PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Issac Armstrong (ranked 24926 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shaun Murphy (ranked 4783 p4p, 0 weight class). Shaun Murphy has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Issac Armstrong's chin.

Armstrong
vs
Murphy

164 cm
24
151 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Issac Armstrong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Shaun Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Paul Aken and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy misses with a takedown attempt
and Armstrong counters with a stiff right hand.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch but Armstrong swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Armstrong drops down looking for a counter takedown but Murphy sprawls and moves away.
Armstrong lands a high kick!
Murphy tries to clinch up.

Murphy moves into the clinch.
Armstrong is looking to take this one to the mat.
Murphy prevents a takedown attempt there.
Murphy is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Armstrong gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Armstrong goes for a takedown in the clinch but Murphy prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Issac Armstrong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murphy is stalling here.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Armstrong changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Murphy misses with a takedown attempt
and Murphy takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Armstrong gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Armstrong tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Murphy smiles and moves away.
Nice straight punches there by Armstrong. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Armstrong.
Murphy shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Armstrong pinned against the cage. Armstrong gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Murphy goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Murphy is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Murphy.
Armstrong half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Murphy fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Armstrong half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Armstrong drives through and clinches with Murphy against the cage.
Armstrong tries to pull guard but Murphy forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Murphy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A telegraphed right hand from Murphy misses the target.
Murphy is looking to clinch.
Armstrong lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Armstrong dodges the punch combination from Murphy.
Armstrong tries to counter with a takedown but Murphy is quick to defend against it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong throws a head kick that Murphy semi-blocks.
Murphy gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Armstrong.
Armstrong keeps the fight on the outside.

Armstrong instigates a clinch.
Armstrong jumps guard but Murphy turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Murphy turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Armstrong throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Armstrong defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Murphy.

Armstrong drives through and clinches with Murphy against the cage.
Murphy tries to stall but Armstrong uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Armstrong is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Murphy is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Armstrong escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Armstrong stuffs the takedown.
Murphy looks winded!

Armstrong moves into range and clinches up with Murphy.

Armstrong has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Murphy is trying to keep an underhook but Armstrong manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Murphy is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Murphy is trying to control but can't.
Murphy might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Armstrong haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Murphy makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Armstrong lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Murphy tries to clinch up but Armstrong circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Issac Armstrong dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Armstrong misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Murphy fails with an attempt to clinch.

Murphy gets tackled into the cage by Armstrong. Armstrong maintains the clinch.
Murphy is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Armstrong is defending well.
Armstrong has Murphy pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Murphy manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Murphy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Issac Armstrong is winning the standup battle so far.
Armstrong keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Armstrong moves into the clinch successfully.

Armstrong has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Murphy clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Murphy just trying to survive but Armstrong is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Murphy wants to escape the position.
Armstrong missing with punches from the back.

Murphy is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.
Armstrong scores with a jab. Murphy acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Murphy rushes Armstrong and presses him up against the cage.
Good body shot from Armstrong.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong is struggling to control the position.
Murphy working aggressively here.
Murphy is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

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

Murphy moves into range and clinches up with Armstrong.
Armstrong tries to pull guard but Murphy won't allow it.
Murphy gets underhooks to prevent Armstrong's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Issac Armstrong. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Armstrong breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Armstrong stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Armstrong wants it to stay on the feet.
Murphy looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Armstrong changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Murphy is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murphy clinches up with Armstrong and pushes him back against the cage.

Armstrong breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Armstrong wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Murphy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice body punch from Armstrong.
Murphy scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Murphy.
Shaun Murphy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Armstrong as Murphy shoots in.
Armstrong feinted with a counter takedown.
Murphy closes the distance and clinches up with Armstrong, looking for a takedown. Murphy pushes Armstrong against the cage but Armstrong circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The crowd cheers as Armstrong lands an impressive looking overhand right. Murphy doesn't seem phased though.

Armstrong takes the fight into the clinch.
Armstrong tries to pull guard but Murphy won't allow it.
Armstrong is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Armstrong gets a trip takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Armstrong missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Armstrong lands strikes from half guard.
Armstrong slips a nice elbow through Murphy's hands, connecting with Murphy's forehead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Armstrong swings for the body but Murphy moves out of range.
Armstrong misses with a few strikes there.
Murphy tried to score with a low kick but Armstrong checks it.

Armstrong moves into the clinch successfully.

Murphy lands a takedown into guard.

Armstrong manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Murphy shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Armstrong is trying to defend but Murphy finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Armstrong kicks Murphy off and gets back to his feet.
Murphy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Murphy misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong throws a head kick that misses.
Shaun Murphy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Armstrong instigates a clinch.
Murphy tries to pull guard but Armstrong holds him up against the cage and eventually Murphy drops back down to his feet.
Armstrong drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Murphy gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Armstrong pulls guard.
Murphy is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Murphy wants to get up but he can't break Armstrong's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Issac Armstrong overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong pulls Murphy in to control the position.
Murphy tries to stand but Armstrong is controlling from the bottom.
Murphy scoring with punches to the head and body.
Armstrong is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Murphy can do to turn this around?
Murphy is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

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

Murphy pushes Armstrong up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Murphy just stands there and leans against the cage.
Armstrong tries to pull guard but Murphy forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Issac Armstrong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murphy prevents the takedown attempt.
Murphy is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Armstrong tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Murphy just stands there and leans against the cage.

Armstrong pulls guard effortlessly.
Armstrong 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.
Armstrong might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Murphy wants to get up but he can't break Armstrong's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Murphy lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Armstrong keeping full guard, as Murphy tries to pass.
Armstrong keeping moving, preventing Murphy from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
Issac Armstrong showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Armstrong has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Issac Armstrong!