PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Taj Gibson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Barry Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Gibson
vs
Murphy

189 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 1

180 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Taj Gibson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Barry Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Saam Ante and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gibson scores with a three punch combo!
Gibson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Murphy moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Taj Gibson has been cut.
Murphy fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Murphy lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gibson circles away quickly and effectively.
Murphy throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gibson.
Gibson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Murphy backs up against the ropes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gibson scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Murphy throws a good cross that connects.
Murphy with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Gibson to score with a decent uppercut.
Murphy throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Murphy tries for a takedown but Gibson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Murphy darts in looking for a takedown but Gibson gets double underhooks and turns Murphy into the ropes.
Taj Gibson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barry Murphy.

Murphy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Murphy looks to land a combination but Gibson avoids it well.
Gibson lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gibson sprawls well. Gibson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Murphy gets slowly back to his feet.
Murphy looks winded!
Gibson takes a swing at Murphy's ribcage but misses.
Murphy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Murphy fails with a takedown attempt.
Murphy misses with a double jab.
Gibson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gibson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Murphy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy tries for a takedown but Gibson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gibson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Murphy.
Gibson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Murphy backs up against the ropes.
A jab from Gibson does it's job there.
Gibson lands with a nice combination. Murphy backs away looking to recover.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Murphy throws a hook to the side of Gibson's head but Gibson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Murphy throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gibson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Murphy is looking to clinch.
Gibson misses with a two punch combination.
Barry Murphy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Murphy moves into range and clinches up with Gibson.
Murphy misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Gibson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gibson as he jumps to the side.
Murphy throws a right and a left that Gibson avoids nicely.
Taj Gibson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Murphy throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gibson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Murphy scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Gibson lands the left hand.
The fighters circle momentarily. Gibson darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Gibson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A right-left combo lands from Gibson.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gibson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Murphy throws a body kick that misses.
Murphy tries a head kick but it misses.
Sloppy strikes from Gibson. Those never looked like landing.
Gibson pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Murphy back to the ropes. Gibson follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibson misses with the combination.
Murphy tries for a takedown but Gibson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Murphy has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Murphy throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gibson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gibson fails to land with a series of punches.
Gibson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Murphy moves into the clinch.
Gibson trying to stall but Murphy improves his position.

Murphy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Murphy rushes Gibson and presses him up against the ropes.

Murphy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Murphy takes the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Murphy tries to land a front kick but Gibson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sloppy strikes from Gibson. Those never looked like landing.
Murphy throws a right and a left that Gibson avoids nicely.
Murphy throws a hook but Gibson blocks it.
Gibson avoids the head kick by Murphy.
Gibson is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Murphy tries a head kick but it misses.
Murphy tries a head kick but it misses.
Murphy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Murphy misses with a series of wild punches.
Gibson checks a leg kick.
Gibson connects with a crisp jab.
Murphy is breathing heavily.
Gibson fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy misses with the combination.
Gibson throws a one two combo.
Gibson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Murphy misses with a two punch combination.
Gibson lands with a nice combination. Murphy backs away looking to recover.
Gibson swinging wildly here.
Murphy throws a sloppy head kick and Gibson moves out of range easily.
Gibson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Murphy circles away quickly and effectively.
Gibson swats away the attempt to clinch by Murphy.
Gibson throws a nice looking combination but Murphy bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Gibson defends well and Murphy ends up having to push Gibson into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Gibson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Murphy breaks from the clinch.
Murphy scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
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!
Murphy throws a sloppy head kick and Gibson moves out of range easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Murphy is defended easily by Gibson.
Gibson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
No luck for Murphy with that takedown attempt.
Taj Gibson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barry Murphy.
Gibson throws out a powerful jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibson lands a two punch combo.
A combination from Murphy does no damage.
Murphy takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Murphy throws a head kick but Gibson moves out of range.
Gibson swinging wildly here.
Sloppy strikes from Gibson. Those never looked like landing.
Murphy looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gibson is fending him off so far but Murphy persists. Nope, Gibson circles away and we're back to standing.
Gibson stuffs the takedown.
Gibson throws a nice looking combination but Murphy bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gibson connects with a looping right hand.
Murphy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibson misses with a series of wild punches.
Murphy fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gibson avoids it really well and circles away.
Nice uppercut there from Gibson.
A head kick misses from Murphy.
Murphy is looking to clinch.
Gibson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Murphy fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gibson fails to land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taj Gibson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Taj Gibson's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gibson throws a combination. Murphy tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Murphy gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Murphy breaks the clinch.
Gibson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Murphy.
Taj Gibson is winning the standup battle so far.
A punch combination from Murphy misses.
Murphy has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Murphy throws a body punch but Gibson moves out of range.
Murphy looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gibson lands a two punch combo.
A punch combination from Gibson misses.
Gibson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Murphy moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gibson avoids the head kick by Murphy.
Murphy misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Murphy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gibson scores with a jab to the head.
Gibson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A combination from Murphy does no damage.
Murphy takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Murphy clinches up with Gibson and pushes him back against the ropes.
Murphy fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gibson is trying to stall.
Gibson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the ropes enables Murphy to keep the fight standing.

Gibson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Murphy.
Taj Gibson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barry Murphy.
Gibson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy throws a series of punches but Gibson avoids them all with ease.
Murphy throws a sloppy head kick and Gibson moves out of range easily.
Murphy shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Gibson lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Gibson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Gibson misses with a two punch combination.
Murphy throws a combination that misses
and Gibson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gibson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Murphy moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gibson keeps the fight on the outside.
Murphy is looking to clinch but Gibson is avoiding it.
Murphy is trying desperately to land a takedown but Gibson is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Murphy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibson swinging wildly here.
Murphy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Murphy throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gibson counters with a nice uppercut.
Murphy shoots in but no luck this time.
Gibson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Murphy moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Murphy throws out a leg kick but Gibson moves out of range and Murphy only half commits.
Murphy works Gibson's body with a nice hook.
No joy there for Gibson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Murphy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Murphy goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Gibson feints a jab promting Murphy to slip. Gibson then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Murphy slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy avoids a punch combination nicely.

Murphy closes the distance and clinches.
Gibson looking to stall.
Murphy scores with a shoulder strike.

Murphy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Murphy tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Gibson defends well and Murphy ends up having to push Gibson into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Murphy drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Murphy gets underhooks to prevent Gibson's takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Taj Gibson.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gibson, 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taj Gibson!
During a confident post fight interview, Taj Gibson thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.