PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shane Murphy (ranked 4790 p4p, 516 weight class) and Jermaine Sims (ranked 5058 p4p, 528 weight class). Jermaine Sims told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Murphy
vs
Sims

185 cm
25
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
183 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Bank of noobs

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Shane Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jermaine Sims!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Franklyn Lucas and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sims bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Murphy managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Sims.
Sims tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Murphy is trying to control Sims's posture but Sims avoids it.
Sims sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Murphy is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Murphy sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Murphy is trying to maintain the position but Sims is very close to passing his half guard.
Sims is nestled in close to Murphy, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sims trying to control the action but Murphy is working from the bottom.
Murphy wants to control but Sims is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Murphy wants to improve his position but Sims is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy is looking to control Sims's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Murphy avoid being mounted?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murphy avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sims.

Sims is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Murphy defends it well.
Murphy is pressing down on Sims's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
We've been hearing good reports from Murphy's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Murphy is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Murphy wants to get back to his feet but Sims is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

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.
Sims working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Murphy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sims tries to free his leg and advance position but Murphy is retaining full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Sims circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sims pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Murphy tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sims counters with a nice body shot.

Murphy clinches with his opponent.
Murphy keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sims's efforts to push away.
Murphy looking to slow down the pace here.
Sims wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Murphy has him pressed against the cage.
Murphy using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sims has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Murphy using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sims wants to break the clinch but can't.
Murphy looking to throw knees to the head but Sims is blocking nicely.

Murphy breaks the clinch.
Murphy throws a head kick but Sims moves out of range.

Murphy closes the distance and clinches.
Sims lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Murphy with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sims drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Murphy gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Murphy stalling in the clinch but Sims improves position.
Murphy taking a breather.
Murphy seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Sims is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.
Murphy fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Murphy pulls Sims into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sims accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy working a defensive guard here.
Murphy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Murphy wants to get back to his feet but Sims is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Murphy has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Sims should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Murphy has tightened it up now! Sims should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:37 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Shane Murphy!
After the fight, Shane Murphy was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.