PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rob K (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John McMurdoch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

K
vs
McMurdoch

172 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rob K!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, John McMurdoch!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Richard Clark and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
K misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

McMurdoch shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
McMurdoch lands with some strikes.
K tries to lock up and control but McMurdoch gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
K might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

McMurdoch stands up from mount. Strange move.
K fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt McMurdoch.
K pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

K gets the takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McMurdoch tries to get back to half guard but can't.

K thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
McMurdoch sneaks back into half guard.
McMurdoch makes his way to full guard. A much better position for McMurdoch.
K has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
K preventing the sweep.
McMurdoch keeping moving, preventing K from controlling successfully.
K postures up.
K won't allow McMurdoch to sweep him here.
McMurdoch is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
McMurdoch looks gassed!
K sitting in guard, not really doing much.
K wants to pass the guard but McMurdoch is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
K postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
McMurdoch tries for a takedown but K sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

K clinches up with McMurdoch and pushes him back against the cage.
McMurdoch stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

McMurdoch jumps guard.
K has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of McMurdoch is proving hard to escape from.
K pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McMurdoch is keeping the position for now.
K wants to control from the top but McMurdoch keeps moving.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
K gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

K fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. McMurdoch sprawls well initially but K persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
McMurdoch is refusing to be controlled, as K sits in half guard.
McMurdoch controlling the position well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
K stalling away here and it's allowed McMurdoch to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
K being controlled here momentarily.
K looking to sit in guard and control but McMurdoch gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
McMurdoch stands and throws K's legs to the side, diving into side control.
McMurdoch is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down K's shoulder. That is not cool.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rob K will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

K wants to clinch.

McMurdoch shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
K tries to control the position but McMurdoch now has his back.
K is taking damage to the body and head.
McMurdoch gets his hands free as K looks to control.

McMurdoch is looking for a choke. K gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. K manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
McMurdoch trying to control the position here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McMurdoch manages to escape and get back to his feet.
K throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
K wants to clinch.
K has his takedown stuffed

and McMurdoch decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in K's guard.
McMurdoch stays in close to K's body and controls the position.
McMurdoch lands a couple of digs.
K could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McMurdoch slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
McMurdoch is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
K preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McMurdoch sitting in guard here, content to control.
K is looking to stand up but McMurdoch isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
K working a defensive guard but McMurdoch passes into half guard.
McMurdoch is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
K is trying to control but can't.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with McMurdoch in particular looking to stall.
McMurdoch is looking to advance position but K won't allow it.
K punching from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

McMurdoch is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

McMurdoch is trying to work for a kimura but K is defending well.
McMurdoch is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

McMurdoch decides to return to a standing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John McMurdoch showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

A nice inside leg kick there by K. That's going to slow McMurdoch down.

K gets a clinch.
K tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

McMurdoch turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and McMurdoch manages to end up in side control.
K tries to improve position but can't.
K throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.

McMurdoch decides to stand back up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
McMurdoch lands with a light punch inside.
K wants to break free but McMurdoch has control.
K tries to pull guard but McMurdoch won't allow it.
K wants to stall.
K wants to break the clinch but can't.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

McMurdoch jumps guard and drags K to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McMurdoch manages to escape and get back to his feet.

McMurdoch darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
McMurdoch is tying to control. K wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
K wants to get back to full guard but McMurdoch has passed into side control.
K wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
K trying to control the position but McMurdoch manages to sink in the hooks.
What can K do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
K is trapped and McMurdoch is scoring with shots to the head and body.
K tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
K looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
K trying to control but not successfully.
McMurdoch controls the action.
K looking very determined here, making life difficult for McMurdoch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
K manages to reverse the position and now he's in McMurdoch's guard. Nice work there by K.
McMurdoch keeping moving, preventing K from controlling successfully.
McMurdoch lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for K!
McMurdoch tries to control but K wriggling away.
K takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
K is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
A nice elbow there by McMurdoch.
K tries to control McMurdoch's body but McMurdoch pushes him off. K squirms to his side and now McMurdoch has his back!
McMurdoch biding his time, controlling K.
McMurdoch lands an elbow to the side of the head.
K wants to control his opponent's hands but McMurdoch gets his hands free.

And that's the end of the fight!
John McMurdoch comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think McMurdoch 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John McMurdoch!