PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Charles Murdock (ranked 2281 p4p, 1656 weight class) and Craig Watkins (ranked 340 p4p, 250 weight class). Murdock comes to the cage accompanied by Feel good Inc.. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Craig Watkins was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Murdock
vs
Watkins

188 cm
22
198
7 - 5 - 0

185 cm
23
185
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

SynCity Fightwear

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Charles Murdock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Craig Watkins!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Watkins instigates a clinch.
Watkins misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Murdock works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Watkins misses with a hook to the ribs.
Watkins misses with the head strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Watkins.
Watkins fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Watkins tries to work over Murdock's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A hook to the body from Watkins.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Watkins.
A head punch on the inside from Watkins fails to land.
Watkins lands a body shot in the clinch.
Murdock lands a hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watkins tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Murdock's elbow.
Watkins doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Watkins scores with a nice hook to the head.
A short right from Watkins on the inside.
Watkins prevents a body shot from Murdock.
Watkins lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Watkins fails to land.
Watkins has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Murdock seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Watkins can turn it around.
Murdock tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Watkins's elbow.
Murdock blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Watkins misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Murdock blocks a body shot from Watkins.
Watkins pushes Murdock back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Watkins misses with a punch on the inside.
Watkins can't find room to land a body shot as Murdock controls the action.
Watkins tries to work over Murdock's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Watkins working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Watkins can't find room to land a body shot as Murdock controls the action.
Watkins blocks a body shot from Murdock.
Watkins can't find room to land a body shot as Murdock controls the action.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Watkins creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Watkins can't find room to land a body shot as Murdock controls the action.
Watkins throws a head punch that misses.
Watkins misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Murdock.
A nice right hand lands inside from Watkins.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Murdock.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Watkins.
Watkins misses with a hook to the ribs.
Watkins is leaning against Murdock and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murdock is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Watkins lands a left hand that snaps the head of Murdock backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Watkins fails to land.
Murdock blocks an uppercut.
Watkins throws a punch but it's blocked by Murdock.
Watkins lands a body punch.
Murdock's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Watkins misses with a body punch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Murdock.
Watkins has a couple of punches blocked by Murdock.
Watkins tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watkins misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Watkins struggles to land a body shot inside as Murdock controls his hands.
Watkins tries to work over Murdock's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Watkins misses with a punch to the body.
Watkins doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Watkins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Watkins tries to work over Murdock's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Watkins tries a body shot but Murdock blocks it.
Watkins tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Murdock's elbow.
Watkins blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Watkins misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Watkins struggles to land a body shot inside as Murdock controls his hands.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Watkins.
Watkins has a couple of punches blocked by Murdock.
Murdock blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Murdock blocks a body shot from Watkins.
Watkins pushes Murdock back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watkins can't find room to land a body shot as Murdock controls the action.
Watkins tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Watkins tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Murdock's elbow.
Watkins struggles to land a body shot inside as Murdock controls his hands.
Watkins throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Murdocks head.
Watkins misses with a short punch on the inside.
Watkins misses with a hook to the ribs.
Watkins lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Murdock backwards.
Watkins scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Murdock tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Watkins's elbow.
Watkins doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Watkins misses with a hook from the clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Watkins misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Murdock fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Watkins misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Watkins blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Murdock blocks a body shot from Watkins.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Watkins dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Murdock throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Watkins appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Watkins tries to clinch
and Murdock counters with a straight right hand.

Murdock closes the distance and clinches.
Murdock has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Murdock blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Murdock throws a head punch that misses.
A shot in the inside from Watkins.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Murdock.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Watkins tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Murdock's elbow.
Watkins throws a head punch that misses.
Watkins can't find room to land a body shot as Murdock controls the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watkins can't find room to land a body shot as Murdock controls the action.
Watkins blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Murdock has a couple of punches blocked by Watkins.
Murdock doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Murdock blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Watkins misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watkins pushes Murdock back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Watkins misses with a hook from the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Watkins.
Watkins misses with a short punch on the inside.
Watkins has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Murdock misses with a short punch on the inside.
Watkins fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Watkins digs a right hand into Murdock's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Murdock's gas tank.
Watkins lands a left hand that snaps the head of Murdock backwards.
Watkins scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Murdock working aggressively here.
Watkins tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Murdock's elbow.
Watkins misses with a punch to the body.
Murdock misses with some punches.
Murdock tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Murdock lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Murdock blocks an uppercut.
Watkins lands a right hand that snaps the head of Murdock backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Watkins fails to land.
Murdock struggles to land a body shot inside as Watkins controls his hands.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A right handed body shot lands from Murdock.
Watkins struggles to land a body shot inside as Murdock controls his hands.
Murdock throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Watkins swings wildly with an uppercut but Murdock uses good head movement to avoid it.
Watkins misses with a hook from the clinch.
Craig Watkins is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Watkins tries a body shot but Murdock blocks it.
Murdock working aggressively here.
Murdock stalling against the cage.
Watkins misses with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watkins swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Murdock working aggressively here.
Murdock misses with some punches.
Watkins blocks a body shot from Murdock.
Murdock tries a body shot but Watkins blocks it.
Murdock prevents a body shot from Watkins.

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.
Murdock tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Murdock tries to throw a body punch but Watkins avoids it by throwing Murdock back against the cage.
Murdock lands a body shot in the clinch.
Murdock tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Murdock misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch on the inside from Murdock fails to land.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Watkins blocks a punch to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Craig Watkins will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Murdock avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Murdock clinches up with Watkins and pushes him back against the cage.
Murdock misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Watkins.
Murdock is trying to break the clinch but Watkins has him pressed against the cage.
Watkins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watkins misses with a body punch.
Murdock swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Murdock can't find room to land a body shot as Watkins controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murdock misses with a short punch on the inside.
Watkins lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Murdock lands a body shot in the clinch.
Watkins struggles to land a body shot inside as Murdock controls his hands.
Murdock misses with a hook to the ribs.
Murdock throws a head punch that misses.
Watkins tries a body shot but Murdock blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murdock tries to throw a body punch but Watkins avoids it by throwing Murdock back against the cage.
Murdock misses with a punch to the body.
Murdock digs a right hand into Watkins's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Watkins's gas tank.
Murdock misses with a hook from the clinch.
Watkins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Murdock manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Murdock misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murdock misses with a hook to the ribs.
Watkins misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Watkins.
Murdock displaying some good clinch control by pressing Watkins up against the cage.
Murdock wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Watkins tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Murdock's elbow.
Charles Murdock has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Murdock breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Craig Watkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Watkins tests Murdock's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Watkins staying out of range there.
Murdock swats away the attempt to clinch by Watkins.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Watkins tries to clinch but Murdock moves out of range.
Murdock was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Watkins wants to clinch up but Murdock keeps it at a distance.
Murdock throws out a loose jab but Watkins uses good head movement to avoid it.

Murdock gets tackled into the cage by Watkins. Watkins maintains the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Charles Murdock showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Watkins 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Craig Watkins!
After winning the bout, Craig Watkins thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.