PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Legate Lanius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank McMurdoch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Legate Lanius has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Lanius
vs
McMurdoch

200 cm
20
144 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

170 cm
20
148 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Legate Lanius!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frank McMurdoch!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Chad Campbell and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McMurdoch misses with a straight left.
Lanius tries to clinch but McMurdoch moves away
and McMurdoch counters with a right hand to the body.
Lanius tries to clinch there but McMurdoch circles away.
Lanius closes the distance but McMurdoch moves to the side
and McMurdoch counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
McMurdoch tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lanius was well out of range. Poor timing from McMurdoch.
McMurdoch avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lanius works McMurdoch's body with a nice hook.
Lanius is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McMurdoch throws a right hand that misses

and Lanius moves into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lanius.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
McMurdoch tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McMurdoch looking to slow down the pace here.
McMurdoch is trying to force a seperation but Lanius has the dominant position.
McMurdoch blocks the elbow strike.
Lanius taking a breather.
McMurdoch tries to throw a body punch but Lanius avoids it by throwing McMurdoch back against the cage.
McMurdoch looking to stall.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lanius throws an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on McMurdoch's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Lanius blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lanius really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
McMurdoch is trying to stall.
McMurdoch pressing his opponent against the cage.
McMurdoch blocks the elbow strike.
Lanius prevents a body shot from McMurdoch.
McMurdoch is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
McMurdoch swings away with an uppercut that misses.
McMurdoch on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
McMurdoch is looking to break free of the clinch but Lanius has double underhooks.
McMurdoch doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McMurdoch tries a body shot but Lanius blocks it.
McMurdoch tries to break the clinch but Lanius is controlling the position.
McMurdoch dodges an elbow strike from Lanius.
McMurdoch can't break the clinch.

That's two 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.
McMurdoch struggles to land a body shot inside as Lanius controls his hands.
McMurdoch throws a head punch that misses.
Lanius prevents a body shot from McMurdoch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lanius.
McMurdoch wants to get back to striking at distance but Lanius won't allow it.
McMurdoch lands a hook that snaps the head of Lanius backwards.
McMurdoch avoids the elbow strike from Lanius, against the cage.
Lanius is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
McMurdoch avoids a wild elbow strike from Lanius.
Lanius on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lanius misses with an elbow over the top.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McMurdoch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lanius throws an elbow but misses.
Lanius creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
McMurdoch fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lanius keeps control of McMurdoch as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
McMurdoch on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lanius prevents a body shot from McMurdoch.
McMurdoch tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McMurdoch struggles to land a body shot inside as Lanius controls his hands.
McMurdoch misses with a hook from the clinch.
McMurdoch tries to throw a body punch but Lanius avoids it by throwing McMurdoch back against the cage.
McMurdoch fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lanius looking to throw knees to the head but McMurdoch is blocking nicely.
McMurdoch wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
McMurdoch misses with a hook to the ribs.
Lanius lands a left hand that snaps the head of McMurdoch backwards.
McMurdoch wants to stall.
McMurdoch misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lanius throws an elbow that misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, McMurdoch creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
McMurdoch misses with some punches.
McMurdoch avoids a wild elbow strike from Lanius.
McMurdoch wants to stall.
McMurdoch is trying to push Lanius away but Lanius has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Lanius takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

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.

Lanius breaks the clinch.
Lanius wants to clinch.
McMurdoch circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lanius tries to clinch up but McMurdoch circles away and keeps his distance.
McMurdoch jabs Lanius to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Lanius tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. McMurdoch manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
McMurdoch swats away the attempt to clinch by Lanius.
McMurdoch missing with a left hand there. Lanius was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
McMurdoch circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lanius tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McMurdoch paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McMurdoch misses with a body shot.

McMurdoch gets tackled into the cage by Lanius. Lanius maintains the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lanius looks to throw an elbow but misses.
McMurdoch tries a body shot but Lanius blocks it.
McMurdoch tries to work over Lanius's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
McMurdoch works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank McMurdoch dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Lanius doesn't manage to clinch there - McMurdoch circles away.

