PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wesley Shutes (ranked 1534 p4p, 2646 weight class) and Paddy Murphy (ranked 239 p4p, 361 weight class). Murphy has chosen Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya as his entrance music. 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.

Shutes
vs
Murphy

182 cm
39
186
20 - 17 - 4

185 cm
28
185
10 - 14 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Fantasy Threads
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 17 - 4, fighting out of London, Wesley Shutes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Paddy Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yuuki Gou and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shutes 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 checks a low kick from Shutes.
An inside leg kick from Shutes misses.
Good leg kick by Shutes.
Murphy takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Murphy works over Shutes's head and body with a nice combination.
Murphy tries a head kick but it misses.
Murphy gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Shutes.
Murphy throws a sloppy head kick and Shutes moves out of range easily.

Shutes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Murphy, pushing him back against the cage.
Murphy using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murphy throws a head punch that misses.
Shutes misses with some punches.

Shutes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shutes throws a hook but Murphy avoids it easily.
Murphy misses with a head kick.
Murphy moves out of range as Shutes throws a body kick.
Murphy throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shutes tries to land a leg kick but Murphy saw it coming and moves away.
Murphy slips under a jab.
Murphy is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Shutes throws a shot from downtown. Murphy moves away and avoids it.
Murphy throws a head kick that misses.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Murphy has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Shutes throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Shutes on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Shutes tries to work over Murphy's front leg with a kick but Murphy checks it.
Murphy misses with a body kick.
Murphy doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Shutes counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Murphy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shutes lands a nice looking body shot.
Shutes fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Murphy has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A solid body kick from Shutes.
Murphy misses with an uppercut. Shutes saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shutes works Murphy's body with a nice hook.
Shutes seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Murphy moves out of range of the strikes.
Shutes blocks a jab.
Shutes looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Murphy waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shutes.
A decent looking cross lands there for Murphy.
Shutes scores with a jab to the body.
Murphy pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Shutes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Murphy moves away.
A nice leg kick from Shutes, right into the meat of the thigh.
Wesley Shutes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Murphy with a nice cross.

Murphy gets tackled into the cage by Shutes. Shutes maintains the clinch.
Shutes misses with some punches.
Shutes lands a nice uppercut.
Shutes lands a right hand.
Shutes lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Shutes misses with an elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shutes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Murphy is defending well for now.
A short left from Shutes.
Murphy throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Shutes.
Shutes pushes Murphy back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Murphy working aggressively here.
Shutes misses with an elbow over the top.
Shutes has a couple of punches blocked by Murphy.
Still in the clinch, Shutes scores with a nice short uppercut.
Shutes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Murphy is defending well for now.
Shutes on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Murphy stalls.
Shutes stalling.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shutes.
A short right from Shutes.
Murphy struggles to land a body shot inside as Shutes controls his hands.
Murphy takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shutes avoids the elbow strike from Murphy, against the cage.
Shutes lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Murphy blocks the elbow strike.
Murphy with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Shutes missing with knees to the body.
Murphy tries a knee to the head but Shutes blocks it.
Shutes blocks an elbow strike from Murphy.
Shutes lands a left hand that snaps the head of Murphy backwards.
Murphy with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A right handed body shot lands from Murphy.
Nice elbow from Shutes.
Shutes lands a hook that snaps the head of Murphy backwards.
Shutes throws a punch but it's blocked by Murphy.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shutes taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Murphy takes an elbow to the forehead.
Shutes lands a hook to the side of the head.
Murphy looking to throw knees to the head but Shutes is blocking nicely.
Murphy letting Shutes take a breather here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wesley Shutes dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Murphy uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shutes.
Murphy misses with a kick to the body
and Shutes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Shutes lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Shutes motions for Murphy to come forward. Shutes throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Murphy lands with an uppercut that bounces Shutes off the cage and back into range.
Shutes connects with a solid leg kick.
Shutes walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Murphy checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Murphy is looking to land body kicks.
Murphy takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Shutes lands a head shot.
Murphy thumps Shutes with a low kick.
Murphy looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Shutes throws a wild body kick that Murphy sees coming a mile off.
Shutes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Murphy takes a swing at Shutes's ribcage but misses.
Murphy takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Shutes is looking to wear down Murphy with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy misses with an attempted mid kick.
Murphy throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Murphy checks a low kick from Shutes.
Shutes is looking to slow Murphy down with leg kicks.
Murphy drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Shutes scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

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.
Murphy postures up.
Shutes wants to sweep here but Murphy controlling him for the moment.

