PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shinji Tomoguchi (ranked 1684 p4p, 2315 weight class) and Myles Murray (ranked 220 p4p, 293 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Tomoguchi
vs
Murray

180 cm
29
155
14 - 14 - 0

178 cm
27
161
4 - 1 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Shinji Tomoguchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Myles Murray!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Colin Fotheringham and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Tomoguchi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Murray gets tackled into the cage by Tomoguchi. Tomoguchi maintains the clinch.
Tomoguchi has Murray pressed against the cage.
Tomoguchi is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Tomoguchi stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Tomoguchi seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Murray is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Murray manages to break the clinch.
Shinji Tomoguchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murray connects with a crisp jab.
Murray walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Tomoguchi checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Murray slips under a jab.
Murray looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Murray 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.
Murray takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Murray uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Murray counters with a nice uppercut.
Murray ducks under a wild hook from Tomoguchi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tomoguchi just misses with a punch to the body.
Tomoguchi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Murray moves away.
Murray throws a hook but Tomoguchi avoids it easily.
Tomoguchi misses with a double jab.
Tomoguchi loads up on a big right hand but Murray slips the punch.
Murray keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tomoguchi.
Murray now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Tomoguchi 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.
Tomoguchi checks a low kick from Murray.
Tomoguchi throws an off balance right hand
and Murray counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tomoguchi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Murray.
Murray throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tomoguchi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A big right from Tomoguchi misses.
Tomoguchi works over Murray's head and body with a nice combination.
Tomoguchi throws a lazy uppercut
and Murray counters with a straight right hand.
Tomoguchi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Murray avoids the body shot from Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi misses with a hook to the body
and Murray connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tomoguchi scores with a jab to the body.
Murray keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tomoguchi comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Tomoguchi misses with an uppercut. Murray saw that one coming.
Murray only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Murray moves away from the strike by Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tomoguchi takes a swing at Murray's ribcage but misses.
Tomoguchi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tomoguchi takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Tomoguchi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Tomoguchi throws a hook but Murray blocks it.
Tomoguchi throws a hook to the side of Murray's head but Murray sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Murray throws a big shot that misses.
Murray works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
A telegraphed right hand from Tomoguchi misses the target.
Tomoguchi throws a jab but it's blocked by Murray.
Tomoguchi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Tomoguchi looks to score with a jab to the body but Murray is just out of range.
It seemed like Murray was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Murray takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Tomoguchi throws the left hand but Murray avoids the punch easily.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Murray.
Murray avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tomoguchi throws a shot from downtown. Murray moves away and avoids it.
Murray displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tomoguchi throws out the jab.
Murray only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Tomoguchi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Murray.
Murray moves away from the strike by Tomoguchi.
Murray connects with a crisp jab.

Tomoguchi instigates a clinch.
Tomoguchi leaning against his opponent.
A left hand lands to the body for Tomoguchi.
Murray blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tomoguchi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tomoguchi holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Murray is trying to push Tomoguchi away but Tomoguchi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Tomoguchi lands a hook that snaps the head of Murray backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Tomoguchi fails to land.
Tomoguchi jumps guard but Murray stands there with Tomoguchi around his waist. Tomoguchi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tomoguchi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tomoguchi is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Tomoguchi jumps guard but Murray stands there with Tomoguchi around his waist. Tomoguchi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Tomoguchi misses with some punches.
Tomoguchi lands an uppercut.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Tomoguchi just leaning against Murray, taking a breather.
Tomoguchi gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.

Murray pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tomoguchi swings for the body but Murray moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Murray bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Tomoguchi's head backwards.
Tomoguchi throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Murray counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tomoguchi throws an overhand right that lands on Murray's shoulder, as Murray tries to avoid the shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shinji Tomoguchi dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Murray wants to slow Tomoguchi down by chopping away at his legs.
Murray throws a hook but Tomoguchi blocks it.
Tomoguchi looks to score with a jab to the body but Murray is just out of range.
Murray is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tomoguchi.
Murray steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tomoguchi.
Murray lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tomoguchi at a distance.
Murray throws a good cross that connects.
Tomoguchi falls off balance throwing a combination
and Murray counters with a nice uppercut.
Murray throws a chopping leg kick but Tomoguchi manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Tomoguchi on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Myles Murray seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tomoguchi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tomoguchi misses the body punch
and Murray counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tomoguchi throws a body punch but Murray moves out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Murray! But no joy.
A shot to the liver by Tomoguchi. Beautiful body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tomoguchi. Murray does a little dance to reset his feet.
Murray misses with a hook.
Tomoguchi misses with a body shot.
Murray looks like he wants to counter punch here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A clash of legs there as Tomoguchi blocks the low kick.
Murray misses with a hook. Tomoguchi ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murray dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tomoguchi. That did some damage!

Murray gets tackled into the cage by Tomoguchi. Tomoguchi maintains the clinch.
Tomoguchi misses with a punch on the inside.
Tomoguchi taking a breather.
Tomoguchi struggles to land a body shot inside as Murray controls his hands.
Tomoguchi is trying to pull guard but Murray turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Tomoguchi has Murray pressed against the cage, preventing Murray from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A head punch on the inside from Tomoguchi fails to land.
Murray wants to break free but Tomoguchi has control.
Murray letting Tomoguchi take a breather here.
Tomoguchi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Tomoguchi tries to pull guard but Murray won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tomoguchi's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Tomoguchi scores with a hook to the body.
Murray is trying to force a seperation but Tomoguchi has the dominant position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tomoguchi.
Myles Murray has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tomoguchi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tomoguchi lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tomoguchi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Murray blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tomoguchi throws a head punch that misses.
Tomoguchi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Murray tries to break the clinch but Tomoguchi is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tomoguchi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinji Tomoguchi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murray is trying to break free.

