PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Patrick Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Babenco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Murphy
vs
Babenco

196 cm
24
184 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
171 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Patrick Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joe Babenco!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Paulsen Ambrosius and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Babenco shoots in and gets a takedown into Murphy's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Babenco 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Babenco pushing down on Murphy's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Murphy tries to get to full guard but Babenco has control of the leg.
Murphy is working hard here to advance position.
Babenco is pressing down on Murphy's thigh, looking to free his foot. Murphy is holding on for now.

Murphy actively working from the bottom here.
Babenco content to control rather than advance.
Murphy really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babenco tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Babenco escapes and gets back to his feet.
Murphy fails with the takedown

and Babenco counters with a single leg into guard. Murphy didn't expect that.
Babenco controls from within his opponent's guard.
Babenco preventing the sweep.
Babenco stays in close to Murphy's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Babenco pushing down on Murphy's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Babenco is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Murphy wants to get back to full guard.
Babenco is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Babenco is taking a breather. Murphy says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joe Babenco has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Babenco closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Murphy tries to buck Babenco off but Babenco is having none of it.

Babenco decides to stand up, so the ref orders Murphy to his feet.
Murphy moves in looking to clinch but Babenco pushes him off.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown but Babenco shows good takedown defense.
Murphy will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Patrick Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Babenco shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Babenco showed some decent athleticism there.
Murphy is breathing heavily.

Babenco is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Babenco moves into full mount! Murphy won't be happy about that!
Babenco looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Babenco controlling from mount.
Murphy tries to hold on but Babenco pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Babenco 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.

Horrible takedown attempt by Murphy or perhaps it was just good defense by Babenco, which made it look bad.
Babenco swats away the attempt to clinch by Murphy.

Babenco drives through with a takedown into guard.
Babenco controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Joe Babenco has got the better of the ground game so far.
Murphy looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babenco showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Joe Babenco hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Murphy fails with an attempt to clinch.

Babenco manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Murphy on his heels. He'll look to pass Murphy's guard now, I'm sure.
Murphy has momentary wrist control but Babenco slips an elbow through the middle.
Murphy knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Babenco on the ground.
Murphy is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Babenco controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Murphy is looking to stand up but Babenco isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babenco connects with a couple of short punches.
Babenco wants to stand but Murphy has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Babenco controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Babenco advances to half guard.
Babenco works his foot free and advances to mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Babenco content just to control the position here.
Murphy throwing hammer fists to the chest of Babenco. What's that going to do exactly?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babenco tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Murphy wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Murphy looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Babenco controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babenco is hanging on to Murphy's back as he tries to escape.
Babenco controls the position.

Babenco has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Murphy! Can he survive? No! He's out! Babenco gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Joe Babenco!