PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Erick Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Genma Saotome (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saotome comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Everybody's Fool kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Erick Murphy has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Murphy
vs
Saotome

184 cm
20
170 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

195 cm
23
175 lbs
4 - 11 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Erick Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Genma Saotome!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Saotome will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Saotome tries to clinch but Murphy moves away

and Murphy counters by moving into the clinch.
Saotome wants a takedown but no success here.
Saotome is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Murphy is looking to break free of the clinch but Saotome has double underhooks.
Saotome working aggressively here.

Saotome breaks from the clinch.
Saotome shoots in for a double leg but Murphy sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Murphy misses with a takedown attempt - Saotome sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Murphy dives in and grabs Saotome's left leg, looking for a takedown. Saotome pushes down on Murphy's head and hops out.
Saotome doesn't manage to clinch there - Murphy circles away.
Murphy has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erick Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saotome will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saotome shoots in looking for a takedown. Murphy tries to sprawl out of it but Saotome keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Murphy manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Murphy fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Saotome, pushing him back against the cage.
Saotome wants to break the clinch but can't.
Murphy misses with a knee strike.

Saotome pulls Murphy into guard.
Murphy might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Murphy slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Murphy thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Saotome working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy trying to control the position from guard on top but Saotome is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Murphy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Saotome is keeping the position for now.
Saotome throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Murphy stands up and waves to Saotome to follow him.
Murphy fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Saotome shoots for a double leg takedown but Murphy sprawls well. He's pushed Saotome's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Saotome tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Murphy counters with a nice double leg into side control. Saotome won't be happy with that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Saotome's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Murphy advances to full mount.
Saotome tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Saotome avoids a series of strikes thrown by Murphy.
Murphy avoids the attempt from Saotome to control.
Saotome swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Saotome is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Saotome tries to buck Murphy off but he can't manage it.
Murphy thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Saotome tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Murphy has hold of Saotome's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Saotome manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Saotome tries to reverse the position but Murphy maintains control.
Poor strikes thrown by Murphy there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Saotome is looking to get to half guard.
Murphy wants to control the pace but Saotome is squirming around nicely.
Murphy thowing shots but they're missing.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saotome throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Murphy avoids the attempt from Saotome to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Saotome scores with a jab to the body.

Saotome gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Murphy has Saotome pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Saotome manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Saotome goes for a takedown in the clinch but Murphy prevents it.
Saotome is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Murphy to keep the fight standing.

Murphy drags the fight down to the ground.
Murphy wants to sweep but no luck.
Murphy is controlling Saotome's posture.

Saotome avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy wants to stand up but Saotome is controlling him.

Murphy throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Saotome with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saotome scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Murphy looking for a guillotine here but Saotome defends easily.
Saotome wants to get up but he can't break Murphy's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Murphy throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Saotome escapes and throws Murphy's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Saotome is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Murphy is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Saotome wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Murphy, who protects the arm well.
Murphy managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Saotome.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Saotome is looking to take a break and control but Murphy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Murphy trying to hold on to Saotome's head to control him but Saotome postures up.

Murphy has one foot on Saotome's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Saotome tries to close the distance and clinch up but Murphy swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Saotome paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Murphy looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Saotome tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Murphy stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Saotome.
Saotome wants to clinch but Murphy slips to the side

and Murphy holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Murphy tries to pull guard but Saotome forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erick Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saotome has had enough of the clinch but Murphy keeps him there for the moment.
Saotome is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Murphy pulls him back up using the underhooks.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Saotome breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saotome tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Murphy leaves Saotome with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Genma Saotome will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Saotome closes the distance and clinches up with Murphy, looking for a takedown. Saotome pushes Murphy against the cage but Murphy circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Erick Murphy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Murphy moves into the clinch.

Saotome manages to break the clinch.
Murphy shoots for a takedown but Saotome saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Saotome looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Murphy is fending him off so far but Saotome persists. Nope, Murphy circles away and we're back to standing.
Saotome darts in trying to clinch
and Murphy counters with a straight right hand.
Murphy takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Murphy takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Saotome fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Erick Murphy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Genma Saotome.
Saotome takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Murphy gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Murphy is trying to pull guard but Saotome has him pressed against the cage.
Saotome wants to break the clinch but can't.
A bit of stalling here from Murphy.
Saotome is trying to push Murphy away but Murphy has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Murphy can't get the takedown.
Murphy fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Saotome escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Saotome shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Murphy as he avoids it easily.

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

Murphy instigates a clinch.
Murphy is struggling to control the position.
Saotome is trying to push Murphy away but Murphy has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Murphy has had enough of the clinch but Saotome keeps him there for the moment.
Saotome wants to get back to striking at distance but Murphy won't allow it.

Saotome manages to break the clinch.
Saotome wants to clinch.

Murphy gets tackled into the cage by Saotome. Saotome maintains the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Saotome has him pressed against the cage.

Saotome escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Murphy moves into the clinch.
Murphy misses with a body punch.
Saotome tries to break the clinch but Murphy is controlling the position.
Murphy drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Murphy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Saotome smiles and moves away.
Saotome tries to clinch up but Murphy circles away and keeps his distance.
Murphy shoots in and drives through. Saotome sprawls well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Saotome.
Saotome tries to clinch up.
Saotome shoots in looking for a takedown. Murphy tries to sprawl out of it but Saotome keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Murphy manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Murphy blocks a head kick by Saotome.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Genma Saotome.
I think Saotome 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Erick Murphy!