PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Andre Schembri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taylor Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taylor Murphy is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Schembri
vs
Murphy

168 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

•‡• LION Clothing •‡•

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Andre Schembri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Taylor Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Aafke Stam and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Murphy looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Schembri is fending him off so far but Murphy persists. Nope, Schembri circles away and we're back to standing.
Schembri uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Murphy.
Jab from Murphy.
Nice defenses there by Murphy.
Murphy keeps the fight on the outside.
Schembri tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Schembri darts in and clinches Murphy up against the cage.
Murphy tries to land knees in the clinch but Schembri avoids the damage to the body.

Schembri is fighting off a takedown attempt but Murphy is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Schembri to the mat. Schembri regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Murphy trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Schembri 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.
Murphy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Schembri is keeping the position for now.
Murphy wants to stand and escape but instead Schembri has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schembri tries to free his leg and advance position but Murphy is retaining full guard.
Murphy looking for a sweep. Not yet Murphy, not yet.
Schembri postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Schembri working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Murphy's head.
Schembri prevents Murphy from getting back to his feet.
Schembri trying to control the position from guard on top but Murphy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Schembri lands a couple of elbows.
Schembri passes into half guard.
Schembri sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Murphy defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Schembri throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Schembri scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Murphy is pressing down on Schembri's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Murphy tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Murphy throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Murphy looks gassed!
Murphy is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Schembri distracts Murphy with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Schembri throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Murphy works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Schembri working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Schembri postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schembri working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Murphy wants to sweep here but Schembri controlling him for the moment.
Schembri working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Murphy's head.
Schembri scoring with some ground and pound.
Schembri lands a couple of digs.
Schembri makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Schembri working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Murphy's head.
Schembri scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Schembri wants to control from the top but Murphy keeps moving.
Schembri stands up over Murphy, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schembri wants to pass the guard but Murphy is keeping the position.
Schembri trying to control the position from guard on top but Murphy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Schembri looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Murphy working a defensive guard but Schembri manages to pass into side control anyway.
Schembri working the ground and pound from side control.
Schembri lands a few punches from side control.
Schembri 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.
Murphy takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Schembri 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 takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Schembri keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A big right from Murphy misses.
Schembri lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Taylor Murphy has been cut.
Schembri tries to clinch up.
Schembri chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Schembri clinches with his opponent.
Schembri lands a body shot in the clinch.

Schembri manages to break the clinch.
Schembri doesn't manage to clinch there - Murphy circles away.
Murphy is breathing heavily.
Schembri misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Schembri is looking to clinch.
Schembri throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Murphy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schembri throws a leg kick which misses Murphy's front leg but catches the back leg as Murphy tries to avoid it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Schembri.

Schembri is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Murphy's half guard.
Schembri takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Schembri looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Murphy with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Schembri is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Schembri looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Murphy with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Schembri seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Schembri is looking to take a break and control but Murphy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Schembri is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schembri is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Schembri is nestled in close to Murphy, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Schembri content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Schembri looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Murphy with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Schembri keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Schembri is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
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!
Murphy is pressing down on Schembri's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Schembri postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Schembri trying to control but Murphy is working from the bottom.
Schembri is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Schembri working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Schembri scoring with punches to the head and body.
Murphy throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Schembri's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Murphy keeping moving, preventing Schembri from controlling successfully.
Schembri slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Schembri sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Murphy's guard.
Murphy on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Schembri content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Murphy actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Schembri scoring with strikes to the body and head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Schembri dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Taylor Murphy's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Schembri lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Schembri tries to close the distance and clinch up but Murphy swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Murphy misses with a combination

and Schembri counters with a nice double leg into side control. Murphy won't be happy with that.
Schembri cracks Murphy with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Schembri tries to move to mount but Murphy blocks the move with his legs.
Schembri cracks Murphy with a big right hand but Murphy just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Schembri trying to control the action but Murphy is working from the bottom.
Murphy taking punishment in the form of punches.
Murphy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy is not content to let Schembri control the position.
Murphy tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Murphy on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Schembri working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Schembri creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Murphy is rocked!
Schembri in side control lands a decent elbow.
Murphy is still in real trouble! Can Schembri finish him?
Murphy on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Murphy taking a bit of punishment here - Schembri scoring with strikes.
Murphy is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schembri lands some shots froms side control.
Schembri working the ground and pound.
Schembri remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Schembri working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Schembri lands a decent elbow from side control.
Schembri moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Murphy takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Andre Schembri is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Schembri is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Murphy can do to turn this around?
Schembri is staying tight to Murphy's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Murphy seems to have recovered his senses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Schembri presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Schembri takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Murphy flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Schembri controlling the position easily from mount.
Taylor Murphy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The referee stands the fighters back up. Andre Schembri just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Murphy throws a sloppy head kick

and Schembri counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Schembri.

Schembri has picked Murphy up - he's going for a ride! Schembri dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Schembri performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andre Schembri showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Schembri has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:26
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:26
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andre Schembri!