PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Murdock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rich Pena (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Pena's choice of entrance music: RAWR. Joe Murdock has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Murdock
vs
Pena

190 cm
25
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

189 cm
25
187 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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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 3 - 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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Rich Pena!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Steven Brown and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murdock keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Murdock keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Murdock clinches.
Pena tries for a takedown. No joy.
Joe Murdock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rich Pena.
Murdock trying to stall but Pena improves his position.
Murdock can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.

Murdock successfully pulls guard.
Pena postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pena throwing strikes but missing.
Pena really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Murdock. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Murdock utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Murdock is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pena is controlling him.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Pena's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murdock is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pena is controlling him.
Pena throwing strikes but missing.
Pena throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Murdock works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pena loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Pena scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Murdock is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Pena tries to get to full guard but Murdock has control of the leg.

That's two 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.
Murdock is trying to control. Pena wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Pena wants to get back to full guard.
Pena trying to control here.
Murdock seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pena can do anything to dispel that myth.
Pena is looking for a sweep. Murdock is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pena is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Murdock's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Murdock's back!
Pena is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Murdock up.
Pena keeps control of the position as Murdock tries to break free.
Pena lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Murdock tries to roll but Pena sticks to his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Can Murdock hold on?! Pena is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Can Murdock hold on?! Pena is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Pena softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Murdock wants to control his opponent's hands but Pena gets his hands free.
Murdock is breathing heavily.
Murdock is trying to break free.
Pena is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Pena gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Pena gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Pena apologises and we restart here on the feet.

Murdock gets caught napping as Pena dives in and scores a takedown. Murdock manages to retain guard.
Pena chips away with some ground and pound.
Pena chips away with some ground and pound.
Pena tries to free his leg and advance position but Murdock is retaining full guard.
Pena working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Murdock's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pena throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Murdock works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pena with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pena is in close to Murdock's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Murdock is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Pena with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pena stops Murdock from standing up.
Pena keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Murdock's head.
Pena postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Murdock has momentary wrist control but Pena slips an elbow through the middle.
Pena chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rich Pena dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Pena 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.
Murdock trying to control the position.
Pena is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Pena loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Pena trying to move into half guard but instead Murdock has managed to sweep!
Pena controlling the position.
Murdock stopping the sweep attempt from Pena.
Murdock wants to control from the top but Pena keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Pena is pulling down on Murdock's head. It's preventing any offense from Murdock, at least for the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Joe Murdock just wasn't active enough.
Murdock shoots and misses

and Pena counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Pena looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Murdock is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Pena scores with a couple of nice shots.
Pena lands with a punch from half guard.
Murdock is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Pena scores with a couple of nice shots.
Pena scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Pena wants to lay and pray for a moment but Murdock keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murdock is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Pena scores with a couple of nice shots.
Pena thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Murdock looks like he's trying to stand up.
Pena is pressing down on Murdock's thigh, looking to free his foot. Murdock is holding on for now.
Pena looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pena takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Pena thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Still in half guard, Pena seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pena working over Murdock with some ground and pound. Murdock looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Pena drops an elbow to the side of Murdock's head.
Nice strikes from Pena there.
Pena thows a huge punch but Murdock dodges it nicely.
Nice strikes from Pena there.
Pena lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Murdock makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Murdock as Pena shoots in.
Pena with a poor takedown

and Murdock counters by moving into the clinch.
Pena can't get the takedown.
Joe Murdock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rich Pena.
Murdock is trying to push Pena away but Pena has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Knees to the body from Murdock.
Murdock gets underhooks to prevent Pena's takedown attempt.

Murdock pulls guard successfully.
Pena throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pena wants to control from the top but Murdock keeps moving.
Pena trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rich Pena showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Pena with a lazy takedown attempt
and Murdock counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Murdock throws a head kick but Pena moves out of range.
Murdock tries to clinch up but Pena circles away and keeps his distance.
Pena misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Pena fails with the takedown
and Murdock counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Joe Murdock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rich Pena.
Murdock throws a nice looking combination but Pena bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murdock tries to clinch but Pena moves out of range.
Murdock connects with a leg kick. Pena looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Pena takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nice sprawl there from Pena as Murdock shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murdock looking to score a takedown here. Pena is defending well but Murdock drives through and ends up in Pena's guard.
Pena is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Murdock has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Pena is proving hard to escape from.
Rich Pena has got the better of the ground game so far.
Murdock trying to control but Pena is working from the bottom.
Murdock trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Murdock is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Murdock wants to stand but Pena has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pena is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Nice strikes from Pena there.
Pena working the head and body with strikes.
Pena working Murdock over with strikes.
Murdock is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Pena scores with a couple of nice shots.
Pena scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Pena connects with a nice short shot to Murdock's temple.
Pena drops an elbow to the side of Murdock's head.
Pena slips a nice elbow through Murdock's hands, connecting with Murdock's forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pena stops Murdock from getting back to his feet.
Pena 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.
Pena is nestled in close to Murdock, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Pena scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Pena working the head and body with strikes.
Ground and pound from Pena.
Pena working over Murdock with some ground and pound. Murdock looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Pena takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Pena passes to full mount!
Pena with shots to the head and body - Murdock looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pena raining down shots from the mount!
Murdock taking shots to the head.
Pena looking to finish Murdock with some ground and pound. This is bad for Murdock!
Pena looking to finish Murdock with some ground and pound. This is bad for Murdock!
Pena looking to finish Murdock with some ground and pound. This is bad for Murdock!

Murdock is rocked!
Murdock takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Oh Murdock is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pena is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Murdock is in a horrible position here. Pena smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Joe Murdock has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rich Pena is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pena is landing with some decent strikes but Murdock is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rich Pena comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pena 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rich Pena!