PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Optimus Rimes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rimes kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Sweet Dreams by Marilyn Manson. Murphy has chosen Róisín Murphy - Primitive as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rimes
vs
Murphy

204 cm
35
217 lbs
22 - 14 - 0

188 cm
38
213 lbs
35 - 18 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Optimus Rimes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Brian Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Alan Glass and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rimes tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
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.

Rimes instigates a clinch.
Murphy swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Murphy tries a body shot but Rimes blocks it.
Rimes connects with a knee to the head.
Rimes tries to throw a body punch but Murphy avoids it by throwing Rimes back against the cage.
Murphy on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rimes blocks a body shot from Murphy.
Rimes trying to land knees to the body.
Rimes using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Murphy blocks a body shot from Rimes.
Rimes stalling against the cage.
Rimes effectively controlling the action here.
Rimes lands a nice knee to the body.
Rimes missing with knees to the body.
Murphy swings wildly with an uppercut but Rimes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rimes with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
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 can't find room to land a body shot as Rimes controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rimes working Murphy over with knees to the body.
Murphy lands a body shot in the clinch.
Murphy tries to work over Rimes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rimes lands a knee to the body.
Rimes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Murphy avoids it.
Rimes blocks a body shot from Murphy.
A short right from Murphy.
Murphy misses with a short punch on the inside.
Murphy has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Rimes seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Murphy can turn it around.
Murphy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rimes's elbow.
A short body shot lands from Murphy as the two fighters clinch.
Murphy misses with a punch to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Rimes.
Rimes lands a knee to the body.
Murphy looks winded!
Rimes stalling the fight.
Murphy working aggressively here.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Rimes.
Rimes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Murphy's elbow.
A right hook to the body lands for Rimes.
Murphy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rimes lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rimes has Murphy pressed against the cage, preventing Murphy from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rimes misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nice body punch from Rimes - that landed with a thud.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murphy wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Murphy lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rimes or not.
Rimes with a knee to the head.
Rimes is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Rimes missing with knees to the body.
Rimes prevents a body shot from Murphy.
Murphy lands a right hand.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rimes creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rimes lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rimes unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A frustrated look appears on Murphy's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Murphy misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Murphy takes a knee right on the jaw!
Murphy misses with a body punch.
Rimes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rimes digs a right hand underneath Murphy's ribcage. Murphy let out a lung full of air as it connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rimes lands a body shot in the clinch.
Murphy tries to throw a body punch but Rimes avoids it by throwing Murphy back against the cage.
Rimes tries to land knees in the clinch but Murphy avoids the damage to the body.
Rimes 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.
Rimes pushes Murphy back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Murphy misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rimes misses with a punch to the body.
Rimes tries a body shot but Murphy blocks it.
Rimes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Murphy is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rimes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Murphy lands a nice uppercut.
Murphy lands a hook that snaps the head of Rimes backwards.
Rimes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Murphy misses with a body punch.
Murphy tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Murphy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rimes lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rimes.
Murphy tries to throw a body punch but Rimes avoids it by throwing Murphy back against the cage.
Rimes lands a shoulder strike.
Murphy tries a body shot but Rimes blocks it.
Murphy lands a left hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rimes pushes Murphy back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rimes.
Rimes lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rimes with a knee to the head.

It looks like Brian Murphy has been cut.
Rimes working Murphy over with knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rimes obliges.
Rimes lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rimes lands with a short shot to the head.
Murphy managing to block the knees to the body from Rimes.
Murphy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rimes's elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A shot in the inside from Rimes.
Rimes tries a body shot but Murphy blocks it.
Rimes connects with a nasty looking knee right to Murphy's face.
Rimes stalling in the clinch but Murphy improves position.
Rimes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Murphy throws a head kick that misses.
Murphy dips to his left and cracks Rimes with an uppercut!
Rimes throws a solid leg kick but Murphy takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Rimes.
Good leg kick by Rimes there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Murphy scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Murphy motions for Rimes to come forward. Murphy throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rimes throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rimes misses with a body kick.
Murphy avoids the body shot from Rimes.
Murphy only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Murphy lunges at Rimes with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rimes's hand.
Murphy lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rimes drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Nice cross by Murphy.
Rimes has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murphy moves out of range as Rimes throws a body kick.
Murphy steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Rimes. That one must have hurt.
Rimes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Murphy moves away.
Rimes scores with a punch to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rimes lands a slapping body shot.
Rimes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Murphy can do to turn this around?
Nice shot by Murphy.
A head kick misses from Murphy.
Rimes misses with a body shot.
Murphy avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A jab from Rimes finds it's way through Murphy's defenses.
Rimes goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
As Rimes backs off Murphy throws a huge counter combo but Rimes manages to avoid it all.
Rimes swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Murphy counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Brian Murphy seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Murphy rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Rimes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Murphy misses with a head kick.
Murphy fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rimes.
Brian Murphy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Murphy fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rimes, pushing him back against the cage.
Rimes looking to stall.
Rimes misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rimes unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Rimes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rimes lands with a light punch inside.
Rimes tries a body shot but Murphy blocks it.
Rimes throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Murphy blocks it with crossed arms.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rimes.
Come on Rimes - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Murphy cracks Rimes with a nice body shot.
Rimes throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rimes stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Murphy digs a right hand into Rimes's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rimes's gas tank.
Murphy tries to work over Rimes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rimes lands with a left to the head.
Rimes crunches a lovely knee into Murphy's ribcage.
Murphy is breathing heavily.
Rimes with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Murphy misses with a punch to the body.
Murphy misses with a punch to the body.
Rimes is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Murphy is keeping busy.
Rimes blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murphy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rimes with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rimes stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Murphy.
Murphy thows a leg kick but Rimes checks it
and Rimes makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Murphy really felt that one!
Rimes lands a right hook to the body.
Rimes scores with a nice right hand.
Murphy has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Murphy there as he acknowledges the shot.

