PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cathail Murphy (ranked 3971 p4p, 6242 weight class) and Cajetan Shashi (ranked 478 p4p, 619 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Murphy
vs
Shashi

175 cm
34
175
8 - 14 - 1

185 cm
42
169
17 - 18 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Good low kicks
Heavy handed

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 8 - 14 - 1, fighting out of London, Cathail Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cajetan Shashi!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Percy O'Donnell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Murphy fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Shashi sprawls well initially but Murphy persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Murphy is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Shashi defends it well.
Shashi tries to roll over but Murphy keeps him under control.
Murphy working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Shashi trying to control but Murphy postures up.
Shashi tries to get to full guard but Murphy has control of the leg.
Shashi flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shashi is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Murphy seems content to control.
Murphy prevents Shashi from improving his position.
Still in half guard, Murphy seems content to control.
Murphy has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Shashi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

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.
Murphy scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Murphy with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Shashi is trying to get back to full guard.
Shashi wants to control but Murphy is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Murphy rushes Shashi and presses him up against the cage.
Murphy lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Murphy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Murphy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Shashi tries to keep at a distance but Murphy has taken the fight into the clinch.
Murphy tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Shashi smiles and moves away.
Shashi throws a sloppy head kick and Murphy moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy looks to land a combination but Shashi avoids it well.
Murphy throws a combination that misses
and Shashi counters with a left and a right that stings Murphy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shashi. Murphy does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shashi fails with a takedown attempt.

Murphy moves into the clinch successfully.
Shashi misses with a short punch on the inside.

Shashi successfully pulls guard.

Shashi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Shashi is trying to control the position but Murphy postures up.
Shashi can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Murphy controls the pace.

Murphy avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Murphy stands up from Shashi's guard - Murphy perhaps looking for a knockout.
Cajetan Shashi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Murphy is defended easily by Shashi.

Murphy clinches up against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shashi is looking for a takedown.
Murphy is trying to drag Shashi to the mat but Shashi just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cathail Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Shashi manages to pull guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Shashi throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Murphy tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Shashi is in Murphy's guard.
Murphy looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Shashi puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Murphy pushes Shashi off looking to stand but Shashi dives back in and keeps control.
Murphy gets back to full guard.
Murphy is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Shashi is controlling him.
Murphy working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy is looking to stand up but Shashi isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy managing to control the position.
Shashi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Murphy is keeping the position for now.
Murphy trying to control the position here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Shashi dives in for a single leg takedown but Murphy sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Murphy misses with a takedown

and Shashi holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Shashi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shashi leaves Murphy with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
It seemed like Shashi was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Cathail Murphy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy wants to clinch up but Shashi keeps it at a distance.
Shashi fails with a takedown attempt.
Shashi throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Cathail Murphy has been cut.
Murphy lands a nice shot that snaps Shashi's head back.
Murphy avoids the body shot from Shashi.
A telegraphed right hand from Murphy misses the target.
Shashi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Murphy dives in and grabs Shashi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Shashi pushes down on Murphy's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cathail Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murphy takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy fails with the takedown.
Shashi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Murphy shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Shashi manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Shashi wants to get back to his feet but Murphy passes into half guard.

Shashi trying to control from the bottom.
Murphy winds up and cracks Shashi with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Murphy controlling the action here.
Shashi wants to improve his position but Murphy is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy trying to control the pace.

Shashi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Shashi is trying to maintain the position but Murphy is very close to passing his half guard.
Shashi tries to get to full guard but Murphy has control of the leg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Murphy takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Murphy looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Shashi with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cajetan Shashi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Cathail Murphy's cut.
That's time! Murphy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Shashi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Murphy will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Shashi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Shashi throws a sloppy head kick

and Murphy counters with a nice double leg into side control. Shashi won't be happy with that.
Shashi is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Murphy's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murphy thows a huge punch but Shashi dodges it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Shashi is positioning himself well to prevent Murphy advancing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Murphy seems content to control.
Murphy tries to stand and escape but Shashi is controlling the position.
Nice strikes from Murphy there.
Shashi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Murphy would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Murphy sitting in guard here, content to control.

Shashi is working an open guard so Murphy takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Murphy scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Shashi wants to get back to his feet but Murphy is dominant here and he's now got Shashi's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Shashi's body.
Murphy scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Shashi grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Murphy is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
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!
Shashi just trying to survive but Murphy is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Shashi grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Murphy controlling the position well here. Shashi rolled but Murphy kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Murphy is working the ground and pound. Can Shashi escape?
Murphy has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Shashi tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Shashi doesn't escape.
Shashi wants to escape the position.
Murphy is punishing Shashi with some ground and pound.
Murphy is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Shashi. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.

Shashi is rocked!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shashi is trapped and Murphy is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Shashi is still in real trouble! Can Murphy finish him?
Murphy controls the position.
Shashi trying to get back to his feet but Murphy is in full control for now.
Shashi seems to have recovered his senses.
Murphy gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Shashi.
Murphy throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Shashi!
Murphy doesn't have the hooks in and Shashi manages to turn into his guard.
Murphy is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Murphy manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Shashi manages to get himself to full guard.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Shashi isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Murphy stacks Shashi on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Murphy!

And that's the end of the fight!
Cathail Murphy showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Murphy has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cathail Murphy!
An out of breath and clearly excited Cathail Murphy thanked Brooklyn Apothecary for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).