PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Phill Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Hellwig (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Murphy comes to the cage accompanied by Chicken. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Murphy
vs
Hellwig

200 cm
19
275 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

193 cm
18
279 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Phill Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jim Hellwig!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Lou da Vinci and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hellwig fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hellwig doesn't manage to clinch there - Murphy circles away.
Hellwig is looking to clinch but Murphy is avoiding it.
Hellwig misses with a two punch combination.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hellwig!
Hellwig blocks a head kick by Murphy.
Hellwig is looking to clinch.

Murphy rushes Hellwig and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Murphy pulls Hellwig into guard.
Hellwig looking to pass the guard.
Hellwig working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hellwig lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Murphy is looking for a triangle but Hellwig pushes his legs off easily.
Murphy is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hellwig loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Murphy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hellwig.
Hellwig preventing the sweep.
Murphy wants to stand up but Hellwig is controlling him.
Hellwig trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Murphy pulls Hellwig in close to his closed guard and prevents Hellwig from doing any damage or advancing position.
Murphy is trying to keep Hellwig in close.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hellwig swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Murphy looks to land a combination but Hellwig avoids it well.
Hellwig moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Murphy closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hellwig to the mat! Hellwig manages to get full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hellwig can do anything to dispel that myth.
Murphy is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy stopping the sweep attempt from Hellwig.
Murphy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hellwig swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hellwig should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Hellwig trying to keep a closed guard but Murphy is proving a slippery customer.
Murphy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hellwig swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy won't allow Hellwig to sweep him here.
Murphy wants to stand but Hellwig has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Murphy throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hellwig counters with a nice uppercut.
A jab from Hellwig does it's job there.
Hellwig tries to clinch up

so Murphy counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hellwig looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hellwig trying to keep a closed guard but Murphy is proving a slippery customer.
Hellwig can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Murphy controls the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Murphy trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Hellwig dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hellwig lands a lovely overhand right.
Hellwig thows a body shot but no joy.
Murphy circles away from the clinch attempt
and Hellwig takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Hellwig clinches.
Murphy digs a right hand into Hellwig's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Hellwig's gas tank.
Hellwig is looking to control Murphy's arms but Murphy gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hellwig has his back to the cage.
Hellwig misses with a punch on the inside.
Hellwig is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Murphy breaks from the clinch.
Murphy throws a leg kick but Hellwig checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Hellwig defending well as Murphy loads up on a big left hand.
Murphy takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Murphy misses with a shot to the body
and Hellwig counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Murphy circles away from the clinch attempt

and Murphy counters with a shoot takedown. Hellwig fights it but they end up in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Murphy wants to control from the top but Hellwig keeps moving.
Hellwig trying to keep a closed guard but Murphy is proving a slippery customer.
Hellwig wants to sweep here but Murphy controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hellwig can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Murphy controls the pace.
Murphy won't allow Hellwig to sweep him here.
Murphy is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hellwig tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hellwig not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Murphy throws a head kick but Hellwig moves out of range.
Murphy tries to clinch there but Hellwig circles away.
Hellwig tries to clinch up but Murphy circles away and keeps his distance.
Hellwig fails in his attempt to clinch.
Murphy throws a predictable looking body shot
and Hellwig counters with a left to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hellwig looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hellwig tries to clinch there but Murphy circles away.

Hellwig closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Murphy is not content to let Hellwig control the position.
Hellwig is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hellwig 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hellwig is pressing down on Murphy's thigh, looking to free his foot. Murphy is holding on for now.

Hellwig looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hellwig is keen to just control but Murphy is a slippery customer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Murphy trying to control from the bottom.
Hellwig wants to free his trapped foot but Murphy is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Murphy tries to roll over but Hellwig keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jim Hellwig will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hellwig doesn't manage to clinch there - Murphy circles away.
Murphy throws a combination that misses

and Hellwig counters with a takedown into side control.
Hellwig grinds an elbow into Murphy's temple.

Hellwig tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hellwig has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Murphy gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Hellwig seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hellwig trying to mount his opponent but Murphy defends it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Murphy has hold of Hellwig's hands but Hellwig slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hellwig is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Murphy reverses the position - he's now on top in Hellwig's guard.
Murphy content to stall in guard here.
Hellwig is trying to keep Murphy in close.
Murphy showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hellwig wants to sweep but no luck.
Murphy wants to get up but he can't break Hellwig's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Hellwig tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Murphy stands up and waves to Hellwig to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hellwig wants to clinch.
Murphy throws a low kick, looking for Hellwig's leg but Hellwig calmly moves out of range.
Murphy swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hellwig counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Jim Hellwig is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Phill Murphy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hellwig doesn't manage to clinch there - Murphy circles away.
Hellwig lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Hellwig with a nice cross.
Hellwig fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hellwig is looking to clinch.
Hellwig is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hellwig tries to clinch up.

Hellwig pushes Murphy up against the cage in a clinch.
Hellwig avoiding damage.
Murphy tries to pull guard but Hellwig holds him up against the cage and eventually Murphy drops back down to his feet.
Hellwig wants to stall.
Phill Murphy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hellwig is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Murphy pulls him back up using the underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jim Hellwig comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hellwig 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jim Hellwig!