PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Desmond Fairbanks (ranked 852 p4p, 47 weight class) and Paul Murhaa (ranked 1012 p4p, 56 weight class). 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.

Fairbanks
vs
Murhaa

173 cm
33
142 lbs
27 - 20 - 0

169 cm
31
144 lbs
23 - 8 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Desmond Fairbanks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 8 - 2, fighting out of New York, Paul Murhaa!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fairbanks pivots, looking for a leg kick but Murhaa is out of range and Fairbanks settles back down.
Murhaa will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Murhaa's jab looks to have found its range, popping Fairbanks under the eye.
Fairbanks throws a low kick but Murhaa avoids it.
Murhaa on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Murhaa lands a nice leg kick that just misses Fairbanks's sensitive parts.
Murhaa throws a body shot but no joy.
Murhaa blocks a low kick nicely.
Murhaa throws out a counter right but Fairbanks avoids it with no problem.

Murhaa fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Fairbanks, pushing him back against the cage.
Fairbanks can't find room to land a body shot as Murhaa controls the action.
Murhaa working aggressively here.
Murhaa working aggressively here.
Fairbanks doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short left from Murhaa.
Fairbanks makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Fairbanks lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Murhaa or not.
Murhaa looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Murhaa struggles to land a body shot inside as Fairbanks controls his hands.
Murhaa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Murhaa throws a punch but it's blocked by Fairbanks.
Fairbanks trying to control the position but instead, Murhaa has worked for underhooks and has pushed Fairbanks into the cage.
Murhaa swings wildly with an uppercut but Fairbanks uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Murhaa.
Nice body punch from Murhaa - that landed with a thud.
Murhaa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Fairbanks tries to throw a body punch but Murhaa avoids it by throwing Fairbanks back against the cage.
Fairbanks misses with a punch to the body.
Fairbanks misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Murhaa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Fairbanks backwards.
Fairbanks struggles to land a body shot inside as Murhaa controls his hands.
Fairbanks has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Murhaa working aggressively here.
Fairbanks misses with a punch to the body.
Fairbanks tries to work over Murhaa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Fairbanks tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Murhaa manages to break the clinch.

Fairbanks darts in and clinches Murhaa up against the cage.
Fairbanks leaning his opponent against the cage.
Murhaa scores with a shot to the side of Fairbanks's head.
Murhaa prevents a body shot from Fairbanks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Fairbanks.
Fairbanks misses with a body punch.
A right hook to the body lands for Fairbanks.
Murhaa working aggressively here.
Fairbanks misses with a short punch on the inside.
Fairbanks misses with a punch to the body.
Murhaa misses with some punches.
Fairbanks tries to work over Murhaa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Fairbanks tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Murhaa breaks the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Murhaa ducks under a wild hook from Fairbanks.
Fairbanks throws a predictable looking body shot
and Murhaa finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Fairbanks throws a head kick but Murhaa moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Murhaa. Fairbanks does a little dance to reset his feet.
Murhaa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Murhaa shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Murhaa paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Murhaa throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Fairbanks stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Desmond Fairbanks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fairbanks throws a head kick but Murhaa moves out of range.
Murhaa misses with a hook
and Fairbanks counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murhaa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Fairbanks was well out of range. Poor timing from Murhaa.
Fairbanks throws a quick counter head kick but Murhaa was just out of range.
Murhaa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Fairbanks.
Murhaa throws out a counter right but Fairbanks avoids it with no problem.
Murhaa closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Murhaa.
Murhaa walks into a jab.
Fairbanks fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Murhaa looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Murhaa throws a quick inside leg kick.
Murhaa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Fairbanks.
Fairbanks looks to land a left hand but Murhaa moved out of range nicely.
Fairbanks with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Murhaa to score with a decent uppercut.
Murhaa lands a nice hook to Fairbanks's body. Fairbanks takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Fairbanks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Murhaa was well out of range. Poor timing from Fairbanks.
Fairbanks connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Murhaa's hands.
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!
Fairbanks misses with a hook. Murhaa ducked under it nicely.
Fairbanks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Murhaa chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Fairbanks can pounce on him.
Murhaa moves away from the strike by Fairbanks.
Murhaa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fairbanks.
Fairbanks swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murhaa throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Murhaa checks a leg kick.
Murhaa swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Fairbanks takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fairbanks. Murhaa does a little dance to reset his feet.

