PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dan Tasker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joseph Murray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dan Tasker looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Tasker
vs
Murray

183 cm
18
173 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
20
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dan Tasker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joseph Murray!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Paul Gruel and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tasker shoots in looking for a takedown but Murray manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Tasker's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Tasker shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Murray's guard.
Tasker slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Murray preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tasker trying to control the position from guard on top but Murray is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Murray is trying to control the position but Tasker postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tasker will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tasker is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Murray is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Decent striking displayed by Murray there.
Murray lands with a kick to the ribs.
Murray throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Tasker stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A head kick from Murray lands but Tasker takes it in his stride.
Murray takes a swing at Tasker's ribcage but misses.
Murray has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Murray enables Tasker to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Murray manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Tasker tries to free his leg and advance position but Murray is retaining full guard.

Tasker 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.
Tasker is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murray controlling the position.
Tasker postures up.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tasker not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Murray is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Tasker changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Murray tries to avoid it but Tasker manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Murray to the ground. Murray escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Murray throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Murray looks to throw the jab but Tasker is out of range.
Murray lets loose with a powerful body kick. Tasker will feel that in the morning.
Murray throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Tasker takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Tasker with a lazy takedown attempt
and Murray cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Tasker. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Tasker fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Murray to the ground. Tasker is now in Murray's guard.
Tasker is breathing heavily.
Murray preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Murray looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murray can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Tasker controls the pace.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Murray has Tasker pulled in close to control his posture.
Tasker controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tasker shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Murray let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Murray dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A kick lands to the mid section there for Murray.
Tasker misses with a takedown attempt
and Murray counters with a thumping low kick.
Tasker takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Tasker shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nice takedown defense from Murray. No joy for Tasker on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Tasker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tasker has his takedown stuffed
enabling Murray to counter with a crisp jab.
Murray thows a body kick. Tasker tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Tasker shoots in but Murray avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murray lands with an uppercut that bounces Tasker off the cage and back into range.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Murray.
Tasker will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Tasker takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tasker with a lazy takedown attempt
and Murray counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tasker with a poor takedown
and Murray counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Joseph Murray seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Murray scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Donk. Murray catches Tasker right on the button with a cross.
Tasker shoots in but no luck this time.
Murray connects with the punch.
Joseph Murray is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tasker takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Tasker closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Murray's guard.
Tasker wants to control from the top but Murray keeps moving.
Murray trying to control the position.
Murray really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tasker. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tasker trying to control the position from guard on top but Murray is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Murray not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tasker passes into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murray is trying to control but Tasker passes into side control!
Murray can't do much from the bottom here.
Tasker passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Murray!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murray is looking to improve his position but Tasker isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Tasker cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Tasker sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Murray tries to lock up and control but Tasker gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Tasker tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Tasker landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tasker is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Tasker takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Tasker manages to capitalize on a mistake by Murray to take his back!
Tasker controls the position.
Murray just trying to survive but Tasker is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murray tries to roll but Tasker sticks to his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Murray showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Tasker with a poor takedown
and Murray counters with a good, hard body kick but Tasker shrugs it off.
Murray cracks Tasker with an open hand slap.

Tasker dives in and scores a takedown into Murray's guard.
Tasker pushes down on Murray's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Tasker seems to be working for a kimura but Murray defends the submission attempt.
Tasker thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Tasker lands a nice short elbow.

Tasker is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tasker controlling the action here.
Murray wants to improve his position but Tasker is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Tasker moves nicely into side control.
Murray avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Tasker.
Tasker controlling from side mount.

Tasker wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Murray, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tasker tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Tasker is staying tight to Murray's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Murray is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tasker remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Tasker misses with a takedown
and Murray counters with a solid body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tasker misses with a takedown attempt
and Murray counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Tasker is lucky that one didn't land flush.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Tasker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tasker shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Murray counters with a thumping low kick.
Tasker takes a kick to the side of the head.

Murray gets caught flat footed, as Tasker shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Murray being controlled here, momentarily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tasker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Murray swivels though and keeps the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Tasker showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Murray 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joseph Murray!