PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Erick Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lamar Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stevenson has chosen XV ft. Pusha T- Awesome as his entrance music. 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.

Murphy
vs
Stevenson

184 cm
20
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

183 cm
20
175 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Erick Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lamar Stevenson!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Murphy paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stevenson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Murphy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Stevenson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Murphy wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Stevenson has him pressed against the cage.
Stevenson misses with a knee to the head.

Stevenson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stevenson looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Stevenson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Murphy makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Stevenson. No joy for Murphy on that attempt.
Murphy attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Murphy as he avoids it easily.
Stevenson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Murphy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Stevenson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stevenson tries to clinch up.

Murphy has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Stevenson gets tackled into the cage by Murphy. Murphy maintains the clinch.
Stevenson misses with a punch to the body.

Stevenson manages to break the clinch.
Murphy takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Stevenson misses with a wild body shot.
Murphy tries for a takedown but Stevenson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Stevenson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Stevenson.
Stevenson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Murphy after a bit of a struggle.
Murphy jumps guard but Stevenson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erick Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murphy jumps guard but Stevenson stands there with Murphy around his waist. Murphy gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

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

Stevenson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Stevenson lands an elbow inside.
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!
Stevenson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Murphy after a bit of a struggle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy tries for a takedown. No joy.
Murphy is breathing heavily.

Stevenson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Stevenson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Murphy gets to his feet. Stevenson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Stevenson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stevenson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Murphy shoots in but Stevenson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Murphy fails with a takedown attempt.
Stevenson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Murphy sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Stevenson is looking to clinch but Murphy is avoiding it.

Murphy gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Murphy lands a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy blocks a body shot from Stevenson.
Murphy is pressed up against the cage. Stevenson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Murphy down to the mat. Murphy avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Murphy as he jumps to the side.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stevenson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stevenson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stevenson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stevenson.
Stevenson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Murphy fails with a takedown attempt.
Stevenson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Murphy is fending him off so far but Stevenson persists. Nope, Murphy circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Stevenson shoots in for a double leg but Murphy sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Murphy shoots in but Stevenson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Murphy swats away the attempt to clinch by Stevenson.

Murphy tries to keep at a distance but Stevenson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Stevenson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Murphy blocks it with crossed arms.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Stevenson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Murphy circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stevenson fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lamar Stevenson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A head kick misses from Stevenson.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Murphy as he jumps to the side.
Murphy shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stevenson defends it nicely.
Murphy shoots in but no luck this time.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown but Murphy shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Murphy. No joy for Stevenson on that attempt.
Erick Murphy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lamar Stevenson.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Murphy.
Murphy shoots in looking for a takedown. Stevenson tries to sprawl out of it but Murphy keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stevenson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Murphy closes this distance looking for a takedown but Stevenson circles away.
Lamar Stevenson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stevenson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Murphy avoids a punch combination nicely.
Murphy keeps the fight on the outside.
Murphy takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Stevenson lands a nice looking body shot.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Murphy sprawls well. Murphy wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stevenson gets slowly back to his feet.
Stevenson throws a nice inside leg kick.
Murphy wants to clinch.
Murphy keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Murphy avoids it really well and circles away.
Stevenson tries to clinch there but Murphy circles away.
Stevenson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Murphy counters with a one-two to the body.
Stevenson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stevenson wants to clinch up but Murphy keeps it at a distance.
Murphy tries for a takedown but Stevenson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Murphy stuffs the takedown.
Stevenson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stevenson as he avoids it easily.
Erick Murphy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Murphy tries to clinch but Stevenson is having none of it.
Stevenson shoots for a double leg takedown but Murphy sprawls well. He's pushed Stevenson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch but Murphy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Murphy is looking to clinch.
Murphy keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Murphy closes the distance and clinches.
Stevenson is trying to drag Murphy to the mat but Murphy just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Murphy is trying to pull guard but Stevenson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Stevenson is pushing Murphy up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Stevenson tries to pull guard but Murphy won't allow it.
Stevenson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy tries to pull guard but Stevenson holds him up against the cage and eventually Murphy drops back down to his feet.

Stevenson breaks the clinch.
Murphy fails in his attempt to clinch.
Murphy scores with a decent looking hook.
Stevenson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Stevenson is looking to clinch.
Stevenson stuffs the takedown attempt from Murphy. Murphy gets slowly back to his feet.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Murphy as he avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Murphy tries for a takedown but Stevenson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Horrible takedown by Stevenson or perhaps it was just good defense by Murphy which made him look bad.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stevenson misses with a takedown attempt - Murphy sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lamar Stevenson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Stevenson dives in and grabs Murphy's left leg, looking for a takedown. Murphy pushes down on Stevenson's head and hops out.
Stevenson tries to clinch up.

Murphy darts in and clinches Stevenson up against the cage.
Stevenson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Stevenson tries for a takedown. No joy.

Stevenson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stevenson is looking to land body kicks.
Stevenson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Murphy fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Stevenson.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Murphy paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Murphy tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stevenson swivels and escapes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Stevenson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson being controlled against the cage.

Stevenson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stevenson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erick Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murphy fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stevenson manages to avoid it.
Murphy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Murphy shoots for a takedown but Stevenson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Stevenson has Murphy up against the cage in a clinch.
Stevenson goes for a takedown attempt but Murphy pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Stevenson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Murphy sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Murphy is fending him off so far but Stevenson persists. Nope, Murphy circles away and we're back to standing.
Murphy misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Stevenson clinches with his opponent.

Stevenson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Murphy shoots in for a double leg but Stevenson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Stevenson is looking to clinch but Murphy is avoiding it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stevenson is defended easily by Murphy.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch but Stevenson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Murphy darts in and clinches Stevenson up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Stevenson manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson fails in his attempt to clinch.

Stevenson clinches.
Murphy is trying to pull guard but Stevenson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Stevenson landing knees to the head.
Stevenson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Murphy gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Murphy tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Stevenson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lamar Stevenson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Stevenson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Murphy fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Lamar Stevenson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Murphy fails with the takedown.

Stevenson clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson lands a knee to the head.
Stevenson is stalling here.
Murphy is stalling here.
Murphy has had enough of the clinch but Stevenson keeps him there for the moment.
Murphy is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Stevenson is defending well.
Murphy misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Stevenson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stevenson tries to clinch but Murphy is having none of it.
Stevenson wants to clinch.
Erick Murphy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Murphy. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Stevenson swinging wildly here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lamar Stevenson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Stevenson 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lamar Stevenson!
After winning the bout, Lamar Stevenson thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.