into guard, dragging Fourie to the mat.

Murdock wriggles free and stands up.
Murdock fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murdock keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Fourie shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Fourie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Murdock does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Murdock is looking for a sweep. Fourie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Murdock is working hard here to advance position.
Murdock makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Murdock.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fourie trying to control but Murdock is working from the bottom.
Fourie stands and throws Murdock's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Murdock wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Murdock trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

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.
Murdock is not content to let Fourie control the position.
Murdock is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Murdock tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Murdock tries to escape but Fourie is in control.
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 Joe Murdock will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Fourie pushes Murdock up against the cage in a clinch.
Fourie wants a takedown but no success here.
Murdock tries for a takedown but Fourie manages to get underhooks.
Murdock lands a body shot in the clinch.
Fourie is trying to drag Murdock to the mat but Murdock just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Murdock fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Murdock looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Murdock pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Murdock wants to clinch up but Fourie keeps it at a distance.
Fourie is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Murdock lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Fourie backs up against the cage.
Murdock misses with a takedown attempt - Fourie sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Murdock. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murdock throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fourie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Fourie fails with a takedown attempt.
Fourie is breathing heavily.
Murdock looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Fourie is fending him off so far but Murdock persists. Nope, Fourie circles away and we're back to standing.
A punch combination from Murdock misses.
Murdock misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fourie looks to land a combination. Murdock sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Joe Murdock is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Murdock throws a sloppy head kick

and Fourie counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murdock looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Fourie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Murdock swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murdock is looking to stand up but Fourie isn't so interested in that idea.
Fourie wants to control from the top but Murdock keeps moving.
Fourie passes Murdock's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murdock wants to get back to his feet.

Fourie decides to stand and escape the position.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Murdock.
Murdock misses with a jab to the body

and Fourie counters by clinching up.
Fourie is trying to push Murdock away but Murdock has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Fourie tries to score a body lock takedown but Murdock shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Fourie manages to break the clinch.

Murdock gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Murdock landing knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murdock fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Fourie throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Murdocks head.
Fourie jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Murdock walks away with a smile on his face. Fourie gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Murdock changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Fourie tries to avoid it but Murdock manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Fourie to the ground. Fourie escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Fourie listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Murdock shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Fourie sprawls well. Fourie wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Murdock gets slowly back to his feet.
Fourie fails with a takedown attempt.
Fourie throws a sloppy head kick

and Murdock counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Fourie!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Murdock tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Murdock trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Garth Fourie will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Murdock tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fourie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Murdock wants to clinch.
Fourie throws a head kick that misses
and Murdock counters with a solid body kick.

Fourie 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.
Fourie preventing the sweep.

Murdock has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Fourie off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Murdock instigates a clinch.
Murdock content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Murdock can't get the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Murdock manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murdock with a poor takedown

so Fourie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Murdock wants to get back to his feet but Fourie is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Fourie stopping the sweep attempt from Murdock.
Murdock keeping moving, preventing Fourie from controlling successfully.
Murdock tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fourie is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Garth Fourie hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Murdock lands with a right hand.

Murdock moves into the clinch.
Fourie tries to pull guard but Murdock won't allow it.

Murdock escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Murdock is looking to clinch.
Murdock digs a good body shot into Fourie's ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fourie wants to clinch

and Murdock counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Nice body punch from Murdock - that landed with a thud.

Murdock breaks from the clinch.
Fourie throws a left and a right that both miss

and Murdock holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Murdock breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Murdock shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Fourie napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Garth Fourie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Murdock advances nicely into full mount.
Murdock wants to control the pace but Fourie is squirming around nicely.
Murdock thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Murdock looking to control and managing it successfully.
Murdock in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murdock prevents Fourie from getting the reversal.
Murdock working Fourie over with strikes here.
Fourie really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Murdock looking to control and managing it successfully.
Fourie sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Joe Murdock.
I think Murdock 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Murdock!