PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gaylord Focker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Murdock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gaylord Focker looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Focker
vs
Murdock

172 cm
23
134 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

170 cm
23
145 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gaylord Focker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matt Murdock!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Summer Carpenter and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Focker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Focker dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Murdock tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Focker paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Murdock scores with a push kick.
Murdock looks to land a left hand but Focker moved out of range nicely.
Matt Murdock seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Murdock fails with an attempt to clinch.
Murdock avoids a punch combination nicely.
Focker changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Murdock tries to avoid it but Focker manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Murdock to the ground. Murdock escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Focker.
A punch lands to the side of Focker 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Murdock tries to close the distance and clinch up but Focker swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Focker closes this distance looking for a takedown but Murdock circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gaylord Focker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murdock misses with a head kick.
Murdock throws a sloppy head kick and Focker moves out of range easily.
Focker fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Focker is breathing heavily.
Focker misses with a takedown attempt - Murdock sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Focker shoots in looking for a takedown. Murdock tries to sprawl out of it but Focker keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Murdock manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Murdock tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murdock fails with an attempt to clinch.
Murdock is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Focker throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Murdock's waist but Murdock gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Focker off to one side.
Murdock digs a good hook to Focker's body.
Murdock moves in looking to clinch but Focker pushes him off.
A punch combination from Murdock misses.
Murdock misses with a kick to the body.
Murdock tries to clinch there but Focker circles away.

Murdock takes the fight into the clinch.

Murdock breaks from the clinch.
Murdock swings for the body but Focker moves out of range.
Murdock misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Focker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Focker swinging wilding here.
Nice body kick there by Murdock.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murdock tries to clinch up but Focker circles away and keeps his distance.
Murdock tries to clinch but Focker moves out of range.
Murdock throws a head kick that Focker semi-blocks.

Murdock clinches with his opponent.

Focker gets a trip takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Murdock is trying to stand.

Murdock makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Murdock instigates a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Murdock creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Focker fails to pull guard.

Murdock manages to break the clinch.
Murdock fails in his attempt to clinch.

Focker tries to keep at a distance but Murdock has taken the fight into the clinch.

Murdock manages to break the clinch.

Murdock closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Murdock throws a knee to the head but misses.
Murdock lands a right hand that snaps the head of Focker backwards.
Murdock using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Focker has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murdock manages to break the clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Murdock.
Murdock tries to close the distance and clinch but Focker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Murdock tries to clinch but Focker moves out of range.
Horrible takedown by Focker or perhaps it was just good defense by Murdock which made him look bad.
Murdock is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Murdock throws a left and a right that both miss

and Focker counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Murdock!
Murdock wants to try and get back to his feet.

Focker moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Murdock has worked his arm free - good work by Murdock!
Murdock is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Focker is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Murdock has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Focker goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Murdock rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Focker's guard! Nice work there by Murdock!
Murdock is looking to stand up but Focker won't let him.

Focker is looking for a triangle here but Murdock uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Murdock has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A swing and a miss from Murdock.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Murdock dominated that 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.

Murdock clinches with his opponent.
Murdock landing knees to the head.
Murdock tries to land a knee to the head but Focker blocks with his arms.
Murdock throws a knee to the head but misses.
Murdock lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Focker tries to pull guard but Murdock won't allow it.
Murdock unloads a knee to the mid-section. Focker lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Focker avoiding damage as Murdock throws knees to the body.

Murdock breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Murdock tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Focker paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Murdock doesn't manage to clinch there - Focker circles away.
Gaylord Focker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice takedown defense from Murdock. No joy for Focker on that attempt.
Murdock keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gaylord Focker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murdock tries to close the distance and clinch up but Focker swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Murdock has taken the fight to the clinch.
Murdock crunches a lovely knee into Focker's ribcage.
Murdock has Focker pushed against the cage.

