PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John Grisham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arjay Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Murphy's choice of entrance music: 4 Minutes to Lockdown by Redman & Method Man. John Grisham has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Grisham
vs
Murphy

225 cm
28
147 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

174 cm
21
142 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Heavy handed

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Grisham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Arjay Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy throws a series of punches but Grisham avoids them all with ease.
Murphy misses with a double jab.
Murphy just misses with a punch to the body.
Grisham takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Murphy slips a jab and a cross from Grisham.
Grisham goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Grisham moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Grisham closes this distance looking for a takedown but Murphy circles away.
Murphy tries to bum rush Grisham with a series of wild strikes but Grisham uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Murphy with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Grisham closes the distance and clinches.

Grisham has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Murphy is trying to keep an underhook but Grisham manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Grisham thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Grisham knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Murphy on the ground.
Murphy is looking for a sweep. Grisham is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Grisham is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Murphy sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy wants to get back to his feet.
Murphy wants to get back to full guard.
Murphy slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Murphy has a closed guard, preventing Grisham from standing up.

Grisham avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Grisham stands up from Murphy's guard - Grisham perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Grisham moves away.
Murphy throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Grisham moves into the clinch successfully.
Murphy jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Grisham walks away with a smile on his face. Murphy gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Grisham shoots for a double leg takedown but Murphy sprawls well. He's pushed Grisham's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Murphy with a body punch. A glancing blow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Grisham slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Grisham shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Murphy manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murphy has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Grisham can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Grisham postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Murphy is trying to keep Grisham in close.
Grisham really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Grisham wants to control from the top but Murphy keeps moving.
Murphy wants to sweep here but Grisham controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Arjay Murphy has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Murphy misses with a wild body shot.
Murphy misses with a body punch

and Grisham counters by clinching up.

Grisham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Murphy looks to score with a jab to the body but Grisham is just out of range.
Grisham misses with a two punch combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Grisham bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
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!
Grisham is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Murphy will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Murphy is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Grisham dominated that round.
That's time! Grisham's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Murphy lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Grisham.
Murphy misses with a two punch combination.

Grisham drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Murphy is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Grisham off and has taken his back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grisham is keeping busy.
Murphy throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Murphy is controlling the position but Grisham somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Murphy seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Grisham does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grisham wants to control but Murphy is keeping busy.
Murphy looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Murphy seems to be looking for submissions.
Grisham tries to get to full guard but Murphy has control of the leg.
John Grisham overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Murphy is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Murphy not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grisham wants to improve his position but Murphy is controlling well.
Grisham is refusing to be controlled, as Murphy sits in half guard.
Murphy not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Grisham trying to hold on to Murphy's head to control him but Murphy postures up.
Grisham is not content to let Murphy control the position.

Murphy is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Grisham is trying to maintain the position but Murphy is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is taking a breather. Grisham says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Murphy is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Grisham!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murphy wants to control the pace but Grisham is squirming around nicely.
Grisham wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Murphy.

Murphy swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Arjay Murphy!
During a confident post fight interview, Arjay Murphy thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.