PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gary Grice (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. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Grice
vs
Murphy

184 cm
38
195 lbs
28 - 17 - 2

188 cm
44
213 lbs
42 - 25 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Nuggetori's Nutritionals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 17 - 2, fighting out of Hilo, Gary Grice!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 42 - 25 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brian Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Daniel Franklin and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Murphy lands a nice looking kick to the body. Grice takes a step back to recover.
Good leg kick by Murphy there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A low kick from Murphy misses
and Grice counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Grice scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Grice shoots for a double leg takedown but Murphy sprawls well. He's pushed Grice's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Murphy is looking to clinch but Grice is avoiding it.
Grice looks to throw the jab but Murphy is out of range.
Murphy misses with a body kick.
Murphy misses with an uppercut. Grice saw that one coming.
Grice missing with a left hand there. Murphy was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Murphy! But no joy.
Murphy throws a head kick but Grice moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by Murphy.
Murphy tries to clinch but Grice is having none of it.
Brian Murphy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Grice moves into the clinch successfully.
Murphy struggles to land a body shot inside as Grice controls his hands.
Murphy lands with a short head shot on the inside.
I was talking to Grice's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Good body shot from Murphy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Grice fails to land.
Murphy blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A nice left hand lands by Grice.
Murphy lands a hook to the side of the head.
Grice lands a right hand that snaps the head of Murphy backwards.
Murphy lands with a right to the head.
Murphy misses with a hook to the ribs.
Murphy has a couple of punches blocked by Grice.
Grice misses with a short punch on the inside.
Murphy stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Murphy.

Murphy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Murphy throws a push kick but Grice slaps the foot to one side.

Murphy forces Grice back against the cage and clinches.
Grice lands with a short shot to the head.
Grice misses with some punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Murphy blocks a body shot from Grice.
A hook to the body from Murphy.
Murphy lands a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Grice.
Murphy tries to work over Grice's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nice body punch from Grice - that landed with a thud.
Grice lands on the inside with an uppercut.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Murphy.
Murphy fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Murphy tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Murphy misses with a punch to the body.
Grice misses with the head strike.
Murphy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Murphy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
That kick from Murphy tenderised Grice's leg. Grice is trying to keep his angry face on.
Grice paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Murphy throws a head kick but Grice moves out of range.
Murphy throws a front kick aimed at Grice's knee but Grice avoids it well.
The fight stays on the outside here - Murphy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Grice lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Grice throws out the jab.
Murphy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Grice wants to clinch.
Grice slips under a jab.
Good leg kick by Grice there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A head kick misses from Murphy.
Nice uppercut lands for Grice. That snapped Murphy's head back.
Grice takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Murphy clobbers Grice with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Murphy looks to throw the jab but Grice is out of range.
Murphy wants to clinch but Grice slips to the side
enabling Grice to counter with a crisp jab.
A decent looking cross lands there for Grice.
Murphy throws a low kick but Grice avoids it.
Grice circles away from the clinch attempt
and Grice counters with a three punch combo that has Murphy backing up. Murphy nods at Grice to acknowledge the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murphy misses with a few strikes there.
Jab, jab by Grice - just one landing.
Murphy fails in his attempt to clinch.
Grice lands a front kick.
Murphy throws a low kick but it's checked well by Grice.
Grice looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Murphy misses with a left hand
letting Grice counter with a right hand.

Grice scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Grice throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Grice stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Murphy throws a lazy body kick
and Grice counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Murphy misses with an uppercut. Grice saw that one coming.
Grice appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Murphy throws a body kick that misses
and Grice counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A head kick misses from Grice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Grice dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The fighters circling - Murphy throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Grice slips a jab from Murphy.
Murphy shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Nice straight punches there by Murphy. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Murphy.
Grice fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Murphy.
Murphy tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Grice is able to avoid easily.
Murphy tried to score with a low kick but Grice checks it.
Grice swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Grice blocks a jab.
It looked like Grice was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Murphy.
A slow jab from Murphy misses its intended target.
Grice thumps Murphy with a low kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Grice.

Grice shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Grice works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy avoids a series of strikes thrown by Grice.
Murphy is looking to improve his position but Grice isn't that keen on the idea.
Murphy blocking the ground and pound.
Murphy avoids a series of strikes thrown by Grice.
Grice sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Grice looking to control but Murphy is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grice breaks from Murphy's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grice misses with some ground and pound and Murphy recovers position to half guard.
Murphy has hold of Grice's hands but Grice slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Grice working the head and body with strikes.
Murphy gets back to full guard.
Grice trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Murphy is trying to keep Grice in close.
Grice is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grice missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Grice throwing strikes but missing.
Grice controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Grice chips away with some ground and pound.
Murphy keeping moving, preventing Grice from controlling successfully.
Grice is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Murphy can do to turn this around?
Murphy is adopting a defensive guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

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 looking to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Murphy throws a head kick that misses
and Grice makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Murphy looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Grice punishes Murphy's body with a nice straight punch.
Grice's corner calls for a 1-2. Grice obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Murphy tries to clinch but Grice moves away
and Grice cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Grice throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Grice thumps Murphy with a low kick.
Murphy checks a leg kick.
Grice chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Murphy scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Grice scoring well with a low kick there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Grice dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Murphy takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Murphy throws a leg kick but Grice moved away.
Grice digs a good body shot into Murphy's ribs.
Grice throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Murphy is looking to clinch but Grice is avoiding it.
Murphy tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Grice shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
As Grice backs off Murphy throws a huge counter combo but Grice manages to avoid it all.
Murphy is looking to land body kicks.
Grice is looking to counter punch.
Murphy walks into a stiff left hand from Grice.
Gary Grice is winning the standup battle so far.
Grice throws the kick towards the body but Murphy avoids it.
A solid body kick from Grice.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Grice.
Murphy moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
An inside leg kick lands from Grice.
Murphy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy throws the kick towards the body but Grice avoids it.
Grice throws a nice inside leg kick.
Grice avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Murphy misses with an attempted mid kick.
Murphy stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Grice.
Murphy fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Murphy is looking to clinch.
Murphy throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Murphy throws a head kick that misses.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Grice, as that shot connected.
Murphy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Murphy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Grice with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Murphy throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A lazy left from Grice finds it's target.
Murphy throws a lazy right hand but Grice sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Murphy has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Grice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grice buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice uppercut there from Grice.
Grice checks the leg kick.
Grice dips to his left and cracks Murphy with an uppercut!
The fighters circling - Murphy throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Grice scoring well with a low kick there.
Grice checks a low kick from Murphy.
Murphy buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Murphy throws a looping overhand right but Grice ducks down to avoid it.
Grice scores with a kick to the midsection.
Grice lands a nice looking body shot.
Grice lands with a right hand.
Grice lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Murphy takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice uppercut there from Murphy.
A leg kick checked by Grice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grice tests Murphy's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Grice fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Grice is looking to slow Murphy down with leg kicks.
Grice scores with a nice right hand.
Grice slips under a jab.
Grice thinks about countering with a body kick.
Grice plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Gary Grice is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Grice fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Grice wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Grice closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Grice lands in his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Grice tries to free his leg and advance position but Murphy is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grice is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Grice won't allow Murphy to sweep him here.
Grice content to stall in guard here.
Murphy controlling Grice's posture.

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!
Gary Grice showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Grice, 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gary Grice!
A relieved looking Gary Grice thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Brian Murphy was interviewed post fight and said 'Can I still cut it?'.