PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lucas Davenport (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Davenport
vs
Murphy

177 cm
27
225 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

188 cm
39
213 lbs
35 - 20 - 1

Great wrestler
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lucas Davenport!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brian Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Tiny Johnson and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy throws a right hand that misses

and Davenport counters with a nice double leg into side control. Murphy won't be happy with that.
Davenport in side control, throwing shots but Murphy defends.
Murphy can't do much from the bottom here.
Davenport is trying to ground and pound but Murphy uses the momentary lack of control by Davenport to regain half guard.
Davenport slips a nice elbow through Murphy's hands, connecting with Murphy's forehead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Davenport performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Davenport thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Murphy's head.
Davenport is keen to just control but Murphy is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy blocking the ground and pound attempt from Davenport.

Davenport is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Murphy wants to get back to full guard.

Davenport is trying to work for a kimura but Murphy is defending well.
Murphy on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Davenport trying to control the pace.
Davenport has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

That's two 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.
Davenport throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Murphy is refusing to be controlled, as Davenport sits in half guard.
Davenport missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Davenport landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Davenport in particular looking to stall.

Davenport is looking for a kimura but Murphy is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Davenport to get the leverage.
Davenport is nestled in close to Murphy, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Davenport has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Well, if Davenport is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davenport tries to pass the half guard into mount. Murphy knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Davenport seems to be looking for submissions.
Davenport thows a huge punch but Murphy dodges it nicely.

Davenport is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Davenport wants to work for an arm triangle but Murphy is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Davenport is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Davenport misses with a head shot. Murphy uses the momentum to regain guard.
Murphy wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Davenport postures up and lands a big shot to Murphy's brow.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Davenport postures up in Murphy's guard and throws a big left but Murphy blocks it.
Davenport trying to control the position from guard on top but Murphy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucas Davenport dominated that round.
That's time! Davenport's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A bone on bone clash there as Davenport blocks the leg kick.
Davenport tries to counter by clinching up but Murphy breaks away and moves out of range.
Murphy bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Davenport's head.
Davenport fails with the takedown
and Murphy counters with a stiff right hand.

Murphy closes the distance and clinches.
Murphy lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Murphy manages to break the clinch.
Murphy misses with a body kick.
Murphy throws a right and a left that Davenport avoids nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy wants to land a leg kick but Davenport is out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Murphy.
Brian Murphy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Murphy throws a head kick that misses

and Davenport decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Murphy's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Murphy controls Davenport momentarily but Davenport frees himself.
Davenport slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Murphy is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davenport seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Murphy for as long as he can get away with.
Murphy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Davenport loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Murphy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lucas Davenport overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Davenport trying to control the position from guard on top but Murphy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A jab from Murphy does it's job there.

Davenport shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Murphy napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Murphy is looking to regain half guard here but Davenport keeps moving and retains side control.
Davenport lands an elbow.
Murphy is trying to control Davenport's posture but Davenport avoids it.
Davenport in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davenport tries to score with some ground and pound. Murphy controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Davenport is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Murphy has escaped the position, nice work there.
Davenport wants to control but Murphy is keeping him busy.
The ground and pound from Davenport seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Murphy is not content to let Davenport control the position.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Murphy is looking for a sweep.
Davenport throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Davenport is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Murphy knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Davenport throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Murphy works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

Davenport is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucas Davenport dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Davenport shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Murphy as he avoids it easily.
Murphy misses with a head kick.
A head kick by Murphy misses

and Davenport counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Murphy pulls Davenport in close to prevent any damage.
Davenport's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Davenport forces his way into half guard.
Davenport throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Davenport trying to control the pace.
Davenport with the ground and pound but Murphy uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Murphy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davenport throws a big elbow that misses.
Davenport scoring with some ground and pound.
Davenport throws a big elbow that misses.
Davenport stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Murphy swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Davenport has gone for a leg lock! Murphy slips out almost immediately though and dives into Davenport's guard.

Davenport working for a triangle but Murphy defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davenport wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Davenport looking for a sweep. Not yet Davenport, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davenport throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Davenport is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Murphy defends well.
Davenport is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Murphy can do to turn this around?
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Davenport is on top in guard.

Murphy keeping moving, preventing Davenport from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Murphy keeping full guard, as Davenport tries to pass.
Davenport looking to sit in guard and control but Murphy gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Lucas Davenport is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Davenport controlling the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Davenport has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lucas Davenport showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Davenport, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lucas Davenport!
Lucas Davenport decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
Brian Murphy spoke after the fight, saying 'Can I still cut it?'.