Murdock escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Murdock throws a series of punches but Focker moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murdock gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Focker tries to pull guard but Murdock won't allow it.
Murdock lands with a short punch from the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Murdock.
Murdock lands with a left to the head.

Murdock breaks from the clinch.
Focker fails with a takedown attempt.
Focker swats away the attempt to clinch by Murdock.

Murdock has managed to clinch.
Murdock lands with a short shot to the head.

Murdock breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Murdock lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Focker takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Focker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Focker ducks right into an uppercut from Murdock.

Murdock clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Focker wants a takedown but no success here.

Murdock breaks from the clinch.
Murdock jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Murdock tries to clinch up.
Murdock doesn't manage to clinch there - Focker circles away.
Murdock lands a jab-cross combination.
Murdock displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Murdock moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Focker looks to land a combination. Murdock sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Murdock goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Murdock instigates a clinch.
Focker tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Murdock looking to throw knees to the head but Focker is blocking nicely.
Murdock on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Murdock breaks the clinch.
Focker closes this distance looking for a takedown but Murdock circles away.
Murdock looks to land a combination but Focker avoids it well.
Matt Murdock is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Murdock tries to clinch but Focker is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Focker swats away the attempt to clinch by Murdock.

Focker closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Focker tries for a kimura but Murdock is defending well.

Focker tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Focker has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Murdock is trying to get back to his feet.

Focker decides to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Murdock gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Focker takes an elbow to the temple.
Focker wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Murdock breaks the clinch.
Focker circles away from the clinch attempt

and Focker counters with a shoot takedown. Murdock fights it but they end up in guard.

Murdock manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Focker showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Murdock.
Focker misses with a takedown attempt - Murdock sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Murdock looking to land some kicks to the body here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Murdock tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Focker clinches up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Focker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Murdock showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Murdock closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Murdock with a knee to the head.
Focker on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Focker fails to pull guard.
Murdock lands an uppercut.
Murdock lands a damaging elbow.
Murdock tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Focker jumps guard but Murdock stands there with Focker around his waist. Focker gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Focker.

Focker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Murdock tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Focker paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Murdock gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Murdock manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Focker takes one to the chin there.
Focker has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gaylord Focker. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Murdock has closed the distance and engaged Focker in a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murdock throws a knee to the head but misses.
Focker managing to block the knees to the body from Murdock.
A shot in the inside from Focker.

Focker breaks from the clinch.
Murdock lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Focker shoots in for a double leg but Murdock sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Murdock closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Focker on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Focker cracks Murdock with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Murdock connects with a crisp jab.

Focker gets the takedown into side control.
Murdock prevents Focker from improving position.
Murdock is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Murdock taking a bit of punishment here - Focker scoring with strikes.
Matt Murdock is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Focker swings around for an armbar but Murdock sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Focker's guard.

Focker working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Murdock doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Murdock manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Focker wants to get back to his feet but Murdock is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Murdock gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Matt Murdock seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Focker tries for a takedown but Murdock sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Murdock closes the distance but Focker moves to the side

and Focker counters with a takedown into side control.
Murdock prevents Focker from moving into mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murdock is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Focker is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murdock sneaks out the side door and pushes Focker away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Focker fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Murdock tries to clinch up but Focker circles away and keeps his distance.
Murdock tries to clinch up but Focker circles away and keeps his distance.
Murdock tries a head kick but it misses.
Focker changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Murdock tries to avoid it but Focker manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Murdock to the ground. Murdock escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Murdock looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Focker fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Murdock looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Focker blocks a head kick by Murdock.
Focker fails to land the takedown.

Murdock clinches up with Focker and pushes him back against the cage.
Murdock landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murdock keeps control of Focker as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Murdock lands a right hand.

Murdock breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Murdock tries to close the distance and clinch but Focker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Focker looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

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

Focker seems to be looking for submissions.
Gaylord Focker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Focker wants to stand up but Murdock manages to regain full guard.

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 Gaylord Focker.
I think Murdock 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Murdock!