PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bryant Whitaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erick Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Erick Murphy has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Whitaker
vs
Murphy

180 cm
22
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

184 cm
20
170 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bryant Whitaker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Erick Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yuuki Gou and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy wants to clinch

and Whitaker counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Whitaker loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Whitaker throws a big right hand that misses.
Whitaker throws a big elbow that misses.
Whitaker throws an elbow that misses. Murphy uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Whitaker's guard. Nice move by Murphy!
Whitaker 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.
Murphy wanted to stand there but Whitaker had control of the position.
Whitaker is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Murphy being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitaker has a closed guard, preventing Murphy from standing up.

Whitaker working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Murphy doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Murphy manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Murphy trying to stand up but can't free himself from Whitaker's guard.

Whitaker has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Murphy is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Whitaker.
Whitaker is trying to improve his position.
Whitaker tries to escape but Murphy is in control.
Whitaker on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Whitaker tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker is trying to get back to half guard.
Murphy wants to stand but Whitaker is controlling his arm.
Whitaker tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Murphy tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Whitaker is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Whitaker has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Murphy prevents Whitaker from escaping the position.
Whitaker struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murphy decides to stand back up. Murphy steps back and let's Whitaker get back to his feet.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Whitaker paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Whitaker shoots in for a double leg but Murphy sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Whitaker is breathing heavily.
Murphy fails with an attempt to clinch.
Whitaker tries for a takedown but Murphy sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Murphy gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Murphy working hard to break the clinch.
Murphy looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Whitaker is trying to pull guard but Murphy turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bryant Whitaker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A shot in the inside from Murphy.

It looks like Bryant Whitaker has been cut.
Whitaker has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Murphy avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Murphy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Murphy lands a nice shot to the body.
Whitaker keeps control of Murphy as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Whitakers head.
Murphy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Whitaker's elbow.
Murphy tries to throw a body punch but Whitaker avoids it by throwing Murphy back against the cage.
Murphy digs a right hand into Whitaker's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Whitaker's gas tank.
Murphy misses with a hook to the ribs.
Murphy lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Whitaker backwards.
A short left from Murphy.
Whitaker wants to break free but Murphy has control.
Murphy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Murphy presses Whitaker against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Whitaker jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Murphy walks away with a smile on his face. Whitaker gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch but Whitaker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch but Whitaker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Murphy cracks Whitaker with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erick Murphy dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bryant Whitaker's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Murphy fails in his attempt to clinch.
Murphy tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Whitaker counters with a nice double leg into side control. Murphy won't be happy with that.
Whitaker creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Murphy sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Whitaker throws an elbow but Murphy slips to the side and avoids it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The ground and pound from Whitaker seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Whitaker tries to move into full mount but can't pass Murphy's legs.
Murphy parries the strikes from Whitaker easily there. Whitaker is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Murphy to escape.
Bryant Whitaker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Whitaker working the head and body with strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Whitaker looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Murphy is avoiding damage well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitaker is trying to ground and pound but Murphy uses the momentary lack of control by Whitaker to regain half guard.
Whitaker missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Murphy blocking the ground and pound attempt from Whitaker.
Whitaker trying to advance position but Murphy counters by regaining guard.
Whitaker stops Murphy from standing up.
Murphy utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Murphy manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Murphy avoids it really well and circles away.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch but Whitaker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Murphy fails with an attempt to clinch.
Murphy stuffs the takedown attempt from Whitaker. Whitaker gets slowly back to his feet.
Murphy moves in looking to clinch but Whitaker pushes him off.
Murphy is looking to clinch but Whitaker is avoiding it.
Whitaker is trying hard to land a takedown here. Murphy sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bryant Whitaker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murphy is looking to clinch but Whitaker is avoiding it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Murphy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy tries to clinch but Whitaker is having none of it.
Murphy ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Murphy tries to clinch up but Whitaker circles away and keeps his distance.
Murphy tries to clinch but Whitaker is having none of it.
Murphy is looking to clinch.
Murphy moves in looking to clinch but Whitaker pushes him off.
Erick Murphy is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Whitaker circles away from the clinch attempt

and Whitaker counters with a takedown into side control.
Whitaker with the ground and pound but Murphy regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Whitaker sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Murphy defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Whitaker wants to free his trapped foot but Murphy is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Murphy is trying to stand back up but Whitaker is controlling him
Murphy blocking the ground and pound attempt from Whitaker.
Murphy avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Whitaker.
Whitaker thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Murphy's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Whitaker lands strikes from half guard.
Whitaker is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryant Whitaker dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Bryant Whitaker's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Murphy keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Murphy tries to clinch up but Whitaker circles away and keeps his distance.
Whitaker keeps the fight on the outside.
Whitaker fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Murphy wants to clinch up but Whitaker keeps it at a distance.
Murphy will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The crowd cheers as Murphy lands an impressive looking overhand right. Whitaker doesn't seem phased though.
Murphy is looking to clinch but Whitaker is avoiding it.

Murphy fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Whitaker, pushing him back against the cage.
Murphy lands a right hand that snaps the head of Whitaker backwards.
A hook to the body from Murphy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice body punch from Murphy - that landed with a thud.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy misses with a punch to the body.
Murphy lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Whitaker backwards.
Murphy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Whitaker's elbow.
Murphy digs a right hand underneath Whitaker's ribcage. Whitaker let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Erick Murphy seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Murphy lands a hook that snaps the head of Whitaker backwards.
Whitaker tries to break the clinch but Murphy is controlling the position.
Murphy wants to break free but Whitaker has control.
Murphy scores with a shot to the side of Whitaker's head.
Whitaker is trying to maintain a safe position but Murphy gets an underhook and turns Whitaker into the cage.
Murphy lands a body shot in the clinch.
Whitaker wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Murphy lands a body punch in the clinch.
Murphy lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Whitaker or not.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Murphy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy lands a left hand that snaps the head of Whitaker backwards.
Murphy makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Murphy scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Murphy throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Murphy softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short uppercut from Murphy.
Whitaker prevents Murphy from breaking the clinch.
Whitaker jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Murphy walks away with a smile on his face. Whitaker gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bryant Whitaker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murphy tries to clinch up.
Whitaker on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Murphy clinches with his opponent.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Murphy.
Murphy is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Murphy lands a nice shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Whitaker's efforts to push away.
Murphy lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Whitaker or not.
Murphy lands a nice shot to the body.
Murphy struggles to land a body shot inside as Whitaker controls his hands.
Murphy lands a body punch in the clinch.
Whitaker is trying to maintain a safe position but Murphy gets an underhook and turns Whitaker into the cage.
Murphy is looking to break free of the clinch but Whitaker has double underhooks.
Murphy gets through Whitaker's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Murphy wants to get back to striking at distance but Whitaker won't allow it.
Murphy prevents a takedown attempt there.
Murphy misses with a hook to the ribs.
Whitaker fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Murphy tries to break free but Whitaker pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker prevents a body shot from Murphy.
Whitaker fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Murphy struggles to land a body shot inside as Whitaker controls his hands.
A body shot lands from Murphy.
Murphy misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Whitaker.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murphy trying to land knees to the body.
Murphy working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Whitaker tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Murphy just stands there and leans against the cage.
Murphy works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Murphy creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Whitaker wants to break the clinch but can't.
A shot in the inside from Murphy.
Murphy can't find room to land a body shot as Whitaker controls the action.
Murphy lands a left hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erick Murphy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Murphy 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29

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