PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brian Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Staal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Murphy comes to the cage accompanied by Róisín Murphy - Pandora. Staal comes into a darkened arena with his song building. 2Pac - Ghetto Star (feat. Bad Azz) kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Murphy
vs
Staal

188 cm
32
213 lbs
30 - 13 - 1

195 cm
36
200 lbs
38 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Master Lee's One Stop
Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

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 30 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Brian Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 38 - 15 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Staal!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Staal throws a nice outside leg kick.
Murphy shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Staal misses with a two punch combination.
Staal throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've been informed that Staal has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
An inside leg kick lands from Staal.
Staal throws the left hand but Murphy avoids the punch easily.
Staal tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Murphy was well out of range. Poor timing from Staal.
Murphy with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Staal to score with a decent uppercut.
Staal looks to score with a jab to the body but Murphy is just out of range.
A jab from Staal misses.
Staal fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Murphy checks it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Staal lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Staal throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Murphy cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Staal throws a leg kick
and Murphy counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Staal misses with a two punch combination.
Murphy moves out of range as Staal strikes.
Good shot there by Staal.
Staal misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Murphy counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Staal misses with a leg kick
and Murphy finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Murphy moves out of range of the body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy checks a leg kick.
Staal swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Murphy blocks the body kick.
Staal throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Good standup being displayed there by Staal as he connects with a hook.
Staal feints and then cracks Murphy's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Murphy down.
Staal feints and then cracks Murphy's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Murphy down.
Murphy blocks the body kick.
Staal misses with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Staal plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
John Staal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Staal throws a leg kick
and Murphy counters with a nice low kick that buckles Staal's knee momentarily.
Staal takes a swing at Murphy's ribcage but misses.
A nice inside leg kick there by Staal. That's going to slow Murphy down.
Staal throws a leg kick that misses.
Staal throws out a loose jab but Murphy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Murphy checks a leg kick nicely.
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!
Staal scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Staal throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Staal throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Murphy checks a low kick from Staal.
Staal lands a really nice looking cross but Murphy seems unphased.
Murphy slips under a jab.
Staal throws a body shot but no joy.
Murphy on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Staal throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Murphy counters with a stiff right hand.
Murphy slips a jab from Staal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Staal dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Staal misses with a hook. Murphy ducked under it nicely.
Staal throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Murphy counters with a body kick that stops Staal in his tracks momentarily.
Murphy moves away from the strike by Staal.
Staal throws a front kick that sends Murphy stumbling back into the cage.
John Staal seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Staal swings for the body but Murphy moves out of range.
Staal darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Staal tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Staal connects with a body shot.
Murphy is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Murphy dodges the punch combination from Staal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Staal misses with an attempted mid kick.
Staal looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Staal throws a lazy body kick
letting Murphy counter with a right hand.
Staal connects with a body shot that sends Murphy's belly button to the back.
Staal uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Murphy has time to react.
Murphy checks the leg kick.
Good work by Murphy as he checks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A bone on bone clash there as Murphy blocks the leg kick.
A lazy body kick from Staal
and Murphy counters with a nice kick to the body.
Staal misses with a body punch
and Murphy finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Staal throws a solid leg kick but Murphy takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Staal.
Staal throws a head kick but Murphy moves out of range.
Staal looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Staal throws a front kick aimed at Murphy's knee but Murphy avoids it well.
Staal misses with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staal throws a body shot but no joy.
Murphy ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Staal misses with a combination
and Murphy finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Staal lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Murphy at a distance.
Staal scores with a three punch combo!
A low kick from Staal misses
and Murphy counters with a good low kick that Staal was not able to check.
Staal throws a leg kick but Murphy sees it coming and moves out of range.
Staal throws out a loose jab but Murphy uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Staal is looking to land body kicks.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Staal lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Murphy has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Murphy and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Murphy slips under a jab from Staal.
A looping hook to the body misses from Staal. Murphy does a little dance to reset his feet.
The fighters circling - Staal throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Murphy showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Staal.
Staal misses with a body shot.
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.
Murphy has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Staal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Staal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Staal looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Staal motions for Murphy to come forward. Staal throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Murphy keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Staal.
Staal throws the kick towards the body but Murphy avoids it.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Murphy might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Staal lands a slapping body shot.
Staal throws a front kick aimed at Murphy's knee but Murphy avoids it well.
Murphy slips a jab from Staal.
Staal misses with a leg kick
and Murphy counters with a low kick, right behind Staal 's knee.
Staal throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Staal misses with a hook. Murphy ducked under it nicely.
Staal has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Staal throws an off balance right hand
and Murphy counters with a body kick.
Staal tries to land a body kick
and Murphy counters with a stiff right hand.
Staal throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Murphy sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Good leg kick by Staal there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Staal tries to land a front kick but Murphy steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Staal misses with a low kick.
Staal scores with a nice strike.
Staal stuns Murphy with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Staal misses
and Murphy counters with a straight right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Staal throws a low kick, looking for Murphy's leg but Murphy calmly moves out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Staal.
Staal tries a head kick but it misses.
Staal throws a leg kick but Murphy sees it coming and moves out of range.
Murphy looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Staal misses with a body kick.
Staal digs a good body shot into Murphy's ribs.
Staal throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Staal tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staal throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Staal jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Staal pivots, looking for a leg kick but Murphy is out of range and Staal settles back down.
Staal punishes Murphy's body with a nice straight punch.
John Staal is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Staal cracks Murphy with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Staal throws a quick inside leg kick.
Murphy doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Staal pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Staal misses with a body kick.
Staal misses with an uppercut
and Murphy counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Staal throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Murphy counters with a nice body kick.
Staal connects with a right hand. Murphy shakes it off.
Staal misses with a hook to the body
and Murphy counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Murphy takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Murphy slips under a jab from Staal.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Staal throws the left hand but Murphy avoids the punch easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murphy takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Staal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Staal has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Staal!
During a confident post fight interview, John Staal thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
Brian Murphy was interviewed post fight and said 'I want to say to my fans that I'm sorry.'.