PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Roberto Duranto (ranked 163 p4p, 301 weight class) and Tobias Murphy (ranked 22 p4p, 43 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Duranto
vs
Murphy

180 cm
34
169
25 - 12 - 2

179 cm
35
170
24 - 14 - 3

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

SynCity Fightwear
Altitude Clothing

Altitude Clothing
Urban Fighter

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 25 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Roberto Duranto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 14 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tobias Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A bone on bone clash there as Duranto blocks the leg kick.
Murphy checks a leg kick.
Murphy appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Duranto takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Murphy slips a straight right by Duranto.
Murphy unleashes a big counter combination but Duranto bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Murphy wants to slow Duranto down by chopping away at his legs.
Duranto misses with a looping left.
Roberto Duranto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Murphy misses with a few strikes there.
Duranto's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Murphy connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Duranto scrambles back to his feet.
Murphy has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Duranto is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Duranto fails with an attempt to clinch.
Murphy lands a right hook to the body.
Duranto's corner calls for a 1-2. Duranto obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Nice body punch from Murphy.
Murphy pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Duranto takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Murphy lands with a thumping leg kick.

Duranto gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Murphy throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Durantos head.
Murphy misses with a hook from the clinch.
Murphy gets through Duranto's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Duranto scores with a shot to the side of Murphy's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Murphy lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Duranto stalling.
Duranto lands a left hand.
Duranto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Murphy's elbow.
Murphy tries a body shot but Duranto blocks it.
Duranto lands a body shot.
Duranto working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Murphy tries to work over Duranto's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Murphy tries to break free but Duranto pushes him back against the cage.
Murphy throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Durantos head.
Duranto misses with some punches.
Murphy looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Murphy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Murphy tries to land a front kick but Duranto steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Duranto throws a hook to the side of Murphy's head but Murphy sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Duranto misses with an uppercut.
Murphy misses with a kick to the body.
A jab from Duranto misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Murphy has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Duranto finds it's way round the side to connect with Murphy's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice straight punches there by Murphy. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Murphy.
Duranto punishes Murphy's body with a nice straight punch.
Murphy is looking to land body kicks.
A quick step to the side and Duranto tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Duranto misses with a looping right.
Duranto chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Murphy can pounce on him.
Duranto thows a body kick. Murphy tries to catch it but that hurt him.
A chopping leg kick lands by Murphy.
Good leg kick by Murphy.

Duranto moves into the clinch.
Duranto has a couple of punches blocked by Murphy.
Duranto tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Duranto misses with a hook from the clinch.
Duranto lands a shot to the body.
I was talking to Duranto's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Duranto goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Murphy blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Murphy fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duranto leaning against his opponent.

Murphy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Duranto just misses with a punch to the body.
Murphy throws a leg kick but Duranto checks it.
Duranto goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Murphy just misses with a punch to the body.
Murphy swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Murphy paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Duranto lands a head kick!
Duranto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Murphy manages to avoid it.
Duranto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Duranto 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.
Duranto fails to land with a series of punches.
Duranto listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
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!
Duranto will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Murphy let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Duranto slips a straight right by Murphy.
Duranto throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Murphy to counter with a crisp jab.
Murphy with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Duranto.
Murphy takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Duranto lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Murphy takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Duranto throws a chopping leg kick but Murphy manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Duranto throws a sloppy head kick and Murphy moves out of range easily.
Duranto lands a jab to Murphy's midsection.
Murphy bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Duranto throws a leg kick but Murphy moved away.
Murphy throws a hook to the side of Duranto's head but Duranto sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Duranto.
Duranto thows a left - swing and a miss!
Duranto takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Duranto closes the distance and pushes Murphy back into the cage.
Duranto blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Duranto misses with a hook from the clinch.
Murphy scores with a hook to the body.
Duranto lands a left hand that snaps the head of Murphy backwards.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Duranto dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Duranto throws a shot from downtown. Murphy moves away and avoids it.
Murphy lands a nice looking body shot.
Duranto scores with a crisp jab that stopped Murphy in his tracks.
Duranto throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Murphy keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Duranto moves forwards but Murphy connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Duranto throws a big shot that misses.

Duranto moves into the clinch.
Duranto lands a left hand.

Duranto manages to break the clinch.
Duranto scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Murphy doesn't seem bothered though.
Duranto ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Duranto checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Murphy throws a right hand that Duranto ducks under and follows up with a left that Duranto also avoids with ease.
Jab by Duranto.
Duranto throws a hook to the side of Murphy's head but Murphy sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Murphy swats away the attempt to clinch by Duranto.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Duranto defending well as Murphy loads up on a big left hand.
Duranto displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Murphy throws out the jab.
Duranto scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Murphy slips under a jab.
Murphy takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Duranto gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Duranto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Murphy's elbow.
Murphy tries to work over Duranto's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Duranto's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Duranto scores with a body shot.
Duranto looks to score with a jab to the body but Murphy is just out of range.
Murphy throws a shot from downtown. Duranto moves away and avoids it.
Nice defenses there by Murphy.
Murphy has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Duranto.
Murphy misses with a straight left.
Duranto misses with a leg kick
and Murphy counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Murphy connects with a leg kick.
Roberto Duranto is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Duranto misses with a jab to the body
and Murphy counters with a solid body kick.
Good exchange - Duranto coming out on top.
Duranto with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Duranto tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Murphy is able to avoid easily.
Murphy scores with a decent looking hook.
Duranto misses with the combination.
Murphy lands a nice shot that snaps Duranto's head back.
Duranto avoids a kick to the body.
Duranto misses with a looping right.
Murphy throws a body punch but Duranto moves out of range.
Duranto connects with an inside leg kick.
Duranto misses with a low kick.
A big right from Murphy misses.
Murphy throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Duranto throws a low kick, looking for Murphy's leg but Murphy calmly moves out of range.
Murphy takes a swing at Duranto's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Murphy scores with a body shot.
Duranto fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Murphy lands a slapping body shot.
Duranto thuds a left hand into Murphy's body.
A solid body kick from Duranto.
Duranto lands with a cross.
Duranto lands a nice leg kick that just misses Murphy's sensitive parts.
Murphy throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Duranto appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

