PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Freddy Murphy (ranked 5208 p4p, 442 weight class) and Michael Wackson (ranked 6130 p4p, 474 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Murphy
vs
Wackson

185 cm
23
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Can Moonwalk

VanDam Clothing

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Freddy Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michael Wackson !
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, William Peck and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy swings for the body but Wackson moves out of range.
Wackson tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Wackson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Wackson forces Murphy back against the cage and clinches.

Murphy pulls guard successfully.

Murphy has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Wackson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Murphy manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Wackson manages to get himself to full guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy wants to control from the top but Wackson keeps moving.
Murphy lands a couple of digs.
Murphy stands up over Wackson , holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murphy gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Wackson clinches.

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

Murphy shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Wackson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Wackson keeping moving, preventing Murphy from controlling successfully.
Wackson should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Murphy trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Wackson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Murphy is controlling him.
Murphy cracks Wackson with a solid left hand.
Wackson wants to stand but Murphy is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wackson keeping moving, preventing Murphy from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wackson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Murphy is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Murphy seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Wackson for as long as he can get away with.

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

Wackson has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy trying to land knees to the body.
Murphy has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Wackson after a bit of a struggle.
Wackson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Wackson lands with a short shot to the head.
Wackson swings wildly with an uppercut but Murphy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Murphy tries to land knees in the clinch but Wackson avoids the damage to the body.
Murphy wants to take the fight to the mat but Wackson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Freddy Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wackson gets underhooks to prevent Murphy's takedown attempt.
Murphy changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Wackson fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Wackson has Murphy up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy jumps guard but Wackson stands there with Murphy around his waist. Murphy gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Murphy managing to block the knees to the body from Wackson .

Murphy breaks the clinch.

Wackson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Murphy misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Murphy tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Murphy drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Wackson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Freddy Murphy will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Wackson moves into the clinch.
Wackson is trying to stall.
We've been informed that Wackson has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Murphy taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Murphy effectively controlling the action here.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Murphy for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Murphy blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Wackson throws a head punch that misses.
Murphy tries to pull guard but Wackson won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Murphy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Wackson moves into the clinch.
Wackson scores a nice knee to the body.
Murphy dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wackson lands an elbow just above Murphy 's eye.
Murphy misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Wackson .
Wackson tries to break free but Murphy pushes him back against the cage.

Wackson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown but Wackson shows good takedown defense.
Wackson feints the counter takedown.

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

Wackson manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Michael Wackson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Wackson scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wackson managing to block the knees to the body from Murphy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wackson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

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

Wackson clinches up against the cage.
Wackson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Murphy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wackson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Murphy tries to keep at a distance but Wackson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Wackson lands a shoulder strike.

Wackson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Michael Wackson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Wackson gets the takedown into side control.
Murphy is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wackson decides to stand back up.

Wackson moves into the clinch successfully.
Wackson looking to slow down the pace here.
Wackson gets underhooks to prevent Murphy's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Freddy Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murphy blocks an elbow strike.
Wackson dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Wackson throws a punch but it's blocked by Murphy.
Murphy misses with a knee strike.
Murphy softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wackson avoids the elbow strike from Murphy, against the cage.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The referee is keeping an eye on Murphy - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Murphy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Wackson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Wackson stands up from Murphy's guard - Wackson perhaps looking for a knockout.
Wackson misses with a two punch combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wackson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Wackson 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. This is the final round!

Wackson is looking to land body kicks.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Wackson .
Murphy is looking for a sweep.
Murphy can't do much from the bottom here.
Murphy tries to buck Wackson off but Wackson is having none of it.
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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Wackson decides to stand back up. Wackson steps back and let's Murphy get back to his feet.

Wackson drives through and clinches with Murphy against the cage.
Murphy softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wackson prevents the takedown attempt.
Murphy trying to land knees to the body.
Wackson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Wackson pushes off an throws an elbow but Murphy leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Wackson gets underhooks to prevent Murphy's takedown attempt.
Murphy stalls.
Wackson misses with the head strike.
Wackson leaning his opponent against the cage.

Murphy decides to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Murphy wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Wackson manages to pass to side control.
Murphy keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Wackson tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wackson decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Murphy shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Wackson wants to stand but Murphy is controlling the position.
Freddy Murphy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Murphy gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Wackson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is struggling to control the position.
Murphy is trying to drag Wackson to the mat but Wackson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Freddy Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murphy looking to throw knees to the head but Wackson is blocking nicely.
Wackson trying to stall but Murphy improves his position.
Murphy doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wackson prevents the takedown attempt.
Wackson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Murphy is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Wackson to keep the fight standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Michael Wackson .
I think Wackson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Michael Wackson !