Fairbanks closes the distance and clinches.
Fairbanks tries to work over Murhaa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Fairbanks misses with a body punch.
Fairbanks lands a nice uppercut.
Murhaa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Fairbanks goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Fairbanks lands a nice shot to the body.
Murhaa lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A short body shot lands from Fairbanks as the two fighters clinch.
A short uppercut from Murhaa.
Fairbanks misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Murhaa throws a head punch that misses.
Fairbanks goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Fairbanks doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fairbanks tries to throw a body punch but Murhaa avoids it by throwing Fairbanks back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Murhaa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Paul Murhaa will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Fairbanks throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Murhaa ducks under a wild hook from Fairbanks.
Murhaa scores with a one two! Fairbanks had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Murhaa just misses with a punch to the body.
Fairbanks misses with a left hand
letting Murhaa counter with a right hand.
Murhaa clobbers Fairbanks with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Fairbanks just misses with a punch to the body.
Fairbanks throws a leg kick but Murhaa moved away.
Fairbanks swings for the body but Murhaa moves out of range.
Murhaa looks to throw the jab but Fairbanks is out of range.
Fairbanks lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Fairbanks clinches up against the cage.
Fairbanks blocks an uppercut.
Murhaa digs a right hand underneath Fairbanks's ribcage. Fairbanks let out a lung full of air as it connected.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Murhaa as Fairbanks tries to tie him up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Fairbanks.