Duranto has Murphy up against the cage in a clinch.
Duranto misses with a hook from the clinch.
Duranto working aggressively here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Duranto.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Duranto manages to break the clinch.
Murphy lands with an overhand left.
Murphy misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duranto works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nice uppercut lands for Duranto. That snapped Murphy's head back.
Duranto is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Murphy can do to turn this around?
Duranto closes the distance looking to clinch
and Duranto takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Murphy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
It seemed like Murphy was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Duranto avoids the body shot from Murphy.
Nice body punch from Duranto.
Duranto finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Duranto just misses with a punch to the body.
Duranto throws a poor cross that misses
and Murphy counters with a nice uppercut.
Duranto connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Murphy takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Duranto scores with a nice head shot.
Murphy throws a jab but it's blocked by Duranto.
It looked like Duranto wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
An inside leg kick lands from Murphy.
A telegraphed right hand from Duranto misses the target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Duranto dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Murphy takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Duranto throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Murphy throws a shot from downtown. Duranto moves away and avoids it.
Duranto scores with the left hand. Murphy knows he should have avoided that one.
Duranto takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Murphy just misses with a punch to the body.
Duranto went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Murphy is looking to land body kicks.
Duranto walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Murphy checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Duranto tries a head kick but it misses.
Duranto wants to land a leg kick but Murphy is out of range.
Murphy tries to land a leg kick but Duranto saw it coming and moves away.
Murphy throws a right hand that Duranto ducks under and follows up with a left that Duranto also avoids with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Duranto slips a jab from Murphy.
Murphy ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Duranto rushes Murphy and presses him up against the cage.
Roberto Duranto has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Duranto lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Duranto manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy tries to move into range but Duranto moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Duranto is looking to clinch but Murphy is avoiding it.
Duranto attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Murphy checks a leg kick.
Murphy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Murphy is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Duranto.
Duranto connects with a right hand. Murphy shakes it off.
Duranto misses with a body kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Murphy! But no joy.
Murphy blocks a jab.
Murphy only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Duranto fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Murphy checks it well.
Murphy thows a leg kick but Duranto checks it
and Duranto connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Duranto fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Murphy is out of range.
Duranto tests Murphy's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Murphy throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Murphy throws a head kick but Duranto moves out of range.

Duranto clinches.

Duranto breaks from the clinch.
Tobias Murphy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy looks to land a body kick but Duranto moved away.
Duranto feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Murphy has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A slapping leg kick lands for Murphy.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Murphy tries to land a front kick but Duranto steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Murphy misses the shot to the body.
Murphy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Murphy throws the left hand but Duranto avoids the punch easily.
Murphy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Murphy avoids the body shot from Duranto.
Murphy walks into a jab.
Duranto throws a lazy right hand but Murphy sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Murphy follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Murphy moves out of range as Duranto strikes.
Duranto lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Murphy misses with a left hand
and Duranto counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Duranto swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Murphy! But no joy.
Murphy looks for the body kick but Duranto saw that one coming.
Duranto seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Duranto is looking to slow Murphy down with leg kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Duranto.
A countering left hand to the body from Murphy misses.
Murphy throws a front kick aimed at Duranto's knee but Duranto avoids it well.
Duranto misses with a low kick.
Murphy looks to land a right hand but Duranto moved out of range.
Duranto misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Murphy lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Duranto throws a leg kick which misses Murphy's front leg but catches the back leg as Murphy tries to avoid it.
Duranto thuds his shin into the meat of Murphy's side.
Duranto fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A jab from Duranto finds it's way through Murphy's defenses.
Duranto is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Murphy throws an off balance right hand
and Duranto connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Murphy on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Murphy connects with a solid leg kick.
Duranto moves out of range of the body kick.
Duranto lands a front kick.
Duranto feints and then cracks Murphy's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Murphy down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Duranto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Murphy was well out of range. Poor timing from Duranto.
The crowd cheers as Duranto lands an impressive looking overhand right. Murphy doesn't seem phased though.
Murphy missing with a left hand there. Duranto was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Murphy connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Murphy uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Duranto scores with a spinning back kick!
Murphy takes one to the chin there.
Roberto Duranto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Duranto avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Duranto checks the leg kick.
Murphy rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Duranto counters with a good low kick that Murphy was not able to check.
Murphy on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Duranto. Duranto obviously looking to wear him down.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Duranto swings for the body but Murphy moves out of range.
Murphy throws a hook but Duranto blocks it.
Duranto throwing a counter right hand but Murphy manages to avoid it.
Duranto scores with a kick to the body.
Duranto connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Murphy's hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roberto Duranto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Duranto 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roberto Duranto!
Roberto Duranto 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.