PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Rydeland (ranked 2668 p4p, 300 weight class) and Chad Murray (ranked 2327 p4p, 270 weight class). Rydeland comes into the arena with Robbery - Not sneak attack blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Murray 's choice of entrance music: Dead man walking. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rydeland
vs
Murray

185 cm
31
185 lbs
16 - 17 - 0

180 cm
35
166 lbs
29 - 20 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 16 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Rydeland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chad Murray !
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Alan Glass and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rydeland throws a hook to the side of Murray 's head but Murray sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rydeland throws a lazy uppercut
and Murray counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rydeland swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Murray avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Murray tests Rydeland's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rydeland tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Murray was well out of range. Poor timing from Rydeland.
Rydeland looks to land a right hand but Murray moved out of range.
We've been informed that Murray has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Murray scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rydeland doesn't seem bothered though.
Murray uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rydeland.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murray just misses with a punch to the body.
Crunch! Murray slams his shin into Rydeland's torso.
Murray scores with a jab to the jaw.
Murray moves out of range of the strikes.
Murray looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Murray jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murray lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Rydeland looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Murray scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rydeland doesn't seem bothered though.
Murray throws a lazy right hand but Rydeland sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rydeland throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Murray sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Murray swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Murray uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rydeland.
Rydeland throws a hook to the side of Murray 's head but Murray sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nice defenses there by Murray .
Murray stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Murray lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A jab from Murray misses.
Murray listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Murray misses with an uppercut
and Rydeland counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Murray rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Rydeland counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rydeland lunges at Murray with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Murray 's hand.
Jab from Rydeland.
Rydeland misses with a straight right.
Murray slips under a jab from Rydeland.
Murray is looking to slow Rydeland down with leg kicks.
Murray throws a body punch but Rydeland moves out of range.
A big right from Murray misses.
Rydeland swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Rydeland connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Murray lands a nice shot that snaps Rydeland's head back.
Murray clobbers Rydeland with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Rydeland misses with a looping right.
Murray looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Nice defenses there by Rydeland.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rydeland on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Murray is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Rydeland had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Nice defenses there by Murray .
Murray with a hook.
Murray throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A shot to the body from Murray misses
and Rydeland counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rydeland looks to score with a jab to the body but Murray is just out of range.
Murray misses the jab.
Rydeland checks a low kick from Murray .
Murray just misses with a punch to the body.
A counter left hand to the body from Rydeland misses its target.
Murray misses with an uppercut.
Murray throws a lazy uppercut

and Rydeland counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rydeland blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rydeland doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Murray breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Murray slips a jab from Rydeland.
Rydeland takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rydeland misses with a jab to the body
and Murray counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Rydeland throws a looping overhand right but Murray ducks down to avoid it.
Rydeland just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice jab there from Murray .
Murray throws a hook but Rydeland blocks it.
An attempted straight right counter from Rydeland misses the target.
Murray swings widly with a right hand
and Rydeland counters with a nice body shot.
Murray moves out of range of the strikes.
Murray throws a hook but Rydeland avoids it easily.
Rydeland lands a nice hook to Murray 's body. Murray takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rydeland slips under a jab from Murray .
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Murray dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Murray throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Murray lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Murray has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rydeland getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Rydeland lands a nice shot that snaps Murray 's head back.
Chad Murray seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Murray ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rydeland takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Rydeland jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Murray scores with a jab to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Murray .
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murray misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rydeland.
Rydeland throws a body punch but Murray moves out of range.
Murray throws out a counter right but Rydeland avoids it with no problem.
Rydeland throws a hook to the side of Murray 's head but Murray sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Murray misses with a leg kick
and Rydeland counters with a left to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murray walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rydeland checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Murray scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rydeland in his tracks.
Murray bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rydeland's head backwards.
Rydeland checks a leg kick.
Murray looks to land a left hand but Rydeland moved out of range nicely.
Murray drops his hands momentarily and Rydeland takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Murray moves out of range of the strikes.
A slow jab from Murray misses its intended target.
Murray throws a front kick aimed at Rydeland's knee but Rydeland avoids it well.
A little feinted left hand from Rydeland on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Murray tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Murray jabs Rydeland to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A slow jab from Rydeland misses its intended target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Rydeland blocks the leg kick.
Rydeland moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Murray throws out a leg kick but Rydeland moves out of range and Murray only half commits.
Murray pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rydeland cracks Murray with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A looping hook to the body misses from Murray . Rydeland does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rydeland fails to land the takedown.
Rydeland just misses with a punch to the body.
Rydeland ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Murray throws a leg kick which misses Rydeland's front leg but catches the back leg as Rydeland tries to avoid it.
Murray tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rydeland was well out of range. Poor timing from Murray .
Rydeland was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Rydeland.
Rydeland moves out of range of the strikes.
Rydeland thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rydeland connects with a right hand. Murray shakes it off.
Murray misses with a kick to the body.
Murray throws a hook to the side of Rydeland's head but Rydeland sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rydeland throws a lazy uppercut
and Murray counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Murray connects with a solid leg kick.
Rydeland moves out of range as Murray strikes.
Rydeland tries to counter by clinching up but Murray breaks away and moves out of range.
A shot to the body from Murray misses
and Rydeland counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Murray loads up on a big right hand but Rydeland slips the punch.
Murray blocks a jab.
Rydeland backing away here, and Murray unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murray paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Rydeland's jab looks to have found its range, popping Murray under the eye.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rydeland misses with a hook to the body
and Murray counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Murray cracks Rydeland with a right hand to the side of the head.
Murray throws a hook but Rydeland avoids it easily.
Rydeland uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Murray .
Nice cross by Murray .
Murray avoids the body shot from Rydeland.
Murray moves away from the strike by Rydeland.
A jab from Rydeland does it's job there.
Rydeland checks a leg kick nicely.
Murray swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rydeland.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad 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. This is the final round!

