PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Orlando Murphy (ranked 24911 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josiah Barlow (ranked 5476 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Murphy
vs
Barlow

195 cm
21
278 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

200 cm
25
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Orlando Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Josiah Barlow!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Elvis Blanc and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Barlow.

It looks like Orlando Murphy has been cut.
Barlow moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Barlow rushes Murphy and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Murphy just leaning against Barlow, taking a breather.

Barlow wants the takedown. Murphy is fighting it off but Barlow persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Murphy's guard against the cage.

Murphy kicks Barlow off and gets to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Barlow dives in and scores a takedown into Murphy's guard.
Murphy is pulling down on Barlow's head. It's preventing any offense from Barlow, at least for the moment.
Barlow stopping the sweep attempt from Murphy.
Barlow trying to control but Murphy is working from the bottom.
Murphy could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barlow not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Murphy had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Barlow defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Murphy is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Barlow trying to control but Murphy is working from the bottom.

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.
Murphy wants to sweep here but Barlow controlling him for the moment.
Barlow is pushing down on Murphy's leg trying to pass to half guard. Murphy is fighting to maintain full guard but Barlow has managed to sneak the leg through.
Barlow throws a strike but Murphy avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Barlow slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Barlow throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Barlow wants to control but Murphy is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barlow passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Murphy!
Murphy is squirming around, avoiding Barlow's attempts to control the action.
Murphy tries to hold on but Barlow postures up.
Barlow trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Barlow goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Murphy is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Barlow manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Murphy manages to get himself to full guard.

Barlow trying to control the position from guard on top but Murphy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Murphy looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Barlow passes into half guard.
Barlow trying to control from Murphy's half guard. Murphy has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josiah Barlow dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Orlando Murphy's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Murphy tries to keep at a distance but Barlow has taken the fight into the clinch.

Barlow breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Barlow has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Barlow lands with a shot to the body.

Barlow closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Barlow. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Barlow seems to be working for a kimura but Murphy defends the submission attempt.
Murphy makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Murphy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murphy throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Murphy keeping full guard, as Barlow tries to pass.
Murphy has Barlow pulled in close to control his posture.
Murphy continues to stall.
Barlow would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

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 controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Murphy moves out of range of the body kick from Barlow.

Murphy closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Barlow to the mat! Barlow manages to get full guard.
Murphy is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Josiah Barlow has got the better of the ground game so far.
Barlow bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Murphy's guard.

Murphy working for a triangle but Barlow defends it easily.
Murphy is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barlow is looking to work some ground and pound but Murphy has wrist control.
Barlow trying to control the position from guard on top but Murphy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barlow might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Murphy haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Murphy can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Barlow controls the pace.

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.
Murphy is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Murphy has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Murphy is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barlow is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Barlow trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josiah Barlow showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Orlando Murphy's cut.
That's time! Murphy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Barlow moves into range and clinches up with Murphy.
Murphy jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Barlow walks away with a smile on his face. Murphy gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Murphy gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Barlow is standing up over Murphy. Murphy looks to escape but Barlow dives into side control.

Barlow is looking to take a break and control but Murphy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Barlow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barlow is trying to move to mount but Murphy reverses beautifully and ends up in Barlow's guard.
Barlow working a defensive guard but Murphy passes into half guard.
Barlow is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Barlow trying to control here.
Well, if Murphy is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Murphy.
Barlow trying to control but Murphy postures up.
Murphy seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barlow is trying to control but Murphy passes into side control!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Murphy working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murphy content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Barlow moves out of range of the body kick.

Barlow drives through with a takedown into Murphy's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Barlow takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Murphy is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Murphy is on top in guard.

Murphy slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Orlando Murphy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Josiah Barlow is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Orlando Murphy.
Well Barlow has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josiah Barlow!