PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cillian Murphy (ranked 1009 p4p, 1391 weight class) and Shahzad Abdelrahman (ranked 150 p4p, 196 weight class). Murphy comes to the cage accompanied by Undead. The crowd seem to be enjoying Abdelrahman's choice of entrance music: Blow The Whistle. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Murphy
vs
Abdelrahman

186 cm
21
178
5 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
175
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Hardcore Alchemy
Conquer

Shadow Warrior Nutrition

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cillian Murphy!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shahzad Abdelrahman!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Jonathan Paton and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abdelrahman lands with a cross.
Abdelrahman works the jab nicely.
Abdelrahman defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Murphy.
Abdelrahman flicks out a counter leg kick but Murphy steps away.
Abdelrahman keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Abdelrahman is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Abdelrahman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Abdelrahman wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cillian Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murphy will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Abdelrahman has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Abdelrahman stuffs the takedown.
Despite the aggression on Abdelrahman's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Nice takedown defense from Abdelrahman. No joy for Murphy on that attempt.
Murphy fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Murphy darts in looking for a takedown but Abdelrahman gets double underhooks and turns Murphy into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short uppercut from Abdelrahman.
Murphy has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Abdelrahman after a bit of a struggle.
Murphy blocking some punches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Abdelrahman.
Murphy is breathing heavily.
Abdelrahman misses with a hook to the ribs.
Abdelrahman lands with a short head shot on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Abdelrahman tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Murphy's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdelrahman misses with a punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Abdelrahman.
Abdelrahman prevents the takedown attempt.
Our sources have told us that Murphy has been working on his elbows in the gym.

Murphy wants the takedown. Abdelrahman is fighting it off but Murphy persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Abdelrahman's guard against the cage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Abdelrahman keeping moving, preventing Murphy from controlling successfully.
Abdelrahman wants to sweep but no luck.
Murphy wants to pass the guard but Abdelrahman is keeping the position.
Abdelrahman 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.
Abdelrahman is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Murphy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Abdelrahman is keeping the position for now.
Murphy trying to control the position from guard on top but Abdelrahman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Abdelrahman controlling Murphy's posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Abdelrahman fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Murphy gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Abdelrahman counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Murphy drives through with a takedown into guard.
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!
Abdelrahman being controlled here, momentarily.
Abdelrahman wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shahzad Abdelrahman 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 shoots for a takedown but Abdelrahman saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Abdelrahman as he jumps to the side.
Murphy gets cracked there but stands up to it.

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.
Abdelrahman is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Abdelrahman lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Murphy looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Abdelrahman passes into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Abdelrahman off and has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murphy has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Abdelrahman has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Murphy patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Murphy looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Abdelrahman taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Cillian Murphy!
Cillian Murphy retains his welterweight title!
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.