Lanius forces McMurdoch back against the cage and clinches.
Lanius working McMurdoch over with knees to the body.
McMurdoch blocks an elbow strike.
McMurdoch misses with a short punch on the inside.
McMurdoch stalling in the clinch but Lanius improves position.
Lanius blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
McMurdoch avoiding damage as Lanius throws knees to the body.
McMurdoch tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lanius's elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lanius.
McMurdoch swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lanius prevents McMurdoch from breaking the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from McMurdoch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lanius looks to throw an elbow but misses.
McMurdoch misses with a punch on the inside.
McMurdoch misses with a hook to the ribs.
Lanius pressing his opponent against the cage.
McMurdoch tries a body shot but Lanius blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lanius misses with a knee to the head.
McMurdoch misses with a punch on the inside.
McMurdoch tries a body shot but Lanius blocks it.
McMurdoch is looking to break free of the clinch but Lanius has double underhooks.
Lanius blocks a body shot from McMurdoch.
McMurdoch tries a body shot but Lanius blocks it.
McMurdoch misses with a short punch on the inside.
McMurdoch dodges an elbow strike from Lanius.
McMurdoch tries to work over Lanius's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A hook to the body from McMurdoch.
Lanius misses with an elbow strike.
A head punch on the inside from McMurdoch fails to land.
McMurdoch misses with a short punch on the inside.
McMurdoch tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lanius's elbow.
McMurdoch misses with a hook from the clinch.
McMurdoch tries to throw a body punch but Lanius avoids it by throwing McMurdoch back against the cage.
McMurdoch tries to throw a body punch but Lanius avoids it by throwing McMurdoch back against the cage.
McMurdoch blocks the elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
McMurdoch fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
McMurdoch dodges an elbow strike from Lanius.
McMurdoch blocks an elbow strike.
McMurdoch has a couple of punches blocked by Lanius.
McMurdoch tries to stall but Lanius uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Lanius looks to throw an elbow but misses.
McMurdoch throws a head punch that misses.
Lanius throws an elbow but it misses.
McMurdoch tries to throw a body punch but Lanius avoids it by throwing McMurdoch back against the cage.
Lanius throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
McMurdoch avoids the elbow strike from Lanius, against the cage.
Lanius throws an elbow but it misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McMurdoch.
McMurdoch tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McMurdoch is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A hook to the body from McMurdoch.
McMurdoch tries to throw a body punch but Lanius avoids it by throwing McMurdoch back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lanius blocking some punches.
McMurdoch is trying to push Lanius away but Lanius has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A head punch on the inside from McMurdoch fails to land.
McMurdoch misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McMurdoch swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McMurdoch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Lanius misses with a knee to the head.
McMurdoch misses with a body punch.
McMurdoch misses with a hook from the clinch.
McMurdoch fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
McMurdoch misses with a hook to the ribs.
McMurdoch is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
McMurdoch is breathing heavily.
Lanius throws an elbow but it misses.
Lanius blocks an uppercut.
Lanius blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Lanius prevents McMurdoch from breaking the clinch.
Lanius looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's four 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.
Lanius blocks a body shot from McMurdoch.
Lanius pushes off an throws an elbow but McMurdoch leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
McMurdoch wants to break free but Lanius has control.
McMurdoch tries a body shot but Lanius blocks it.
McMurdoch misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lanius comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
McMurdoch blocks an elbow strike from Lanius.
McMurdoch wants to break free but Lanius has control.
McMurdoch avoids the elbow strike from Lanius, against the cage.
McMurdoch working aggressively here.
Lanius misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McMurdoch.
McMurdoch misses with some punches.
McMurdoch misses with a hook from the clinch.
McMurdoch misses with a body punch.
McMurdoch blocks the elbow strike.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lanius blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
McMurdoch can't break the clinch.
Lanius throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Lanius looks to throw an elbow but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Frank McMurdoch will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Lanius tries to clinch but McMurdoch is having none of it.
McMurdoch throws a lazy uppercut