Shutes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Shutes throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shutes working for a triangle but Murphy defends it easily.
Murphy controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shutes is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Murphy is aware though and is defending well.
Murphy being controlled here momentarily.
Murphy throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Murphy throws a sloppy head kick and Shutes moves out of range easily.
Shutes goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shutes wants to land a leg kick but Murphy is out of range.
Nice cross by Shutes.
Murphy tries to land a front kick but Shutes steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A solid leg kick lands there for Shutes.
A bone on bone clash there as Murphy blocks the leg kick.
Shutes cracks Murphy with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Wesley Shutes is winning the standup battle so far.
Murphy goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Shutes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shutes attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Shutes scoring well with a low kick there.
Murphy throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Shutes's head.
Murphy throws out a powerful jab.
Murphy's jab looks to have found its range, popping Shutes under the eye.
Murphy steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Shutes.
Murphy tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Wesley Shutes will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Shutes moves out of range of the body kick.
Murphy connects with an inside leg kick.
Murphy checks a leg kick.
Murphy shapes to counter with a head kick.
Murphy throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shutes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shutes throwing a counter right hand but Murphy manages to avoid it.
Good work by Shutes as he checks the leg kick.
Sloppy strikes from Murphy. Those never looked like landing.
Shutes tried to counter with a leg kick but Murphy avoided it.
Shutes tries a low kick but Murphy avoids it.
Murphy misses with an uppercut

and Shutes counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Shutes.
Murphy with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The referee calls for Murphy to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shutes looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Murphy scores with a hook to the body.
Murphy misses with a body punch.
Murphy blocks a body shot from Shutes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shutes swings wildly with an uppercut but Murphy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Murphy landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Murphy prevents a body shot from Shutes.
Murphy lands an elbow that stopped Shutes in his tracks for a moment.
Shutes makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Shutes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Murphy can do to turn this around?
Shutes managing to block the knees to the body from Murphy.
Shutes landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Murphy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Murphy tries a body shot but Shutes blocks it.
Murphy throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Shutes blocks it with crossed arms.
Murphy throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Shutes creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Shutes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Murphy.
Shutes misses with a punch to the body.
Shutes dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Shutes trying to control the position but instead, Murphy has worked for underhooks and has pushed Shutes into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy throws a punch but it's blocked by Shutes.
Murphy lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shutes dodges an elbow strike from Murphy.
Murphy on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Murphy throws an elbow that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A left hand lands to the body for Shutes.
Murphy trying to land knees to the body.
Shutes lands a hook that snaps the head of Murphy backwards.
A shot in the inside from Murphy.
Shutes dodges an elbow strike from Murphy.
Murphy misses with an elbow strike.
Shutes swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Shutes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Paddy Murphy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Murphy moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Murphy.
Murphy tries to work over Shutes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shutes obliges.
Murphy tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Good body shot from Shutes.
Murphy throws a punch but it's blocked by Shutes.
Murphy blocks an uppercut.
Murphy avoids the elbow strike from Shutes, against the cage.
Murphy with an attempt at a knee that misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Murphy throws an elbow but misses.
Shutes working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Shutes lands with a right to the head.
Shutes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Shutes working aggressively here.
Shutes has a couple of punches blocked by Murphy.
Shutes lands a hook to the side of the head.
Murphy throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Shutes is defending well for now.

Shutes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Murphy avoids the body shot from Shutes.
Murphy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wesley Shutes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Murphy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shutes.
Murphy fails with a takedown attempt.
Shutes throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Shutes lands a leg kick that knocks Murphy off balance momentarily.
Murphy moves forwards but Shutes connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Shutes is looking to slow Murphy down with leg kicks.
Murphy throws a leg kick
and Shutes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A clash of legs there as Shutes blocks the low kick.
Murphy throws a wild body kick that Shutes sees coming a mile off.
Shutes with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Wesley Shutes.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shutes, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wesley Shutes!
In his post fight interview, Wesley Shutes started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.