Murray breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sloppy strikes from Tomoguchi. Those never looked like landing.
Tomoguchi backing away here, and Murray unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Murray scores with a nice strike.
Tomoguchi misses with a looping right.
Tomoguchi throws a sloppy body shot
and Murray cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tomoguchi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Murray cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A punch lands to the side of Tomoguchi 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Tomoguchi misses with a wild body shot.
Murray scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tomoguchi doesn't seem bothered though.
Tomoguchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Murray manages to avoid it.
It seemed like Murray was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Murray throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice body punch from Murray.
Murray loads up on a big right hand but Tomoguchi slips the punch.
Murray keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murray scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tomoguchi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Murray counters with a straight right hand.
Murray misses with a leg kick.
Murray staying out of range there.
Murray misses with a looping left.
Murray throws a low kick but it's checked well by Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi cracks Murray with a right hand to the side of the head.
Murray avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tomoguchi throws a lazy right hand but Murray sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tomoguchi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Murray.
Tomoguchi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Murray loads up on a big right hand but Tomoguchi slips the punch.
Murray slips a straight right by Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi lands a jab.
Murray getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Tomoguchi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Murray slips under a jab.
Murray throws out a powerful jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Myles Murray showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Tomoguchi misses with a looping right.
Tomoguchi throws the left hand but Murray avoids the punch easily.
Tomoguchi cracks Murray with an open hand slap.
Murray slips a jab from Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Tomoguchi drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Tomoguchi slips a straight right by Murray.
Tomoguchi swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A jab from Tomoguchi does it's job there.
Tomoguchi clobbers Murray with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Murray throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Murray looks to score with a jab to the body but Tomoguchi is just out of range.
Murray throws a jab but it's blocked by Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Tomoguchi scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tomoguchi slips under a jab.
Murray misses with a looping left.
Tomoguchi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Murray appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Murray throws a leg kick but Tomoguchi sees it coming and moves out of range.
Murray misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tomoguchi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Murray was well out of range. Poor timing from Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi misses with an uppercut.
Tomoguchi cracks Murray with a good jab.
Murray's jab looks to have found its range, popping Tomoguchi under the eye.
Tomoguchi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Murray.
Murray circles away from the clinch attempt.
Murray throws out a counter right but Tomoguchi avoids it with no problem.
Tomoguchi swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Murray.
A jab from Murray finds it's way through Tomoguchi's defenses.
Tomoguchi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Murray paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Murray ducks under a wild hook from Tomoguchi.
Murray lands a leg kick that knocks Tomoguchi off balance momentarily.
Tomoguchi takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Tomoguchi defending well as Murray loads up on a big left hand.
Tomoguchi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Murray.
Tomoguchi misses with a shot to the body
and Murray connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tomoguchi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
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!
Tomoguchi swings for the body but Murray moves out of range.
A little jabbing left from Murray on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Tomoguchi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murray throws an overhand right that lands on Tomoguchi's shoulder, as Tomoguchi tries to avoid the shot.
Tomoguchi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Murray.
Tomoguchi slips under a jab from Murray.
Tomoguchi takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Tomoguchi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Tomoguchi misses with a hook.
Murray thumps Tomoguchi with a low kick.
Murray thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tomoguchi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tomoguchi looks to land a left hand but Murray moved out of range nicely.
Tomoguchi scores with a punch to the head.
Tomoguchi just misses with a punch to the body.
Murray throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Murray, as that shot connected.
Tomoguchi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Murray.
Tomoguchi is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
The crowd cheers as Murray lands an impressive looking overhand right. Tomoguchi doesn't seem phased though.
Tomoguchi with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A looping hook to the body misses from Murray. Tomoguchi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tomoguchi swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tomoguchi throws a hook but Murray avoids it easily.
Murray uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tomoguchi.
Murray fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tomoguchi manages to avoid it.
Tomoguchi on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Tomoguchi lands with a shot to the body.
Tomoguchi lands with a hook. Murray tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Tomoguchi misses with a body shot
and Murray counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Murray slips a jab and a cross from Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi misses with a hook
and Murray counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Murray thuds his right hand into Tomoguchi's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Tomoguchi checks a leg kick.
Tomoguchi checks the leg kick nicely there.
Tomoguchi appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Tomoguchi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tomoguchi connects with a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tomoguchi ducks under a wild hook from Murray.
Tomoguchi swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Tomoguchi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tomoguchi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Murray.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murray ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tomoguchi moves away.
Tomoguchi swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Murray lands a right hook to the body.
Tomoguchi lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Murray staying out of range there.
Murray looks to land a left hand but Tomoguchi moved out of range nicely.
Murray throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tomoguchi misses with a body shot
and Murray counters with a right hand to the body.
The fighters circling - Tomoguchi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Murray takes one to the side of the head.
Murray takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Tomoguchi misses the shot to the body.
Murray let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Tomoguchi throws a hook but Murray avoids it easily.
Murray appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Murray walks into a jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tomoguchi lands a right hook to the body.
Tomoguchi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The fighters circling - Tomoguchi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Murray moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Tomoguchi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Murray circles away quickly and effectively.

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 Shinji Tomoguchi.
I think Tomoguchi 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 29:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

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