PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between John Murray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Clarkson (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.

Murray
vs
Clarkson

175 cm
18
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
25
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, John Murray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, James Clarkson!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Colin Fotheringham and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clarkson wants to clinch up but Murray keeps it at a distance.
Clarkson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Clarkson looks to land a body kick but Murray moved away.
Clarkson wants to clinch up but Murray keeps it at a distance.

Murray gets caught flat footed, as Clarkson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Murray is on top in guard.

Clarkson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Murray's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Murray has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Clarkson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Clarkson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Murray is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clarkson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Clarkson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Murray is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Murray has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Clarkson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Clarkson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Clarkson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murray keeping moving, preventing Clarkson from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Murray had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Clarkson defends it easily.
Clarkson passes Murray's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Clarkson tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Murray.
Murray is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Clarkson scores with a couple of nice shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murray wants to control but Clarkson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Clarkson is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Murray!
Clarkson avoids the attempt from Murray to control.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Clarkson controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murray wants to hold on but Clarkson pushes him away.
Clarkson connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Clarkson tries to control but Murray wriggling away.
Clarkson working Murray over with strikes here.
Clarkson prevents Murray from getting the reversal.

Clarkson jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Murray manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Murray tries to bench press Clarkson off him but Clarkson keeps the position.
Clarkson scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Murray to see if he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murray tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Murray gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Clarkson controlling from the full mount.
Clarkson wants to stand but Murray is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Murray tries to reverse the position but Clarkson maintains control.
Clarkson looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Murray is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Clarkson 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.

Clarkson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Murray.
James Clarkson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Murray shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Clarkson as he avoids it easily.

Murray looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Clarkson!
Clarkson sneaks back into half guard.
Murray trying to control the action but Clarkson is working from the bottom.
James Clarkson has got the better of the ground game so far.

Clarkson looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clarkson is looking for a sweep. Murray is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murray is trying to control the action in half guard but Clarkson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Clarkson moves into full guard.
Clarkson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Murray is controlling him.
Clarkson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Murray has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Murray pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Clarkson is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Murray accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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.
Clarkson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Murray's guard.

Murray wants to sweep here but Clarkson controlling him for the moment.
Clarkson with a nice head shot there.

Murray looking for a guillotine here but Clarkson defends easily.
Clarkson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Murray escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Clarkson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clarkson tries to stand but Murray is controlling from the bottom.
Clarkson controlling from the top position.

Murray escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Clarkson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Clarkson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's four 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.

Clarkson feints and as Murray raises his hands in defense, Clarkson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Clarkson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Clarkson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Clarkson wants to stand and escape but instead Murray has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Murray works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Murray is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Murray is pressing down on Clarkson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Clarkson is holding on for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that John Murray will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Clarkson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Murray appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Clarkson drives through with a takedown into Murray's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Clarkson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Murray has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Clarkson has managed to get both his arms back between Murray's legs - danger averted.
Clarkson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Clarkson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clarkson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Murray is keeping the position for now.
Murray is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Clarkson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Murray pulls his head out easily.
Clarkson won't allow Murray to pass to mount.
Clarkson wants to control but Murray is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Clarkson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Murray showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Clarkson is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clarkson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Murray can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Clarkson controls the pace.
Clarkson advances to half guard.
Murray is looking for a sweep. Clarkson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Murray wants to control but Clarkson is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Murray is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Clarkson pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Clarkson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murray actively working from the bottom here.
Clarkson moves into full mount! Murray won't be happy about that!
Clarkson controlling the position easily from mount.
Clarkson looking to control but Murray is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Murray is desperately trying to improve his position but Clarkson has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Murray is bucking up trying to escape but Clarkson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Clarkson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Clarkson working Murray over with strikes here.
A nice elbow there by Clarkson.
Clarkson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Clarkson landing strikes from the mount and Murray is in trouble!

Murray is rocked!

And that's the end of the fight!
James Clarkson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Clarkson 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Clarkson!