PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Martin Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Hardwood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Murphy comes to the cage accompanied by Voodoo Child. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Murphy
vs
Hardwood

202 cm
25
264 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

202 cm
25
265 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Martin Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ryan Hardwood!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Winston Alpacca and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardwood looks to land a left hand but Murphy moved out of range nicely.
Hardwood defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Murphy.
Hardwood is trying to counter with his kicks.

Murphy pushes Hardwood up against the cage in a clinch.
Hardwood lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Murphy takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Martin Murphy has been cut.
Hardwood lands an elbow inside that Murphy shrugs off.
Murphy takes an elbow to the temple.
Hardwood lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Hardwood can't find room to land a body shot as Murphy controls the action.
Hardwood lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
We've been hearing reports that Murphy has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hardwood just misses with a elbow thrown towards Murphy's brow.
Hardwood looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hardwood doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Murphy takes an elbow to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardwood comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Murphy dodges an elbow strike from Hardwood.
Murphy blocks an elbow strike from Hardwood.
Murphy blocks a body shot from Hardwood.
Hardwood lands a damaging elbow.
Murphy avoids a wild elbow strike from Hardwood.
Hardwood looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Hardwood misses with an elbow over the top.
Hardwood misses with an elbow strike.
Murphy has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hardwood is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hardwood misses with a punch to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Hardwood.
Murphy dodges an elbow strike from Hardwood.
Hardwood looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardwood stalling.
Hardwood misses with an elbow over the top.
Hardwood throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hardwood keeps control of Murphy as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hardwood just misses with a elbow thrown towards Murphy's brow.
Hardwood pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Hardwood breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hardwood lands a head kick!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Murphy has managed to clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Hardwood.
Murphy is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Martin Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Hardwood - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Hardwood doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hardwood pushes off an throws an elbow but Murphy leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Murphy being controlled against the cage.
Hardwood lands a damaging elbow.

Martin Murphy's cut is getting worse.
Hardwood throws an elbow that misses.
Hardwood looks to throw an elbow but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hardwood just misses with a elbow thrown towards Murphy's brow.
Murphy blocks an elbow strike from Hardwood.
Hardwood prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Murphy dodges an elbow strike from Hardwood.
Hardwood stalling.
Hardwood lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Murphy is trying to drag Hardwood to the mat but Hardwood just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hardwood gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Hardwood pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Hardwood dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Martin Murphy's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hardwood fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Murphy has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hardwood throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Murphy throws a big counter combination but Hardwood scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Hardwood throws a wild body kick that Murphy sees coming a mile off.
Murphy attempts a counter takedown but Hardwood avoids it well and moves away.
Hardwood scores with a leg kick.
Hardwood has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Some wild striking there from Murphy.
Murphy fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hardwood avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hardwood clinches up with Murphy and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardwood displaying some good clinch control by pressing Murphy up against the cage.
Murphy is trying to pull guard but Hardwood has him pressed against the cage.
Hardwood will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Murphy up against the cage.
Murphy blocks an elbow strike.
Hardwood lands an elbow just above Murphy 's eye.
Hardwood pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Hardwood looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hardwood lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Murphy dodges an elbow strike from Hardwood.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardwood lands a damaging elbow.
Murphy has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hardwood avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Martin Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murphy blocks the elbow strike.
Murphy wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hardwood has him pressed against the cage.
Murphy being controlled against the cage.
Murphy blocks a body shot from Hardwood.
With the fighters up against the cage, Hardwood throws an elbow but misses.
Hardwood gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A bit of stalling here from Hardwood.
Hardwood throws an elbow but it misses.

Hardwood manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Hardwood finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Hardwood lands a head kick. Murphy smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Martin Murphy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Murphy swings for the body but Hardwood moves out of range.
Hardwood buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Hardwood misses with a body kick.
Murphy throws a series of punches but Hardwood moves out of range.
Hardwood looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Hardwood fakes the leg kick and cracks Murphy in the body.
Hardwood stuffs the takedown.
Murphy misses with a wild combination.
Ryan Hardwood is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Hardwood - that will leave a mark!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Murphy darts in looking for a takedown but Hardwood gets double underhooks and turns Murphy into the cage.
Hardwood connects with a solid leg kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Murphy misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hardwood plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Martin Murphy's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Hardwood buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Murphy has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hardwood.
Hardwood thuds his shin into the meat of Murphy's side.
Hardwood tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Murphy counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Hardwood showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Martin Murphy's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hardwood lands with a kick to the temple. Murphy shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Hardwood misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Murphy takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hardwood throws the left hand but Murphy avoids the punch easily.
Hardwood throws a looping overhand right but Murphy ducks down to avoid it.
As Hardwood looks to move away, Murphy throws a big counter combo bu Hardwood just gets out of the way.
Hardwood throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Murphy.
A head kick misses from Hardwood.
Hardwood dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Murphy. That did some damage!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Murphy on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Hardwood. Hardwood obviously looking to wear him down.
Hardwood connects with an inside leg kick.
Hardwood throws a front kick that sends Murphy stumbling back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy misses with a takedown attempt - Hardwood sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hardwood thinks about the counter body kick.
Hardwood throws a hook to the side of Murphy's head but Murphy sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown but Hardwood shows good takedown defense.
Hardwood misses with a looping right.
Murphy shoots for a double leg takedown but Hardwood sprawls well. He's pushed Murphy's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Martin Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardwood is looking to clinch.
Hardwood tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Murphy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ryan Hardwood seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Murphy blocks a head kick by Hardwood.
Murphy throws a big counter combination but Hardwood scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
A combination from Murphy does no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardwood moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Hardwood connects with an inside leg kick.

Hardwood instigates a clinch.
Murphy goes for a takedown attempt but Hardwood pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Hardwood moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Hardwood lands a high kick!
Hardwood looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A swing and a miss from Hardwood.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hardwood tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Murphy appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Murphy looks for a takedown but Hardwood sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardwood tries a head kick but it misses.
Murphy is looking for a counter combo.

Hardwood clinches with his opponent.
Hardwood goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hardwood just misses with a elbow thrown towards Murphy's brow.
Ryan Hardwood is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hardwood keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Murphy's efforts to push away.
Murphy tries to pull guard but Hardwood won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Murphy jumps guard but Hardwood turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Ryan Hardwood seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Murphy avoids the elbow strike from Hardwood, against the cage.
Hardwood's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Martin Murphy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Murphy blocks an elbow strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Hardwood comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hardwood winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 25:30
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 25:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Hardwood!