PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Matt Murdock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Philemon Christou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Christou has chosen Slipknot - Disasterpiece as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Murdock
vs
Christou

170 cm
23
145 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

168 cm
23
144 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Hell's Balls Fightwear

Valhalla War Gear
Valhalla War Gear

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matt Murdock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Philemon Christou!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Skip Squint and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Christou throws a right hand that Murdock ducks under and follows up with a left that Murdock also avoids with ease.
Christou blocks a head kick by Murdock.
Murdock tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Murdock shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

It looks like Matt Murdock has been cut.
Nice straight punches there by Christou. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Christou.

Murdock clinches up with Christou and pushes him back against the cage.
Murdock lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Murdock breaks from the clinch.
Christou shoots in looking for a takedown. Murdock tries to sprawl out of it but Christou keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Murdock manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Murdock tries to close the distance and clinch but Christou swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Murdock throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
A chopping leg kick lands by Murdock.
A punch combination from Christou misses.
A head kick from Murdock lands but Christou takes it in his stride.

Murdock drives through and clinches with Christou against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Christou manages to break the clinch.
Nice defenses there by Christou.
Murdock lands a jab to the nose.
Murdock is looking to clinch.
Murdock smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Christou misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Christou misses.
Murdock connects with a nice looking jab.
Murdock misses with a combination
and Murdock takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Christou ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Christou will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Christou will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Murdock fails with an attempt to clinch.
Matt Murdock seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Murdock works over Christou's head and body with a nice combination.
Murdock walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Murdock lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Christou swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Decent striking displayed by Murdock there.
Christou misses with a double jab.
Matt Murdock is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Christou looks gassed!
Christou throws a big shot that misses.
Christou throws a big shot that misses.

Murdock gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Murdock pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Christou looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Murdock defending well as Christou loads up on a big left hand.

Murdock fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Christou, pushing him back against the cage.
Christou wants to break the clinch but can't.
Murdock prevents a takedown attempt there.
Murdock lands a nice uppercut.
Murdock scores with a knee to the head.
Murdock misses with a knee strike.

Murdock pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Christou scores with a nice strike.

Murdock fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Christou, pushing him back against the cage.
Christou scores with a nice hook to the head.
A short right from Murdock.

Murdock breaks the clinch.
Murdock tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Christou paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Christou circles away from the clinch attempt
and Christou counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Christou misses with a wild combination.
Murdock tries to close the distance and clinch up but Christou swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murdock scores with a nice right hand.
Murdock thuds his right hand into Christou's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Murdock tries to close the distance and clinch but Christou swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Murdock is looking to clinch.

Murdock closes the distance and clinches.
Murdock pushes Christou back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Christou takes an elbow to the temple.
Murdock lands an elbow inside.

Christou escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
An inside leg kick lands from Murdock.
Christou keeps the fight on the outside.
Murdock tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Christou counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Christou won't allow Murdock to get back to his feet.

Murdock is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Murdock unloads a knee to the mid-section. Christou lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Christou breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Christou circles away from the clinch attempt.
Murdock stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A big right from Christou misses.
Murdock scores with a one two! Christou had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Murdock throws a nice looking combination but Christou bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Christou blocks a head kick by Murdock.
Murdock wants to clinch up but Christou keeps it at a distance.
Christou throws a combination. Murdock tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Christou throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Murdock throws a head kick that misses.
Murdock tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Murdock closes the distance looking to clinch
and Christou counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Murdock throws a shot to the body.

Murdock clinches up with Christou and pushes him back against the cage.
Christou is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Murdock gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Matt Murdock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Philemon Christou.
Murdock lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Murdock throws a head kick that Christou semi-blocks.
Murdock avoids a punch combination nicely.
Murdock lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Matt Murdock is winning the standup battle so far.
Christou avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Christou moves forwards but Murdock connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Christou looks to score with a jab to the body but Murdock is just out of range.
Murdock scores with a body shot.
Christou slips under a jab.
Murdock takes a jab right on the kisser.
Murdock tries to clinch there but Christou circles away.
Murdock misses the shot to the body.
Some wild striking there from Christou.
Christou is breathing heavily.
Christou looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Christou might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Murdock throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Murdock lands a head kick. Christou smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A combination from Christou does no damage.
Murdock throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murdock throws a head kick but Christou moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Murdock looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Murdock closes the distance but Christou moves to the side

