PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paddy Murphy (ranked 2025 p4p, 3177 weight class) and Connor McAtee (ranked 299 p4p, 435 weight class). Murphy's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya. 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.

Murphy
vs
McAtee

185 cm
21
185
4 - 1 - 0

190 cm
26
193
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Nutritional Shaved Ice

Barry Bonds Performance Enhancers $120 3 160Q

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Paddy Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Connor McAtee!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Bruno Lombardi and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body punch from McAtee.
Murphy lands with a shot to the body.
Murphy catches McAtee with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

It looks like Connor McAtee has been cut.
Murphy tries to clinch
and McAtee counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
McAtee swats away the attempt to clinch by Murphy.
Murphy tries to clinch there but McAtee circles away.
Murphy tries to clinch but fails miserably
and McAtee counters with a stiff right hand.
McAtee swings for the body but Murphy moves out of range.
McAtee on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Murphy misses the shot to the body.
It seemed like McAtee was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Murphy takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
McAtee digs a good body shot into Murphy's ribs.
McAtee 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.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McAtee scores with a jab to the body.
Murphy looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McAtee looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McAtee fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Murphy manages to avoid it.
Murphy tests McAtee's chin there with a solid looking shot.
McAtee circles away from the clinch attempt.
Murphy wants to clinch.
McAtee swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Murphy throws a body kick that misses.
Murphy fails in his attempt to clinch.
Murphy wants to clinch up but McAtee keeps it at a distance.
McAtee keeps the fight on the outside.
Murphy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Murphy tries to clinch up but McAtee circles away and keeps his distance.
McAtee doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
The fight stays on the outside here - Murphy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy tries to clinch up.
McAtee lands with a nice body punch.
McAtee keeps the fight on the outside.
Murphy jabs at McAtee's body.

Murphy clinches up with McAtee and pushes him back against the cage.
McAtee working aggressively here.
McAtee is working Murphy over against the cage.
McAtee stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

McAtee pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McAtee dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Murphy ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice defenses there by Murphy.
Murphy wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy fails in his attempt to clinch.
McAtee now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Murphy throws a right and a left that McAtee avoids nicely.
McAtee throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McAtee throws a hook to the side of Murphy's head but Murphy sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Murphy lands a lovely overhand right.
Murphy looks to clinch
and McAtee counters with a nice uppercut.
Murphy moves in looking to clinch but McAtee pushes him off.
McAtee doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Murphy tries to clinch but McAtee moves away
and McAtee counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Murphy fails in his attempt to clinch.
McAtee avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from McAtee! But no joy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Murphy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McAtee circles away from the clinch attempt.
McAtee looks to score with a jab to the body but Murphy is just out of range.
Murphy is looking to clinch.
McAtee let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Murphy wants to clinch
and McAtee counters with a stiff right hand.
McAtee avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McAtee swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Murphy darts in trying to clinch
and Murphy takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murphy moves in looking to clinch but McAtee pushes him off.
McAtee appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Murphy. McAtee does a little dance to reset his feet.
McAtee now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Connor McAtee dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Connor McAtee's cut.
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.

McAtee throws a looping overhand right but Murphy ducks down to avoid it.

Murphy forces McAtee back against the cage and clinches.
A body shot lands from McAtee.
Murphy stalling the fight.
McAtee tries to work over Murphy's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Murphy throws an elbow that misses.
McAtee is working Murphy over against the cage.

McAtee pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Murphy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
McAtee is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Murphy with a body shot.
Murphy looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Murphy closes the distance but McAtee moves to the side
and McAtee counters with a left to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy throws a head kick but McAtee moves out of range.

Murphy has managed to clinch.

