PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Orlando Murphy (ranked 7738 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dean Ambrose (ranked 7197 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Murphy
vs
Ambrose

195 cm
22
278 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

196 cm
25
270 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 3 - 4 - 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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dean Ambrose!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, William Peck and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ambrose throws the kick towards the body but Murphy avoids it.
Ambrose looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Murphy blocks the body kick.
As Ambrose tries to get set, Murphy tries to push him back and clinch up but Ambrose manages to avoid the attempt.

Ambrose drives through with a takedown into Murphy's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Murphy has a closed guard, preventing Ambrose from standing up.
Murphy is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ambrose seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Murphy is working for a kimura but Ambrose is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Murphy trying to control from half guard but Ambrose is working away.
Ambrose is trying to control but can't.
Ambrose pushes Murphy off looking to stand but Murphy dives back in and keeps control.

Ambrose kicks Murphy off and gets back to his feet.
Murphy takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ambrose tries to stand but Murphy is controlling from the bottom.
Murphy scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
Ambrose trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Murphy could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Ambrose trying to control the position from guard on top but Murphy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Murphy is trying to keep Ambrose in close.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Murphy seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ambrose wants to control from the top but Murphy keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Murphy shoots in for a double leg but Ambrose sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Ambrose shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ambrose slips nicely into half guard.
Murphy keeping hold of Ambrose's head, controlling as best he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ambrose throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Ambrose dominated that 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.

Ambrose throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Murphy was covering up waiting for the punch and Ambrose finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Ambrose stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Murphy swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ambrose showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Murphy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ambrose's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ambrose has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Murphy has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ambrose can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy working a defensive guard here.
Ambrose trying to control the position from guard on top but Murphy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Ambrose wants to pass the guard but Murphy is keeping the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Ambrose moves into the clinch.

Ambrose successfully pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ambrose seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Murphy controlling from the top position.

Ambrose looking for a guillotine here but Murphy defends easily.
Murphy sitting in guard here, content to control.
Murphy trying to control the position from guard on top but Ambrose is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Murphy postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ambrose wants to sweep here but Murphy controlling him for the moment.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Ambrose manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Ambrose turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Murphy is trying to improve his position.
Murphy tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Ambrose presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Ambrose avoids the attempt from Murphy to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ambrose lands a couple of good shots and Murphy has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ambrose looking for the RNC.
Ambrose controls the position.
Murphy is really stuck here.
Ambrose thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Murphy is keeping busy.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ambrose struggling to land strikes to the head as Murphy covers up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Ambrose showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Murphy closes the distance and pushes Ambrose back into the cage.
Ambrose misses with an elbow strike.

Murphy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Ambrose fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Murphy sprawls well initially but Ambrose persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Murphy tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Ambrose manages to move to mount!
Poor strikes thrown by Ambrose there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Dean Ambrose has got the better of the ground game so far.
Murphy is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ambrose thowing shots but they're missing.
Ambrose controlling the pace for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ambrose jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Murphy is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Murphy and Ambrose has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Murphy is trying to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Murphy's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Ambrose swings around for an armbar but Murphy sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Ambrose's guard.

Murphy avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Murphy trying to control the position from guard on top but Ambrose is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ambrose has his feet on Murphy's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Ambrose swats away the attempt to clinch by Murphy.
Dean Ambrose seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Murphy throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Ambrose dives in and scores a takedown into Murphy's guard.
Murphy is trying to control the position but Ambrose postures up.
Ambrose postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Murphy being controlled here, momentarily.
Ambrose stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Murphy swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Murphy throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Ambrose escapes and throws Murphy's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ambrose wants to lay and pray for a moment but Murphy keeps working.
Murphy tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ambrose tries to score with some ground and pound. Murphy controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Murphy is looking for a sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dean Ambrose comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ambrose 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 26:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 26:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dean Ambrose!