PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eldridge Anderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alex Murphy will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Anderson
vs
Murphy

202 cm
19
193 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Eldridge Anderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alex Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Skip Squint and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Anderson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Murphy to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Anderson has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Murphy has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

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

Murphy shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Anderson's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Anderson manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Anderson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Murphy tightens his grip and picks Anderson up, before dumping him to the ground. Anderson manages to land in guard.

Murphy decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Anderson, up you get!

Murphy fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Anderson, pushing him back against the cage.

Murphy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Anderson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murphy shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Anderson's guard.
Anderson is looking to stand back up but Murphy counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Anderson.

Murphy not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Murphy is working for a submission of some sort.
Anderson tries to get to full guard but Murphy has control of the leg.
Anderson is refusing to be controlled, as Murphy sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson is looking to improve his position.

Anderson looking for submissions off his back.

Anderson looking for submissions off his back.
Anderson wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murphy stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Anderson to get to his feet.

Murphy clinches up against the cage.

Murphy breaks the clinch.
Alex Murphy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Murphy drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Anderson explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Murphy clinches.
Anderson tries to break the clinch but Murphy is controlling the position.

Murphy breaks from the clinch.

Murphy looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Anderson!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murphy tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Anderson is trying to buck Murphy off.
Murphy is looking to take a break and control but Anderson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Murphy has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Murphy scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alex Murphy will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Anderson swings widly with a right hand

and Murphy counters by clinching up.
Murphy has Anderson pressed against the cage, preventing Anderson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Anderson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Murphy manages to break the clinch.

Murphy manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Anderson on his heels. He'll look to pass Anderson's guard now, I'm sure.

Anderson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Murphy doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Murphy manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Murphy throwing strikes from guard but Anderson blocks nicely.
Eldridge Anderson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy trying to control but Anderson is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Anderson trying to keep a closed guard but Murphy is proving a slippery customer.
Anderson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

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.
Anderson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Anderson can't keep his opponent in guard - Murphy advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Anderson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Murphy.

Murphy is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Murphy prevents Anderson from improving his position.
Anderson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Anderson is trying to maintain the position but Murphy is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Murphy lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Eldridge Anderson has been cut.
Anderson tries to land a front kick but Murphy steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Anderson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Murphy to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Anderson uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson misses with a wild body shot.
A nice side step and Murphy releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Anderson avoids the head kick by Murphy.
Anderson appears to be looking for a big counter.

Murphy closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Anderson to the mat! Anderson manages to get full guard.

Anderson uses the cage to get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Murphy pushes Anderson up against the cage in a clinch.
Anderson tries to break the clinch but Murphy is controlling the position.
Murphy lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Murphy successfully pulls guard.
Murphy throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Murphy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Eldridge Anderson'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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Murphy throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Murphy drives through with a takedown into Anderson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Murphy seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Murphy wants to control from the top but Anderson keeps moving.

Murphy got a little sloppy there for a moment and Anderson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Murphy has managed to get both his arms back between Anderson's legs - danger averted.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anderson wants to stand but Murphy is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murphy postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Murphy trying to control the position from guard on top but Anderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Anderson tries to keep at a distance but Murphy has taken the fight into the clinch.

Murphy jumps guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Murphy's head.
Murphy trying to keep a closed guard but Anderson is proving a slippery customer.

Murphy has an active guard here but Anderson has managed to pass into half guard.
Murphy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Murphy gets back to full guard.
Anderson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Murphy's head.
Anderson postures up and lands a big shot to Murphy's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Anderson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Murphy is looking for a triangle but Anderson pushes his legs off easily.
Murphy is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Anderson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Anderson is looking to work some ground and pound but Murphy has wrist control.
Anderson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Anderson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Murphy wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Anderson is now in half guard.
Murphy wants to control but Anderson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Anderson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Murphy wants to improve his position but Anderson is controlling well.
Anderson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Anderson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Anderson is looking for a kimura here.
Eldridge Anderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alex Murphy is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Anderson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

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 Eldridge Anderson.
I think Murphy 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Alex Murphy!