PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jim Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jiri Sayonara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sayonara comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Edge Of The Blade kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Jiri Sayonara will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Murphy
vs
Sayonara

162 cm
21
130 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

178 cm
21
147 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Bullet Proof System

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jim Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jiri Sayonara!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, George Francis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sayonara throws a lazy uppercut
and Murphy cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Murphy tries to clinch up but Sayonara circles away and keeps his distance.
Sayonara walks into a stiff left hand from Murphy.
Sayonara misses with a body shot.
Murphy pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A big left from Murphy misses.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Sayonara has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Sayonara fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Sayonara gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Murphy sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Sayonara circles away from the clinch attempt.
Murphy lands a jab.
Sayonara throws a body shot but no joy.
Murphy misses with an uppercut. Sayonara saw that one coming.
Sayonara misses the shot to the body.
Murphy is looking to counter the offense by Sayonara and move into the clinch.
Sayonara defending well as Murphy loads up on a big left hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Murphy is defended easily by Sayonara.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy scores with a jab to the head.

Murphy shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Sayonara napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Murphy thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sayonara is trying to get back to half guard.
Sayonara is trying to control Murphy's posture but Murphy avoids it.
Murphy wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sayonara keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sayonara wants to control but Murphy postures up.
Sayonara sneaks back into half guard.

Sayonara actively working from the bottom here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murphy looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Murphy wants to clinch.
Sayonara throws out a counter right but Murphy avoids it with no problem.
Sayonara misses with a right hand
and Murphy cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Murphy tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sayonara counters with a nice uppercut.
Murphy throws a lazy right hand but Sayonara sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sayonara throws a right hand that misses
and Murphy counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A slow jab from Sayonara misses its intended target.
Sayonara comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sayonara shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Murphy looks to throw the jab but Sayonara is out of range.
Sayonara swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Sayonara throws a hook to the side of Murphy's head but Murphy sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Murphy is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Murphy doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sayonara throws a shot to the body.
Nice shot by Sayonara.
Murphy throws an overhand right that lands on Sayonara's shoulder, as Sayonara tries to avoid the shot.
Sayonara throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Murphy throws a poor cross that misses
and Murphy takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sayonara misses with a body shot.
Murphy fails with the takedown
and Sayonara counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sayonara circles away from the clinch attempt.
Murphy bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jiri Sayonara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sayonara fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sayonara throws a body shot but no joy.
Murphy is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Murphy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Murphy takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

It looks like Jim Murphy has been cut.
Murphy throws a right hand that misses
and Sayonara counters with a stiff right hand.
Sayonara moves out of range as Murphy strikes.
Murphy tries to clinch there but Sayonara circles away.
Sayonara misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Murphy.
Murphy tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Sayonara manages to circle out of the way.
Sayonara wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jiri Sayonara dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jim Murphy's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Murphy misses with a looping right.
Sayonara is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Murphy.
Sayonara defending well as Murphy loads up on a big left hand.
Murphy fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sayonara has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Murphy tries to clinch
letting Sayonara counter with a right hand.

Murphy gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Murphy blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Murphy tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sayonara displaying some good clinch control by pressing Murphy up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy has Sayonara pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sayonara manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Murphy blocks a body shot from Sayonara.
Sayonara prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jim Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sayonara tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Murphy pushes Sayonara back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Murphy tries for a takedown but Sayonara manages to get underhooks.
Sayonara blocking some punches.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Murphy takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Sayonara works on Murphy's body with a couple of short punches.
Murphy tries to stall but Sayonara uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Murphy trying to control the position but instead, Sayonara has worked for underhooks and has pushed Murphy into the cage.
A short body shot lands from Sayonara as the two fighters clinch.
Sayonara lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Murphy manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sayonara misses with the head strike.
Sayonara blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Murphy is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Sayonara tries to throw a body punch but Murphy avoids it by throwing Sayonara back against the cage.
Sayonara pushes Murphy back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Sayonara blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Murphy misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sayonara tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Murphy's elbow.
Murphy blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sayonara lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Murphy or not.
Sayonara misses with the head strike.
Sayonara tries to work over Murphy's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sayonara softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short left from Sayonara.
Sayonara lands with a left to the head.
Murphy tries to stall but Sayonara uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Sayonara.
Sayonara is leaning against Murphy and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Sayonara stops a takedown attempt from Murphy.
A head punch on the inside from Murphy fails to land.
Sayonara lands with a short shot to the head.
Sayonara scores with a shot to the side of Murphy's head.
Murphy fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Sayonara looking for a sweep. Not yet Sayonara, not yet.
Murphy wants to pass the guard but Sayonara is keeping the position.
Sayonara has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Murphy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sayonara swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Sayonara has his foot on Murphy's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Murphy works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Murphy looking to pass the guard.
Sayonara is trying to control the position but Murphy postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jiri Sayonara showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jim Murphy's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Murphy tries to clinch but Sayonara is having none of it.
Sayonara throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sayonara throws a hook to the side of Murphy's head but Murphy sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sayonara misses with a body shot.
An attempted straight right counter from Murphy misses the target.
Sayonara ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A punch combination from Sayonara misses.
Sayonara throws a big shot that misses.
Murphy misses with a takedown attempt
and Sayonara connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A low kick from Sayonara is predictable there
and Murphy counters with a stiff right hand.

Sayonara gets tackled into the cage by Murphy. Murphy maintains the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch on the inside from Murphy fails to land.
Sayonara misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sayonara lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Murphy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Murphy prevents a body shot from Sayonara.
Sayonara tries a body shot but Murphy blocks it.
Sayonara takes a shot to the head.
Sayonara pushes Murphy back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Sayonara scores with a shoulder strike.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Sayonara tries to work over Murphy's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Jiri Sayonara seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Sayonara misses with some punches.
Still in the clinch, Murphy scores with a nice short uppercut.

Sayonara's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sayonara throws a jab when Murphy was well out of range.
Sayonara takes one to the side of the head.
A big left from Sayonara misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sayonara throws a right and a left that Murphy avoids nicely.
Sayonara misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Murphy.
Jiri Sayonara seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sayonara throws a leg kick but Murphy moved away.
Murphy throws an off balance right hand
and Sayonara counters with a stiff right hand.
Murphy wants to clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Sayonara clinches up against the cage.
Murphy can't find room to land a body shot as Sayonara controls the action.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sayonara.
Sayonara tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Murphy's elbow.
Sayonara throws a punch but it's blocked by Murphy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sayonara misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sayonara lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sayonara throws a head punch that misses.
Sayonara tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Murphy's elbow.
Sayonara lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Murphy goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sayonara prevents it.
Sayonara throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Sayonara breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Murphy slips a jab from Sayonara.
Sayonara misses with a low kick.
Sayonara throws a head kick but Murphy moves out of range.
Murphy is looking to counter punch.
Murphy uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Sayonara has time to react.
Sayonara throws a body kick that misses.
Murphy wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sayonara throws a push kick but Murphy slaps the foot to one side.
Sayonara on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Murphy misses with a right hand
and Sayonara makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Murphy misses with a straight left.
Sayonara misses with an attempted mid kick.
It looked like Murphy wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice straight punches there by Murphy. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Murphy.
Murphy cracks Sayonara with a good jab.
Murphy takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Sayonara fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Murphy, pushing him back against the cage.
Murphy is trying to stall.
Sayonara lands a shoulder strike.
Jim Murphy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jiri Sayonara is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sayonara blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jiri Sayonara comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sayonara 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jiri Sayonara!
Jiri Sayonara decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.