Rimes clinches.
Murphy tries to throw a body punch but Rimes avoids it by throwing Murphy back against the cage.
Murphy misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rimes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Murphy tries to work over Rimes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Murphy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rimes misses with a knee to the head.
Rimes gets through Murphy's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rimes landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Rimes tries to land knees in the clinch but Murphy avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rimes tries to land knees in the clinch but Murphy avoids the damage to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Rimes.
Rimes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rimes tries a knee to the head but Murphy blocks it.
Murphy misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Murphy struggles to land a body shot inside as Rimes controls his hands.
Rimes prevents a body shot from Murphy.
Murphy lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rimes backwards.
Murphy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rimes's elbow.
Rimes lands a good knee to the midsection. Murphy won't want to take too many of those.
Rimes lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Murphy.
Rimes gets through Murphy's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rimes trying to land knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rimes is working Murphy over against the cage.
Murphy tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rimes lands a knee to the body.
Rimes lands with a light punch inside.
Rimes using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Optimus Rimes dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Brian Murphy's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rimes keeps Murphy at a distance using the push kick.
Murphy fakes the leg kick and cracks Rimes in the body.
Rimes is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Rimes misses with a kick to the body.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Rimes.
Rimes ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Rimes. Murphy shrugs it off though.
Rimes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Murphy was well out of range. Poor timing from Rimes.
Both fighters circling a little - Rimes finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Rimes fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Murphy.
Rimes is looking to wear down Murphy with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Murphy avoids a kick to the body.
Murphy feints a counter leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rimes, right into the meat.
Murphy misses with a low kick.
Rimes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rimes scores with a punch to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rimes blocks a leg kick.
Murphy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Rimes moves into the clinch.
Optimus Rimes has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Murphy lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Rimes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Murphy avoids it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Murphy misses with a punch to the body.
Rimes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Murphy's elbow.
Rimes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Murphy avoids it.
Rimes blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Murphy misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rimes prevents a body shot from Murphy.
Rimes lands a knee to the body.
Rimes works on Murphy's body with a couple of short punches.
Rimes stalling in the clinch but Murphy improves position.
Rimes blocks a body shot from Murphy.
Rimes blocks a body shot from Murphy.
Murphy doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rimes tries to throw a body punch but Murphy avoids it by throwing Rimes back against the cage.
Murphy tries to throw a body punch but Rimes avoids it by throwing Murphy back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy tries to throw a body punch but Rimes avoids it by throwing Murphy back against the cage.
Murphy lands a right hand.
Rimes can't find room to land a body shot as Murphy controls the action.
Murphy digs a right hand into Rimes's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rimes's gas tank.
Rimes misses with a body punch.
Murphy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rimes's elbow.
Rimes misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rimes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rimes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Murphy avoids it.
Rimes putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Murphy in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rimes misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rimes crunches a lovely knee into Murphy's ribcage.
Rimes misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rimes lands a right hand that snaps the head of Murphy backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Murphy lands a nice shot to the body.
Rimes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Murphy.
Murphy has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Rimes.
Rimes lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Murphy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy tries a body shot but Rimes blocks it.
Murphy tries to work over Rimes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch on the inside from Murphy fails to land.
Murphy lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rimes tries a knee to the head but Murphy blocks it.
Rimes tries to land knees in the clinch but Murphy avoids the damage to the body.
Rimes tries to throw a body punch but Murphy avoids it by throwing Rimes back against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Murphy.
Murphy lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Murphy digs a right hand underneath Rimes's ribcage. Rimes let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Murphy lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Murphy struggles to land a body shot inside as Rimes controls his hands.
Rimes tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Murphy tries a body shot but Rimes blocks it.
Murphy works on Rimes's body with a couple of short punches.
A shot in the inside from Murphy.
Murphy struggles to land a body shot inside as Rimes controls his hands.
Rimes missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy lands a nice uppercut.
Rimes lands a shot to the body.

Murphy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Murphy swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rimes.
Murphy tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Murphy bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rimes's head backwards.
Rimes swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Murphy counters with a stiff right hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Rimes misses the target.
Rimes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Murphy.
Rimes takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Rimes is rocked!
Murphy uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rimes.
Murphy takes one on the button.
Rimes throws a head kick but Murphy moves out of range.
Rimes throws a nice looking combination but Murphy bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rimes looks to land a left hand but Murphy moved out of range nicely.
Optimus Rimes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rimes looks for the body kick but Murphy saw that one coming.

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 Optimus Rimes.
Well Rimes has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Optimus Rimes!
Optimus Rimes decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
The defeated Brian Murphy had this to say: 'Can I still cut it?'.