McAtee escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McAtee has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McAtee lands a nice shot that snaps Murphy's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy tries to clinch up but McAtee circles away and keeps his distance.
McAtee scores with a sloppy right hand. Murphy should have avoided that one.
McAtee ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
McAtee throws a body shot but no joy.
McAtee lands a nice hook to Murphy's body. Murphy takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Murphy closes the distance looking to clinch
and McAtee counters with a nice uppercut.
Murphy is looking to clinch but McAtee is avoiding it.
McAtee now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Murphy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McAtee connects with a good right hand that stumbles Murphy. Murphy circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Murphy closes the distance looking to clinch
and McAtee counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy wants to clinch up but McAtee keeps it at a distance.
A countering left hand to the body from McAtee misses.
Murphy fails with an attempt to clinch.
Murphy tries to clinch up.
Murphy tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McAtee manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A looping hook to the body misses from McAtee. Murphy does a little dance to reset his feet.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch but McAtee swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
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!
McAtee on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
McAtee sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Murphy moves in looking to clinch but McAtee pushes him off.
Murphy looks to clinch
and McAtee counters with a nice body shot.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McAtee paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McAtee circles away from the clinch attempt.
Murphy moves in looking to clinch but McAtee pushes him off.
Paddy Murphy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Murphy tries to clinch up but McAtee circles away and keeps his distance.
McAtee lands a jab to Murphy's midsection.
Murphy throws a chopping leg kick but McAtee manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Murphy looks to clinch
and McAtee counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Murphy has managed to clinch.

McAtee pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Murphy throws a lazy uppercut
and McAtee makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Murphy misses with a head kick.
McAtee punishes Murphy's body with a nice straight punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McAtee looks to land a combination but Murphy avoids it well.
Nice defenses there by Murphy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy tries to clinch up but McAtee circles away and keeps his distance.
McAtee lands with a good body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McAtee keeps the fight on the outside.
McAtee throws out a counter right but Murphy avoids it with no problem.
Murphy tries to clinch up but McAtee circles away and keeps his distance.
A nice side step and McAtee releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Murphy takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Murphy is looking to clinch but McAtee is avoiding it.
McAtee misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Murphy.
Good exchange - McAtee coming out on top.
Murphy tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McAtee manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Murphy fails in his attempt to clinch.

McAtee tries to keep at a distance but Murphy has taken the fight into the clinch.
McAtee blocks the elbow strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Connor McAtee showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Connor McAtee's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

McAtee dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
McAtee swats away the attempt to clinch by Murphy.
McAtee connects with a body shot.
McAtee moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Murphy is looking to clinch.

Murphy closes the distance and pushes McAtee back into the cage.

McAtee escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Murphy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Murphy tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and McAtee counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McAtee looks to score with a jab to the body but Murphy is just out of range.
Murphy tries to clinch there but McAtee circles away.
McAtee now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Murphy fails in his attempt to clinch.
Murphy misses with a body shot.
McAtee swats away the attempt to clinch by Murphy.
Murphy tries to clinch there but McAtee circles away.
McAtee dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from McAtee. Murphy does a little dance to reset his feet.
Murphy is looking to counter the offense by McAtee and move into the clinch.
McAtee avoids the head kick by Murphy.
Murphy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy throws a head kick but McAtee moves out of range.
Murphy fails in his attempt to clinch.
McAtee throws a right and a left that Murphy avoids nicely.
McAtee is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
McAtee thuds his right hand into Murphy's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Murphy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McAtee doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Murphy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McAtee is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Murphy with a body shot.
McAtee throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Murphy changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Connor McAtee is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Murphy takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
McAtee lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Murphy at a distance.
Paddy Murphy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Murphy doesn't manage to clinch there - McAtee circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy throws a head kick but McAtee moves out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McAtee throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McAtee paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Murphy throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Murphy fails in his attempt to clinch.
McAtee lands a jab to Murphy's midsection.
Murphy takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Murphy fails with an attempt to clinch.
A little jabbing left from McAtee on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Murphy tries to clinch up but McAtee circles away and keeps his distance.
McAtee swats away the attempt to clinch by Murphy.
McAtee keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy wants to clinch but McAtee slips to the side
and McAtee counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Murphy with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling McAtee to score with a decent uppercut.
Murphy wants to clinch up but McAtee keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Murphy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jab, jab by McAtee - just one landing.
Murphy is looking to wear down McAtee with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
McAtee comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Murphy tries to clinch up but McAtee circles away and keeps his distance.
Connor McAtee seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Murphy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A nice side step and McAtee releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Murphy tries to clinch there but McAtee circles away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murphy throws a half hearted mid kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connor McAtee comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got McAtee winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Connor McAtee!
A relieved looking Connor McAtee thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.