Murhaa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Murhaa scores with a kick to the body.
Nice body kick from Fairbanks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fairbanks swings for the body but Murhaa moves out of range.
Fairbanks misses with a two punch combination.
Fairbanks throws a head kick that misses.
Murhaa lands with a hook. Fairbanks tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Fairbanks dips to his left and cracks Murhaa with an uppercut!
Murhaa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Fairbanks moves into the clinch.
Murhaa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Fairbanks's elbow.
Fairbanks goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Murhaa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Murhaa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Fairbanks's elbow.
Fairbanks blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Murhaa.
Fairbanks blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Fairbanks lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Murhaa or not.
Murhaa throws a punch but it's blocked by Fairbanks.
Paul Murhaa seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Fairbanks tries a body shot but Murhaa blocks it.
Murhaa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Murhaa fails to land.
Murhaa misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murhaa lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fairbanks goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Fairbanks doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Fairbanks goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Murhaa softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short right from Murhaa on the inside.
Murhaa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Murhaa struggles to land a body shot inside as Fairbanks controls his hands.
Murhaa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Murhaa throws a punch but it's blocked by Fairbanks.
Murhaa pushes Fairbanks back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A hook to the body from Fairbanks.
Fairbanks is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Murhaa scores with a hook to the body.
Fairbanks misses with a punch to the body.
Fairbanks tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Fairbanks goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Fairbanks tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Murhaa lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Fairbanks backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fairbanks blocking some punches.
Fairbanks stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Fairbanks misses with a body punch.
Fairbanks misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Murhaa prevents a body shot from Fairbanks.
Fairbanks digs a right hand into Murhaa's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Murhaa's gas tank.
Murhaa is trying to break the clinch but Fairbanks has him pressed against the cage.
Murhaa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Fairbanks trying to control the position but instead, Murhaa has worked for underhooks and has pushed Fairbanks into the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Murhaa.
Murhaa gets through Fairbanks's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Fairbanks pressing his opponent against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Murhaa fails to land.
Fairbanks tries a body shot but Murhaa blocks it.
Fairbanks digs a right hand into Murhaa's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Murhaa's gas tank.
Murhaa misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murhaa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Fairbanks is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Murhaa.
A left hand lands to the body for Murhaa.
Murhaa scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Murhaa throws a punch but it's blocked by Fairbanks.
Murhaa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nice body punch from Murhaa.
Murhaa lands a right hand.
Murhaa lands a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murhaa lands a nice shot to the body.
Fairbanks blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Murhaa lands a body shot in the clinch.
Murhaa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Fairbanks's elbow.
Murhaa tries a body shot but Fairbanks blocks it.
Fairbanks goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Murhaa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Fairbanks misses with a punch to the body.
Murhaa misses with a body punch.
Murhaa makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Murhaa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Murhaa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Murhaa misses the jab.
Fairbanks ducks under a wild hook from Murhaa.
Fairbanks smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A leg kick checked by Fairbanks.
Murhaa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Murhaa missing with a left hand there. Fairbanks was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Murhaa looks to score with a jab to the body but Fairbanks is just out of range.
Fairbanks feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Murhaa cracks Fairbanks with an open hand slap.
Fairbanks takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Paul Murhaa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Murhaa pushes Fairbanks away with a front kick.
Murhaa throws a hook but Fairbanks avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murhaa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Fairbanks.
Fairbanks misses with a two punch combination.
Fairbanks tests Murhaa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A solid leg kick lands there for Murhaa.
Murhaa throws the kick towards the body but Fairbanks avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fairbanks wants to clinch.
Fairbanks checks a low kick from Murhaa.
Fairbanks takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Murhaa slips a jab from Fairbanks.
Murhaa does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Fairbanks connects with a body shot.
Murhaa throws a leg kick which misses Fairbanks's front leg but catches the back leg as Fairbanks tries to avoid it.
Fairbanks misses with a wild body shot.
Murhaa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Fairbanks was well out of range. Poor timing from Murhaa.
Murhaa tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Fairbanks is able to avoid easily.
A leg kick checked by Fairbanks.
Fairbanks scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Murhaa jabs Fairbanks to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Murhaa tries to move into range but Fairbanks moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Murhaa chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Fairbanks can pounce on him.
Desmond Fairbanks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paul Murhaa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Fairbanks misses.
Fairbanks moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromMurhaa.
Murhaa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Murhaa counters with a body kick.
Fairbanks misses with a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fairbanks throws a leg kick but Murhaa sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Fairbanks jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Murhaa checks a low kick from Fairbanks.
Murhaa swats away the attempt to clinch by Fairbanks.
Fairbanks misses with a low kick.
Fairbanks throws a right hand that misses
and Murhaa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A slapping body kick lands there for Murhaa.
A slow jab from Fairbanks misses its intended target.
Fairbanks misses with a lunging right hand
and Murhaa counters with a left to the body.
Murhaa lands with a shot to the body.
Murhaa turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Murhaa misses with a wild body shot.
Fairbanks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murhaa has taken the fight to the clinch.
Fairbanks misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Murhaa lands a hook to the side of the head.
Murhaa swings wildly with an uppercut but Fairbanks uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fairbanks tries to work over Murhaa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Fairbanks misses with a hook to the ribs.
Fairbanks tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Murhaa's elbow.
Fairbanks's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Fairbanks misses with a hook to the ribs.
Fairbanks misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fairbanks misses with a punch to the body.
Fairbanks taking a breather.
Murhaa misses with some punches.
Fairbanks tries to throw a body punch but Murhaa avoids it by throwing Fairbanks back against the cage.
Fairbanks tries to work over Murhaa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Murhaa prevents a body shot from Fairbanks.
Fairbanks tries a body shot but Murhaa blocks it.
Fairbanks doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Fairbanks working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Fairbanks is working Murhaa over against the cage.
Fairbanks lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Murhaa backwards.
Murhaa blocks a body shot from Fairbanks.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Paul Murhaa.
Well Murhaa 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Murhaa!
Paul Murhaa 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.