A lazy left from Murray finds it's target.
Rydeland slips under a jab.
Rydeland wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Murray uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rydeland.
Rydeland takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Murray throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rydeland misses with a right hand
and Murray counters with a stiff right hand.
Rydeland uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Murray .
Murray connects with an inside leg kick.
Rydeland avoids the body shot from Murray .
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murray stuns Rydeland with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Murray misses the body punch
and Rydeland cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A jab from Murray misses.
Rydeland tries to counter with a takedown but Murray is quick to defend against it.
Murray just misses with a punch to the body.
Rydeland appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murray just misses with a punch to the body.
Murray slips a straight right by Rydeland.
A looping hook to the body misses from Murray . Rydeland does a little dance to reset his feet.
Murray listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Rydeland misses with an uppercut. Murray saw that one coming.
A nice inside leg kick there by Murray . That's going to slow Rydeland down.
Rydeland throws the left hand but Murray avoids the punch easily.
Murray shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A telegraphed right hand from Rydeland misses the target.
Murray buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Murray slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murray moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Rydeland blocks a low kick nicely.
Murray misses with a straight left.
Rydeland looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Murray tries to land a leg kick but Rydeland saw it coming and moves away.
Rydeland checks the leg kick.
Murray misses with a hook. Rydeland ducked under it nicely.
Murray connects with a nice looking jab.
Rydeland just misses with a punch to the body.
Chad Murray seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Murray throws a hook to the side of Rydeland's head but Rydeland sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Murray uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rydeland.
A swing and a miss from Murray .

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murray throws a head kick but Rydeland moves out of range.
Rydeland throwing a counter right hand but Murray manages to avoid it.
Murray connects with a jab.
Rydeland lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Murray at a distance.
Rydeland misses with a hook. Murray ducked under it nicely.
Rydeland scores with a nice strike.
Rydeland jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Murray throws a leg kick that is checked
and Rydeland counters with a left to the body.
A jab from Rydeland misses.
Murray throws a leg kick but Rydeland sees it coming and moves out of range.
A jab from Rydeland finds it's way through Murray 's defenses.
Rydeland uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Murray .
John Rydeland has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Murray swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murray missing with a left hand there. Rydeland was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nice uppercut lands for Rydeland. That snapped Murray 's head back.
Murray takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Murray throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rydeland ducks under a wild hook from Murray .
Murray scores with a hook.
Rydeland throws a hook but Murray avoids it easily.
Rydeland takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rydeland misses with a hook. Murray ducked under it nicely.
Rydeland connects with the punch.
Rydeland throws a lazy uppercut
and Murray counters with an outside leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chad Murray comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Murray winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chad Murray !
Chad Murray tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.