PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lee Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Birk Smygare (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lee Murphy has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Murphy
vs
Smygare

187 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
20
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Attliction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Lee Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Birk Smygare!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Daniel Bishop and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smygare shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Smygare avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smygare ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Murphy moves away.
Murphy misses with a takedown

and Smygare counters with a single leg into guard. Murphy didn't expect that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smygare wants to control from the top but Murphy keeps moving.

Murphy is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Murphy looking to control.
Murphy is wriggling around but Smygare manages to pass to half guard.
Smygare tries to pass the half guard into mount. Murphy knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Murphy tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smygare looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smygare lands with a punch from half guard.
Smygare wants to control but Murphy is keeping him busy.

Smygare stands up and beckons Murphy to join him on the feet.
Murphy with a lazy takedown attempt

and Smygare counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Smygare decides to stand and escape the position.
Murphy has his takedown stuffed
and Smygare makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lee Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murphy is breathing heavily.
Murphy fails with the takedown

and Smygare counters with a nice double leg into side control. Murphy won't be happy with that.
Murphy knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smygare on the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Smygare tries to advance to mount but can't.
Smygare taking a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smygare works to advance to full mount. Murphy defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Smygare punching from mount but Murphy doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Smygare controlling the pace for now.
Smygare scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Murphy?
Smygare tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Murphy tries to hold on but Smygare postures up.

Smygare looking for a guillotine from mount but Murphy is having none of it.
Murphy is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smygare looking to control but Murphy is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Smygare lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Murphy hang on?
Smygare wants to control the pace but Murphy is squirming around nicely.
Smygare has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Smygare thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Smygare controlling the pace for now.
Smygare trying to control but Murphy is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Murphy is in all sorts of trouble here.
Murphy is working hard here to advance position.
Smygare looking to control and managing it successfully.
Murphy is looking to improve his position but Smygare isn't that keen on the idea.
Smygare trying to control but Murphy is having none of it.
Murphy really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Birk Smygare dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Murphy tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lee Murphy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A low kick from Murphy is predictable there

and Smygare counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Murphy controls Smygare momentarily but Smygare frees himself.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Murphy is on top in guard.
Murphy wants to get up but he can't break Smygare's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Murphy is looking to advance position but Smygare has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Murphy is bucking up trying to escape but Smygare cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Murphy tries to lock up and control but Smygare gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Smygare tries to control but Murphy wriggling away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smygare takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy tries to lock up and control but Smygare gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Smygare cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Smygare sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Smygare prevents Murphy from getting the reversal.
A nice elbow there by Smygare.
Murphy is trying to escape the mount.
Murphy tries to hold on but Smygare postures up.
Murphy squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

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.
Murphy is looking to get to half guard.
Birk Smygare has got the better of the ground game so far.
Murphy really wants to buck Smygare off and get back to his feet.
Smygare tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Murphy wants to control but Smygare is having none of it.
Smygare looking to control and managing it successfully.
Murphy manages to control the position for a moment.
Murphy squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Smygare tries to control but Murphy wriggling away.
Murphy tries to hold on but Smygare postures up.
Murphy can't escape the position.
Murphy tries to control the position but Smygare now has his back.
Smygare tries to get the hooks in deep but Murphy pushed the leg off.
Murphy controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Smygare trying to control.
Murphy is trying to break free.

Murphy defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Smygare's arms.
Murphy is in bad spot here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Smygare wants to control but Murphy is keeping busy.
Murphy tries to escape but Smygare has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Smygare working for a choke but Murphy is defending well.
Smygare lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Murphy hold on?!
Smygare is not going to allow Murphy to sit and survive in this position.
Smygare controlling from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Birk Smygare showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Smygare shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Murphy throws a head kick that misses

and Smygare counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Smygare content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Smygare wants to lay and pray for a moment but Murphy keeps working.

Despite being in the dominant position, Birk Smygare just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Smygare, right into the meat.
Murphy doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Smygare counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Smygare.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Murphy looking to stall.
Murphy goes for a takedown attempt but Smygare pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Smygare.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smygare staying calm.
Murphy struggling a bit here.
Murphy is looking for a sweep.
Murphy is trying to work for a sweep but Smygare has mounted him!
Murphy tries to reverse the position but Smygare maintains control.
Smygare dominating with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smygare controlling from the full mount.
Murphy tries to control the position but Smygare now has his back.
Smygare scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Murphy is looking for a way out.
Murphy is in bad spot here.
Smygare has good solid back control here.
Smygare is trying to stick to Murphy's back but Murphy is turning into Smygare. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Smygare's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Murphy.
Smygare tries to strike from the bottom.
Murphy has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Smygare striking off his back but it's not causing Murphy any problems.

Smygare throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Murphy controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy won't allow Smygare to sweep him here.
Murphy is looking to stand up but Smygare won't let him.
Murphy trying to control but Smygare is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Murphy throws a lazy head kick

and Smygare counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Murphy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smygare is one step ahead there.
Smygare postures up.
Murphy working a defensive guard but Smygare manages to pass into side control anyway.

Smygare is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Murphy is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is trying to control Smygare's posture but Smygare avoids it.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

Smygare stands up and beckons Murphy to his feet.
Murphy with a lazy takedown attempt

and Smygare counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lee Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smygare seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Murphy does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Murphy has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Smygare is working away from the top position though.
Lee Murphy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smygare is trying to control the action in half guard but Murphy is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Birk Smygare comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Smygare has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 26:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Birk Smygare!