PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Murphy (ranked 4511 p4p, 419 weight class) and Jai DArtalignon (ranked 3125 p4p, 0 weight class). Jai DArtalignon acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Murphy
vs
DArtalignon

195 cm
24
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tommy Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jai DArtalignon!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Daniel Blasius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

DArtalignon drives through and clinches with Murphy against the cage.
DArtalignon is trying to break free.
Murphy struggles to land a body shot inside as DArtalignon controls his hands.

Murphy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

DArtalignon shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Murphy is trying to defend but DArtalignon finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Murphy has hold of DArtalignon's hands but DArtalignon slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
DArtalignon thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Murphy moves into full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Murphy is pulling down on DArtalignon's head. It's preventing any offense from DArtalignon, at least for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
DArtalignon trying to control the position from guard on top but Murphy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DArtalignon is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Murphy is controlling DArtalignon's posture.

Murphy throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
DArtalignon trying to control but Murphy is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Murphy throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
DArtalignon trying to control but Murphy is working from the bottom.
Murphy wants to stand but DArtalignon is controlling the position.
Murphy seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Murphy throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murphy gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows DArtalignon to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Murphy looking for a guillotine here but DArtalignon defends easily.
DArtalignon preventing the sweep.
DArtalignon trying to control but Murphy is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy wants to sweep here but DArtalignon controlling him for the moment.
DArtalignon tries to free his leg and advance position but Murphy is retaining full guard.
Murphy has DArtalignon pulled in close to control his posture.

Murphy is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Murphy on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Murphy tries to get out of the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Murphy wants to sweep here but DArtalignon controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jai DArtalignon will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

DArtalignon moves into range and clinches up with Murphy.

Murphy breaks from the clinch.

DArtalignon drives through with a takedown into guard.

Murphy is looking for a triangle but DArtalignon pushes his legs off easily.
DArtalignon stopping the sweep attempt from Murphy.
DArtalignon wants to control from the top but Murphy keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
DArtalignon being controlled here momentarily.
DArtalignon stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Murphy swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

DArtalignon decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Murphy on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

DArtalignon closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy looking to throw knees to the head but DArtalignon is blocking nicely.
Our sources have told us that Murphy has been working on his elbows in the gym.

Murphy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Murphy shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. DArtalignon is trying to defend but Murphy finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
DArtalignon won't allow Murphy to pass to mount.
DArtalignon wants to get back to full guard.

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

Murphy is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, DArtalignon has managed to free his arm - good work.

Murphy is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Murphy seems content to control.
Murphy takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
DArtalignon wants to get back to his feet.

Murphy is looking for a kimura but DArtalignon is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Murphy to get the leverage.
Murphy controlling the action here.
DArtalignon tries to get to full guard but Murphy has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Murphy is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, DArtalignon has managed to free his arm - good work.
DArtalignon is looking for a sweep. Murphy is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tommy Murphy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Murphy is keen to just control but DArtalignon is a slippery customer.

Murphy is looking for a kimura but DArtalignon is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Murphy to get the leverage.
Murphy is pressing down on DArtalignon's thigh, looking to free his foot. DArtalignon is holding on for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Murphy is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Murphy is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and DArtalignon defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Murphy dominated that second round.
That's time! Murphy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

DArtalignon shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Murphy manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Murphy pushes DArtalignon off and gets back to his feet.

DArtalignon darts in and clinches Murphy up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
DArtalignon working hard to break the clinch.
Murphy tries to land knees in the clinch but DArtalignon avoids the damage to the body.

DArtalignon breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

DArtalignon rushes Murphy and presses him up against the cage.

Murphy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Murphy throws a right hand that DArtalignon ducks under and follows up with a left that DArtalignon also avoids with ease.
Jai DArtalignon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

DArtalignon closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
DArtalignon 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.
DArtalignon trying to control the action but Murphy is working from the bottom.
DArtalignon looking to control but instead Murphy has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Murphy works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Murphy is on top in guard.

DArtalignon wants to sweep but no luck.
DArtalignon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Murphy wants to pass the guard but DArtalignon is keeping the position.
Murphy is stalling in the full guard.
Murphy trying to control but DArtalignon is working from the bottom.
Murphy is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because DArtalignon is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Murphy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. DArtalignon swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy wants to stand but DArtalignon has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
DArtalignon working a defensive guard here.
Murphy controls from within his opponent's guard.

Murphy drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and DArtalignon dives on top into guard.

DArtalignon stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Murphy swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four 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 manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. DArtalignon manages to get himself to full guard.

Murphy looking to sit in guard and control but DArtalignon gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

DArtalignon postures up in Murphy's guard and throws a big left but Murphy blocks it.
Murphy looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Murphy manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. DArtalignon manages to get himself to full guard.

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 Tommy Murphy.
I think Murphy has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:28
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommy Murphy!
Tommy Murphy was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.