and Christou counters with a single leg into guard. Murdock didn't expect that.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Christou pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Murdock is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Christou accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Murdock is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Christou throws a big right hand that misses.
Murdock is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Christou postures up in Murdock's guard and throws a big left but Murdock blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Christou looking to pass the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Christou accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Murdock is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Christou on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Murdock scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Murdock.
Murdock closes the distance but Christou moves to the side

and Christou counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murdock is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Christou is controlling him.
Christou wants to control from the top but Murdock keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Christou stops Murdock from standing up.
Christou throws and elbow that misses. Murdock uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Christou's guard. Nice move by Murdock!
Christou trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Murdock stands and steps away. Christou gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Christou throws a one two combo.
Murdock tries to clinch but Christou moves away
and Christou counters with a stiff right hand.
Christou takes a jab right on the kisser.
Murdock tries to clinch but Christou is having none of it.
Murdock throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Christou sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murdock tries to clinch up.
Matt Murdock is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A shot to de liver by Murdock. Beautiful body shot.
Murdock tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Christou paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Christou misses with a few strikes there.
A slapping body kick lands there for Murdock.
Murdock closes the distance looking to clinch
and Christou counters with a nice body shot.
Murdock swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Christou has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Murdock.
Christou misses with a few strikes there.
Christou swinging wilding here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Murdock lands with a nice body punch.
Murdock fails with an attempt to clinch.
Christou avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Murdock moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Philemon Christou showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Matt Murdock's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Christou throws a right hand that Murdock ducks under and follows up with a left that Murdock also avoids with ease.
A combination from Murdock does no damage.
Christou showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Murdock.
Christou looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Murdock swings for the body but Christou moves out of range.
Christou swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Murdock scores with a nice head shot.
Christou shoots in but no luck this time.
Murdock wants to clinch up but Christou keeps it at a distance.
Murdock scores with a push kick.

Murdock darts in and clinches Christou up against the cage.
Murdock lands a body shot.
Knees to the body from Murdock.
Knees in the clinch landing for Murdock.
Murdock misses with a knee strike.
Murdock using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Christou has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Murdock.
Christou wants to get back to striking at distance but Murdock won't allow it.

Christou manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murdock tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Christou counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Christou misses with a wild combination.
Murdock fails with an attempt to clinch.
Murdock is looking to clinch but Christou is avoiding it.
Murdock takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Murdock tries to close the distance and clinch but Christou swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Christou blocks a head kick by Murdock.
Murdock tries to close the distance and clinch up but Christou swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Murdock misses with the combination.
Christou misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Murdock has Christou up against the cage in a clinch.
Murdock lands a damaging elbow.
Murdock connects with a nasty looking knee right to Christou's face.
Murdock tries to land a knee to the head but Christou blocks with his arms.
Christou has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Murdock is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Murdock landing knees to the body.

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.
Murdock is pressed up against the cage. Christou has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Murdock down to the mat. Murdock avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Matt Murdock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Philemon Christou.
Christou throws a right hand that Murdock ducks under and follows up with a left that Murdock also avoids with ease.
Christou throws the left hand but Murdock avoids the punch easily.
Nice shot lands for Murdock.
Murdock digs a good body shot into Christou's ribs.

Murdock rushes Christou and presses him up against the cage.
Murdock throws an elbow but it misses.
Murdock missing with knees to the body.

Christou turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Christou manages to end up in side control.
Christou lands an elbow.
Christou cracks Murdock with a big right hand but Murdock just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Murdock is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Christou has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Christou scoring with punches from side control.
Murdock is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Christou working the ground and pound.
Christou working the head and body with strikes.
Murdock tries to escape but Christou is in control.
Christou lands some shots froms side control.
Christou lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Murdock down.
Murdock tries to escape but Christou is in control.
Christou cracks Murdock with a big right hand but Murdock just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Christou working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

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.
Murdock is pushing Christou's head away, looking to escape. Christou manages to hold on to the position though.
Christou in side control lands a decent elbow.
Murdock takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

Murdock bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Murdock scores with a head kick.

Christou darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Murdock wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Philemon Christou.
I think Christou has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Philemon Christou!