PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lamont Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joey Thatcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lamont Murphy has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Murphy
vs
Thatcher

211 cm
24
178 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

180 cm
24
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Lamont Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Joey Thatcher!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Chris Edwards and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thatcher dives in and scores a takedown into Murphy's guard.
Murphy is striking from the bottom but Thatcher uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Thatcher is thwarting Murphy's attempts to control the position.
Murphy moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Murphy is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Thatcher defends well.

Murphy is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Murphy working for submissions but it's allowed Thatcher to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murphy looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Murphy actively working from the bottom here.
Thatcher is trying to control. Murphy wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Thatcher moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Murphy.
Thatcher working away.
Murphy throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Murphy is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Thatcher is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Thatcher trying to control the action but Murphy is working from the bottom.
Murphy throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thatcher has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Thatcher blocks Murphy's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Murphy tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Thatcher blocks Murphy's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Thatcher looking to control but Murphy is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Murphy slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Murphy is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Murphy moves into full guard.
Thatcher really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Murphy. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Murphy striking off his back but it's not causing Thatcher any problems.
Thatcher trying to control but Murphy is working from the bottom.
Murphy controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Thatcher trying to control the position from guard on top but Murphy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Thatcher wants to get up but he can't break Murphy's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Thatcher gets a clinch.

Thatcher breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Murphy enables Thatcher to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Murphy manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Thatcher has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Murphy is proving hard to escape from.

Murphy working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Thatcher doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Thatcher manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Murphy throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Thatcher dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Thatcher pushes Murphy up against the cage in a clinch.
Murphy is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Thatcher is defending well for now.
Murphy lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Thatcher or not.

Thatcher's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Thatcher closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Thatcher has hold of one of Murphy's legs. Murphy is fighting the takedown attempt but Thatcher gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Murphy working for a triangle but Thatcher defends it easily.

Murphy is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Thatcher defends well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Murphy looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Joey Thatcher has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Murphy holds on and takes a little breather.
Murphy tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Thatcher got a little sloppy there for a moment and Murphy has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Thatcher has managed to get both his arms back between Murphy's legs - danger averted.
Murphy tries to strike from the bottom.
Thatcher must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Murphy is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Murphy working for a triangle but Thatcher defends it easily.

Murphy is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Murphy keeping full guard, as Thatcher tries to pass.
Murphy utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Murphy is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thatcher is aware though and is defending well.

Murphy had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thatcher defends it easily.
Murphy keeping full guard, as Thatcher tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murphy is looking for a triangle here but Thatcher uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Thatcher advances to mount.
Thatcher looking to control but Murphy is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Thatcher is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Murphy has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Murphy!
Murphy preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thatcher looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Murphy passes into side control.

Murphy working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Murphy misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Murphy working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Thatcher is trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joey Thatcher will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Thatcher darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Murphy is not content to let Thatcher control the position.
Murphy has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Thatcher is working away from the top position though.
Nice strikes from Thatcher there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Murphy tries to lock up and control but Thatcher gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thatcher tries to control but Murphy wriggling away.
Murphy avoids a series of strikes thrown by Thatcher.
Murphy is squirming around, avoiding Thatcher's attempts to control the action.
Murphy sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Murphy makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Murphy misses with a double jab.

Thatcher fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Murphy, pushing him back against the cage.
Thatcher prevents Murphy from breaking the clinch.

Thatcher turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Thatcher manages to end up in side control.
Murphy tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thatcher trying to control the action but Murphy is working from the bottom.
Murphy is trying to control Thatcher's posture but Thatcher avoids it.
Murphy regains half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Murphy manages to get to full guard.

Murphy throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thatcher passes Murphy's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Murphy has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Thatcher is working away from the top position though.
Murphy is not content to let Thatcher control the position.
Murphy is trying to control but can't.
Thatcher wants to stand up but Murphy has a hold of him and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murphy is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Thatcher prevents Murphy from standing back up.
Thatcher trying to pass the guard but Murphy defending well.
Thatcher thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Thatcher has taken the fight to the clinch.
Thatcher has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Murphy has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Murphy wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Murphy can't break the clinch.
Lamont Murphy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joey Thatcher is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nice body punch from Murphy - that landed with a thud.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joey Thatcher comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Thatcher 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joey Thatcher!