PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shelton Joseph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tanner Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shelton Joseph has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Joseph
vs
Murphy

210 cm
24
215 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

185 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shelton Joseph!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tanner Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Frank Dennis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joseph shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Murphy pinned against the cage. Murphy gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch but Joseph swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Joseph displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Murphy.
Joseph tries to close the distance and clinch but Murphy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Joseph displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Murphy.
Murphy misses with a two punch combination.
Joseph stuffs the takedown.
Shelton Joseph has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tanner Murphy.
Murphy dives in for a single leg takedown but Joseph sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Murphy tries to break free but Joseph pushes him back against the cage.

Joseph's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Murphy shoots in for a double leg but Joseph sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Joseph fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy wants to clinch but Joseph slips to the side

and Joseph counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Murphy is trying to drag Joseph to the mat but Joseph just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Joseph breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Joseph pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Joseph fails to land with a series of punches.
Murphy is looking to clinch.
Murphy fails with a takedown attempt.
Murphy throws a body kick that misses.
Murphy closes this distance looking for a takedown but Joseph circles away.

Joseph clinches with his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy drops down looking for an ankle pick but Joseph pulls his leg out and moves away.
Murphy looks winded!
The fighters circling - Joseph throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Murphy tries to clinch there but Joseph circles away.
Murphy tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Joseph manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
No joy there for Joseph, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Joseph closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Murphy quickly recovers to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Joseph content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Joseph thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Murphy's head.
Murphy is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Shelton Joseph.
Murphy wants to clinch but Joseph slips to the side

and Joseph counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Joseph.
Joseph postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Joseph makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Murphy can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Joseph controls the pace.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Joseph's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Joseph passes Murphy's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy gets back to full guard.
Joseph stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Murphy swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Murphy trying to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Murphy can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Joseph controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shelton Joseph dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Joseph closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Murphy's guard.
Joseph is stalling in the full guard.
Murphy working a defensive guard but Joseph manages to pass into side control anyway.
Joseph wants to control but Murphy is keeping him busy.
Murphy on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Joseph really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Murphy tries to bench press Joseph off him but Joseph keeps the position.
Joseph tries to stand but Murphy is controlling his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph trying to control the action but Murphy is working from the bottom.
Murphy is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Joseph will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Joseph just content to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph lands an elbow.
Joseph 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 is looking to reverse the position.
Joseph content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Murphy is trying to control Joseph's posture but Joseph avoids it.
Murphy tries to improve position but can't.
Joseph scoring with punches from side control.
You can see the frustration on Murphy's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Joseph grinds an elbow into Murphy's temple.
You can see the frustration on Murphy's face as Joseph controls the position.
Murphy trying to control but Joseph flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
A lull in the action here.

Joseph working for the choke.
Joseph tries to keep control of the position but Murphy is staying busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Murphy's body.
Joseph is landing with strikes. Murphy can't take much more of this.

Joseph is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Murphy is trying to break free.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shelton Joseph dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Murphy misses with a takedown attempt

and Joseph holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Murphy throws an elbow but it misses.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Joseph is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Murphy to keep the fight standing.
Murphy content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Murphy misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Joseph is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Murphy can't fight it off and eventually Joseph manages to take the fight to the floor. Murphy looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Murphy keeping moving, preventing Joseph from controlling successfully.
Joseph looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Joseph avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph won't allow Murphy to sweep him here.

Joseph avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Murphy is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Joseph slips nicely into half guard.
Murphy has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Joseph is working away from the top position though.
Murphy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Joseph not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph is trying to control. Murphy wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Shelton Joseph.
Murphy shoots and misses

and Joseph counters with a shoot takedown. Murphy fights it but they end up in guard.
Joseph advances to half guard.
Joseph perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Murphy is staying active underneath Joseph, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Murphy is trying to maintain the position but Joseph is very close to passing his half guard.
Joseph winds up and cracks Murphy with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Joseph takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Shelton Joseph.

Joseph shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Murphy is trying to defend but Joseph finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Joseph trying to control from half guard but Murphy is working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Joseph moves nicely into side control.
Tanner Murphy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shelton Joseph is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Murphy is trying to work for a sweep but Joseph has mounted him!

And that's the end of the fight!
Shelton Joseph showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Joseph, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shelton Joseph!