PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jimbo Kreutz (ranked 1622 p4p, 1998 weight class) and Alex Murray (ranked 96 p4p, 123 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.

Kreutz
vs
Murray

165 cm
30
142
7 - 7 - 0

170 cm
28
140
16 - 8 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jimbo Kreutz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alex Murray!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Ron Honeybunn and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kreutz slips under a jab.
We've been hearing reports that Kreutz has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Kreutz motions for Murray to come forward. Kreutz throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Murray 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.
Murray throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kreutz stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Murray ducks under a wild hook from Kreutz.
Murray tries to counter by closing the distance.
Kreutz tries for a takedown but Murray sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Murray has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

Murray closes the distance and pushes Kreutz back into the cage.

Murray jumps guard.
Kreutz slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murray is looking for a sweep.

Kreutz thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murray is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kreutz's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Murray is staying active underneath Kreutz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murray wants to improve his position but Kreutz is controlling well.
Kreutz passes to side control.
Kreutz moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Murray tries to buck Kreutz off but Kreutz is having none of it.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Kreutz is looking to take a break and control but Murray is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Murray tries to bench press Kreutz off him but Kreutz keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Kreutz working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Murray is looking to regain half guard here but Kreutz keeps moving and retains side control.
Murray manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Murray throwing shots but Kreutz is blocking nicely.
Murray is looking to take a break and control but Kreutz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kreutz manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kreutz working for a triangle but Murray defends it easily.
Kreutz looking to control.

Kreutz looking for a guillotine here but Murray defends easily.
Murray trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Murray throws a big elbow that misses.
Murray stands and throws Kreutz's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kreutz is trying to control Murray's posture but Murray avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kreutz is looking for a sweep.
Murray wants to control but Kreutz is keeping him busy.

Murray decides to stand up, so the ref orders Kreutz to his feet.
Murray scores with a nice right hand.
Kreutz on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A slow jab from Murray misses its intended target.
Kreutz is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Murray.

Murray has Kreutz up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Still in the clinch, Murray scores with a nice short uppercut.

Murray gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kreutz is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Murray's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Murray's back!
Murray is keeping busy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Murray dominated that round.
That's time! Kreutz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nice uppercut lands for Murray. That snapped Kreutz's head back.
Kreutz avoids the body shot from Murray.
It looked like Kreutz was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Kreutz tries to bum rush Murray with a series of wild strikes but Murray uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kreutz ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Murray bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kreutz's head backwards.
Kreutz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Murray throws a shot from downtown. Kreutz moves away and avoids it.

Murray moves into the clinch.

Murray manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murray bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kreutz's head backwards.
Kreutz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Murray is fending him off so far but Kreutz persists. Nope, Murray circles away and we're back to standing.
A little jabbing left from Murray on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Murray swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Murray scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kreutz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Murray swivels and escapes.
A nice side step and Murray releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimbo Kreutz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murray tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Alex Murray seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murray stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Murray wants it to stay on the feet.
Murray let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Murray misses with an uppercut.

Murray has managed to clinch.
Murray blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short left from Kreutz.
Kreutz swings wildly with an uppercut but Murray uses good head movement to avoid it.
Murray trying to land knees to the body.
Murray blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kreutz pushes Murray back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short body shot lands from Kreutz as the two fighters clinch.

Kreutz has hold of one of Murray's legs. Murray is fighting the takedown attempt but Kreutz gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Murray is on top in guard.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Murray pushing down on Kreutz's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Murray working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murray is thwarting Kreutz's attempts to control the position.
Murray missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Murray not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Murray has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Murray thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Murray wants to advance to full mount but Kreutz doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Murray with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kreutz keeping full guard, as Murray tries to pass.
Kreutz 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.
Kreutz is trying to control the position but Murray postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murray stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kreutz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Murray looking to sit in guard and control but Kreutz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kreutz advances to half guard.
Kreutz is trying to control. Murray wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kreutz not doing much here.
Kreutz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Murray keeps working.
Kreutz trying to control the pace.
Murray trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murray is pressing down on Kreutz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kreutz stopping the sweep attempt from Murray.
Murray bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kreutz's guard.

Murray postures up.
Kreutz keeping moving, preventing Murray from controlling successfully.
Kreutz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Alex Murray has got the better of the ground game so far.
Murray advances position into side control!
Murray working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Murray showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kreutz throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Murray sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Murray! But no joy.
Murray swings for the body but Kreutz moves out of range.
Murray throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Murray tries to sprawl but Kreutz drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Kreutz is thwarting Murray's attempts to control the position.
Kreutz drops an elbow to the side of Murray's head.
Kreutz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Murray does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kreutz is nestled in close to Murray, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Murray is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kreutz is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Murray wants to control but Kreutz is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kreutz trying to control the action but Murray is working from the bottom.
Murray tries to roll over but Kreutz keeps him under control.
Murray tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Murray trying to hold on to Kreutz's head to control him but Kreutz postures up.
Murray is staying active underneath Kreutz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kreutz lands with a punch from half guard.
Kreutz prevents Murray from improving his position.
Murray won't allow Kreutz to pass to mount.
Jimbo Kreutz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two 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.
Murray is staying active underneath Kreutz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kreutz is really struggling to control Murray but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Murray is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kreutz pulls his head out easily.
Kreutz looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Murray actively working from the bottom here.
Kreutz is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kreutz trying to mount his opponent but Murray defends it.
Murray is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kreutz scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kreutz scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murray is not content to let Kreutz control the position.

Kreutz is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kreutz is pressing down on Murray's thigh, looking to free his foot. Murray is holding on for now.
Murray gets full guard.
Kreutz trying to control but Murray is working from the bottom.

Murray had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kreutz defends it easily.
Murray wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Murray looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kreutz trying to control but Murray is working from the bottom.
Kreutz lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Murray has momentary wrist control but Kreutz slips an elbow through the middle.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Murray is on top in guard.

Murray throwing strikes but missing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jimbo Kreutz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Murray 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Murray!
A victorious Alex Murray thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.