and Lanius counters by clinching up.
Lanius misses with an elbow strike.
McMurdoch avoids a wild elbow strike from Lanius.
Lanius pushes off an throws an elbow but McMurdoch leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Lanius misses with an elbow over the top.
McMurdoch dodges an elbow strike from Lanius.
McMurdoch tries to throw a body punch but Lanius avoids it by throwing McMurdoch back against the cage.
McMurdoch misses with the head strike.
McMurdoch struggles to land a body shot inside as Lanius controls his hands.
Still in the clinch, McMurdoch scores with a nice short uppercut.
McMurdoch lands a body punch.
McMurdoch tries to circle away but Lanius has him pinned against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lanius lands an elbow inside.
Lanius holding his opponent close, against the cage.
McMurdoch trying to stall but Lanius improves his position.
McMurdoch misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McMurdoch trying to control the position but instead, Lanius has worked for underhooks and has pushed McMurdoch into the cage.
McMurdoch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
McMurdoch misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McMurdoch blocks an elbow strike.
McMurdoch managing to block the knees to the body from Lanius.
Lanius content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Lanius tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
McMurdoch is trying to maintain a safe position but Lanius gets an underhook and turns McMurdoch into the cage.
McMurdoch misses with a body punch.
McMurdoch throws a punch but it's blocked by Lanius.
McMurdoch wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
McMurdoch swings away with an uppercut that misses.
McMurdoch wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lanius has him pressed against the cage.
McMurdoch is trying to break the clinch but Lanius is controlling him.
Lanius blocks an uppercut.
McMurdoch dodges an elbow strike from Lanius.

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.
Lanius blocking some punches.
Lanius prevents a body shot from McMurdoch.
McMurdoch looking to stall.
McMurdoch doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McMurdoch tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lanius's elbow.
McMurdoch misses with a punch on the inside.
McMurdoch lands a body punch in the clinch.

Lanius jumps guard.
McMurdoch postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Lanius uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Lanius is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lanius uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McMurdoch.
McMurdoch misses with a wild body shot.
Lanius wants to clinch
and McMurdoch connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lanius fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lanius looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
McMurdoch takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lanius looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lanius throws a shot to the body.
Lanius tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. McMurdoch manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
McMurdoch throws a right hand that misses

and Lanius counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Lanius.
McMurdoch struggles to land a body shot inside as Lanius controls his hands.
McMurdoch looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
McMurdoch throws a punch but it's blocked by Lanius.
McMurdoch misses with a hook from the clinch.
McMurdoch can't find room to land a body shot as Lanius controls the action.
McMurdoch swings wildly with an uppercut but Lanius uses good head movement to avoid it.
McMurdoch trying to control the position but instead, Lanius has worked for underhooks and has pushed McMurdoch into the cage.
McMurdoch wants to break free but Lanius has control.
Frank McMurdoch is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
McMurdoch throws a punch but it's blocked by Lanius.
McMurdoch blocks an elbow strike from Lanius.
McMurdoch content to slow the pace in the clinch.
McMurdoch tries to break free but Lanius pushes him back against the cage.
McMurdoch struggles to land a body shot inside as Lanius controls his hands.
McMurdoch blocks an elbow strike from Lanius.
McMurdoch is trying to break the clinch but Lanius has him pressed against the cage.
Lanius has McMurdoch pressed against the cage, preventing McMurdoch from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lanius throws a knee to the head but misses.
McMurdoch wants to stall.
Lanius prevents a body shot from McMurdoch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McMurdoch working hard to break the clinch.
McMurdoch misses with some punches.
Legate Lanius has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McMurdoch fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lanius with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Legate Lanius showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McMurdoch has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank McMurdoch!