PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Phil Rivers (ranked 1411 p4p, 1629 weight class) and Cillian Murphy (ranked 207 p4p, 231 weight class). Murphy has chosen Undead as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rivers
vs
Murphy

177 cm
20
170
5 - 0 - 0

186 cm
20
178
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Phil Rivers!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cillian Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Chad Campbell and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivers listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Murphy scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Murphy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Murphy takes one to the side of the head.
Rivers stuns Murphy with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Murphy throws a head kick that misses.
Murphy uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rivers has time to react.
Rivers lands a nice shot to the body.
Rivers cracks Murphy with an open hand slap.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murphy gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Murphy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Murphy lands with an overhand left.
Murphy avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rivers throws a front kick aimed at Murphy's knee but Murphy avoids it well.
Murphy defending well as Rivers loads up on a big left hand.
We've been told by Rivers's head coaches at Kung Pao that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Murphy throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rivers's waist but Rivers gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Murphy off to one side.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Murphy is defended easily by Rivers.
Rivers lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Murphy at a distance.
Rivers's jab looks to have found its range, popping Murphy under the eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Murphy moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rivers. Murphy does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rivers checks a leg kick.
Murphy shoots in for a double leg but Rivers sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A counter left hand to the body from Rivers misses its target.
Phil Rivers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cillian Murphy.
Rivers misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Murphy.
Phil Rivers is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Murphy takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Murphy shoots for a takedown but Rivers saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Murphy lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Murphy throws the left hand but Rivers avoids the punch easily.
Murphy moves out of range of the strikes.
Rivers misses with a straight right.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rivers as he avoids it easily.
Rivers lands a jab to the head.
Rivers scores with a nice strike.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Rivers, as that shot connected.
Rivers stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rivers wants it to stay on the feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivers bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Murphy's head.
Rivers is looking to score with low kicks.
Rivers throws a hook to the side of Murphy's head but Murphy sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rivers with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivers ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Murphy misses with a series of wild punches.
Rivers lands a lovely overhand right.
Murphy moves out of range as Rivers strikes.
Rivers thuds his right hand into Murphy's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Rivers.
Murphy walks into a jab.
Murphy shoots in but Rivers avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Murphy uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rivers.
Rivers misses with a wild combination.
Rivers lands a nice hook to Murphy's body. Murphy takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rivers scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Murphy doesn't seem bothered though.
Murphy looks to land a right hand but Rivers moved out of range.
A low kick lands for Rivers.
Rivers misses the jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Rivers dominated that round.
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.

Murphy feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rivers holds on and takes a little breather.
Murphy pushes down on Rivers's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Murphy is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Murphy seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rivers does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rivers tries to get to full guard but Murphy has control of the leg.
Murphy trying to control from half guard but Rivers is working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Murphy is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rivers desperately trying to maintain half guard.
My spies in The Proving Grounds inform me that Murphy has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Murphy prevents Rivers from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Murphy is working away from the top position though.
Rivers is not content to let Murphy control the position.
Murphy is controlling the pace.
Rivers is staying active underneath Murphy, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Murphy is looking for a kimura here.

Murphy is trying to work for a kimura but Rivers is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Murphy is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rivers doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Murphy.
Rivers is in trouble now - Murphy has advanced to mount!
Rivers holds on for dear life.
Rivers bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Murphy looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rivers trying to control but Murphy is working from the bottom.

Murphy is looking to cinch up a triangle. Rivers throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Murphy's body to avoid the submission. Murphy has instead reached around Rivers's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Murphy arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Cillian Murphy!
Cillian Murphy is the new welterweight champion!
Cillian Murphy decided to call for a title shot in his post fight interview, which was very strange given the fact this fight was for a title and he's already the champion. I guess that's what getting punched in the head does for you.