PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eamonn Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Duster Bender (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Duster Bender is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Murphy
vs
Bender

200 cm
18
250 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

225 cm
22
265 lbs
2 - 16 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Eamonn Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 16 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Duster Bender!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Michael Johnstone and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bender misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Murphy appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Bender throws a sloppy head kick and Murphy moves out of range easily.
Eamonn Murphy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice takedown defense from Bender. No joy for Murphy on that attempt.
Murphy misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bender tries to clinch but Murphy moves out of range.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bender but Bender pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bender tries a head kick but it misses.
A quick step to the side and Murphy tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Murphy throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Murphy shoots in and gets a takedown into Bender's guard.
We've been hearing that Murphy has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Murphy controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy postures up.
Bender wants to hit a switch here but Murphy passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Bender there!
Murphy sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bender working to try and regain half guard.
Bender is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Murphy sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Bender can't escape the position.
Murphy blocks Bender's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Bender is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two 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 takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Bender tries to hold on but Murphy postures up.
Murphy controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bender is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bender can do anything to dispel that myth.
Murphy controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

Murphy is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Bender goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Eamonn Murphy has been cut.
Bender pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Some wild striking there from Bender.
Bender lands a jab-cross combination.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bender defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Murphy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eamonn Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bender drives through and clinches with Murphy 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 Eamonn Murphy will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Eamonn Murphy's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bender walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Murphy checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown but Bender shows good takedown defense.
Bender tries to clinch up

and Murphy counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Murphy slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Murphy advances position into side control!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bender is looking to reverse the position.
Murphy controlling the position from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Bender for as long as he can get away with.
Bender tries to control but Murphy manages to take his back.
Murphy biding his time, controlling Bender.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Murphy gets his hands free as Bender looks to control.
Bender wants to get back to his feet.
I really don't envy Bender right now.
Bender is trying to stand back up.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Murphy's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Further stalling from Murphy.
If it seems like I'm not saying a lot, it's just because Murphy is stinking the place up with his stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Bender is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
I would not like to be Bender right now.
Murphy continues to stall.
Murphy is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bender can do to turn this around?
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bender trying to get back to his feet but Murphy is in full control for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eamonn Murphy dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Eamonn Murphy's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Bender fails to land with a series of punches.
Bender rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Murphy moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Murphy tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bender defends well and Murphy ends up having to push Bender into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Bender fails in his attempt to clinch.
Murphy attempts a counter takedown but Bender avoids it well and moves away.
Bender is looking to land body kicks.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bender as he jumps to the side.

Bender darts in and clinches Murphy up against the cage.

Murphy manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy throws a looping overhand right but Bender ducks down to avoid it.
Murphy misses with a hook to the body
and Bender counters with a series of strikes. Murphy will be more careful next time no doubt.
Bender stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bender wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eamonn Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bender stuffs the takedown attempt from Murphy. Murphy gets slowly back to his feet.
Eamonn Murphy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bender shoots in for a takedown but Murphy shows good takedown defense.
Bender tries to clinch up but Murphy circles away and keeps his distance.
A slapping leg kick lands for Bender.
Bender displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Murphy fails with a takedown attempt.
Bender tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Murphy swivels and escapes.
Murphy seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown but Bender shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bender wants to counter with a clinch but Murphy pushes him away.
Bender shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Murphy sprawls well. Murphy wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bender gets slowly back to his feet.
Murphy went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Duster Bender has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bender pushes Murphy up against the cage in a clinch.
Murphy letting Bender take a breather here.
Murphy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bender has had enough of the clinch but Murphy keeps him there for the moment.
Bender prevents the takedown attempt.
Bender fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Murphy tries to score a body lock takedown but Bender shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Bender manages to break the clinch.
Murphy shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bender pinned against the cage. Bender gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Bender.
Murphy takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bender is looking to clinch but Murphy is avoiding it.
Bender throws a head kick that misses.
A combination from Bender does no damage.
Bender misses with a takedown
and Murphy cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Duster Bender seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bender throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
No luck for Bender with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Murphy closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bender did well to prevent Murphy getting side control.
Bender is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Murphy stalling.
Eamonn Murphy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Duster Bender comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Murphy has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!