PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ezekiel Norris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alex Murphy has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Norris
vs
Murphy

182 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
21
195 lbs
1 - 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 light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ezekiel Norris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alex Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Winston Howard and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy moves to clinch but Norris breaks away
and Norris counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Norris circles away from the clinch attempt.
Norris attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Murphy throws a counter combo.
Murphy fails in his attempt to clinch.
Murphy tries to clinch up
and Norris counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norris avoids a punch combination nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Norris misses the target.
A head kick misses from Murphy.
Norris is looking to counter with a body kick.
Norris looks for the body kick but Murphy saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murphy closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Murphy prevents Norris from standing back up.
Norris gets full guard.
Norris looking to hit a scissor sweep but Murphy is one step ahead there.
Norris is working hard here to advance position.

Murphy gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Ezekiel Norris is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Murphy swings for the body but Norris moves out of range.
Norris could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Murphy tries to clinch up but Norris circles away and keeps his distance.
Murphy wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Norris gets caught flat footed, as Murphy shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murphy trying to control the position from guard on top but Norris is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Murphy preventing the sweep.
Murphy working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Norris is looking to stand up but Murphy isn't so interested in that idea.
Norris wants to sweep but no luck.
Norris looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Norris is on top in guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murphy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Norris trying to control but Murphy is working from the bottom.
Norris won't allow Murphy to sweep him here.
Norris throws a big elbow that misses.

Norris gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Murphy looks winded!

Murphy drives through with a takedown into guard.
Murphy stopping the sweep attempt from Norris.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norris trying to strike off his back.

Murphy gets to his feet. Norris looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Murphy lands with a slapping head kick.

Murphy shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Murphy was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Norris sneaks out the side door and pushes Murphy away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
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!
Norris is looking to land body kicks.
Norris tries to clinch up but Murphy circles away and keeps his distance.

Murphy closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Murphy lands in his opponent's guard.

Norris manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ezekiel Norris 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.

Norris turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Murphy shoots in and bounces Norris off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Norris manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Norris tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Murphy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Murphy closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Norris quickly recovers to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Norris is looking to improve his position.
Norris moves into full guard.
Murphy is breathing heavily.
Norris keeping full guard, as Murphy tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norris bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Murphy's guard.

Norris stands and steps away. Murphy gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Murphy shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Murphy was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Norris gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Norris tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Norris tries to get to full guard but Murphy has control of the leg.
Norris is pressing down on Murphy's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Norris bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Murphy's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Norris gets to his feet - Murphy follows without any prompting.
Norris lands with a right hand.
Norris throws the kick towards the body but Murphy avoids it.

Murphy gets a takedown into half guard.

Norris pushes Murphy off and gets back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Murphy dives in and scores a takedown into Norris's guard.

Norris pushes Murphy off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Norris is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Murphy can do to turn this around?

Murphy fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Norris sprawls well initially but Murphy persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ezekiel Norris overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy trying to pass the guard but Norris defending well.
Norris tries to get to full guard but Murphy has control of the leg.
Norris is looking to control Murphy's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Norris avoid being mounted?
Norris wants to improve his position but Murphy is controlling well.
Norris manages to get to full guard.

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.
Norris lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Norris throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Norris trying to stand up but can't free himself from Murphy's guard.
Murphy is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Norris working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Norris gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Murphy takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ezekiel Norris dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Murphy tries to clinch up
and Norris counters with a nice body kick.
Alex Murphy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Norris throws a shot from downtown. Murphy moves away and avoids it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Norris tightens his grip and picks Murphy up, before dumping him to the ground. Murphy manages to land in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Murphy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Norris keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Murphy's head.

Norris is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Norris is looking to work some ground and pound but Murphy has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norris missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Murphy is working an open guard so Norris takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Murphy chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Norris can pounce on him.

Murphy darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Norris manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Murphy keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Murphy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Murphy throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Norris tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Murphy is in Norris's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Norris doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Norris looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Norris trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Murphy won't allow Norris to sweep him here.
Murphy trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Norris is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Norris looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Norris is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Murphy doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Norris.
Murphy is trying to control but Norris manages to pass to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy taking shots to the head.
Norris lands a heavy elbow.
Norris wants to control but instead Murphy manages to regain half guard.
Murphy wants to get back to his feet.
Norris winds up and cracks Murphy with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Murphy has hold of Norris's hands but Norris slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Norris connects with a nice short shot to Murphy's temple.
Murphy is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Norris scores with a couple of nice shots.

Norris is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Murphy has managed to free his arm - good work.
Norris thows a huge punch but Murphy dodges it nicely.

Norris is looking for a kimura but Murphy is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Norris to get the leverage.
Norris is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Norris throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Norris takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Alex Murphy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ezekiel Norris is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Norris controlling the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ezekiel Norris showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Norris, 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ezekiel Norris!