PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Bader (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Murk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Bader
vs
Murk

155 cm
26
285 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

214 cm
27
300 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thomas Bader!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joe Murk!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Hugh Johnson and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Murk rushes Bader and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
A shot in the inside from Murk.
Bader tries a body shot but Murk blocks it.
Murk looking to throw knees to the head but Bader is blocking nicely.

Bader ties up his opponent against the ropes and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Bader no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Bader utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bader keeping full guard, as Murk tries to pass.
Murk wants to stand but Bader has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Murk throws and elbow that misses. Bader uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Murk's guard. Nice move by Bader!
Murk wants to sweep but no luck.
Murk keeping moving, preventing Bader from controlling successfully.
Murk wants to sweep here but Bader controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murk keeping full guard, as Bader tries to pass.

Bader drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bader jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Bader won't allow Murk to sweep him here.
Murk wants to stand but Bader is controlling the position.

Murk looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Bader thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Bader thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Murk is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Bader is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Murk throws his legs up looking for a submission but Bader uses it to pass to side control.
Murk is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murk manages to get back to half guard.

Bader wants to work for an arm triangle but Murk is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Bader is trying to control the action in half guard but Murk is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Bader is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Murk doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bader.
Bader passes the guard and advances to mount!
Murk manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bader is trying to control. Murk wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Murk works his way to full guard. Good work.

Bader avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Murk is looking for a triangle but Bader pushes his legs off easily.
Murk looks gassed!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bader looking to pass the guard.

Murk is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bader is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Joe Murk will probably get the nod.
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.

Murk instigates a clinch.
Bader misses with a hook from the clinch.
Murk throws a head punch that misses.
Bader tries to pull guard but Murk won't allow it.
Murk avoiding damage as Bader throws knees to the body.
Bader looking to stall.
Murk misses with a knee strike.
Murk lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Bader.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Murk trying to land knees to the body.
Bader takes a knee right on the jaw!
Bader avoiding damage as Murk throws knees to the body.
Murk stalling in the clinch but Bader improves position.
Murk is breathing heavily.
Bader takes an elbow to the temple.
Bader blocks an elbow strike.
Murk connects with a knee to the head.

Bader drags the fight down to the ground.
Bader is looking to sweep but instead, Murk has passed into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bader is trying to get back to full guard.
Bader moves into full guard.
Murk wants to stand but Bader has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Murk stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Murk clinches up with Bader and pushes him back against the ropes.
Murk misses with a punch on the inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Bader turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Bader manages to end up in side control.
Murk is looking for a sweep.

Bader is trying to get an arm triangle but Murk is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bader tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Bader has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Bader trying to control the action but Murk is working from the bottom.
Murk is looking to reverse the position.
Murk looking for a sweep but Bader has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Bader cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Bader tries to control but Murk wriggling away.
Bader looking to finish Murk with some ground and pound. This is bad for Murk!
Murk gets back to half guard.
Murk pushes Bader off but Bader dives into side control.
Bader trying to control the position but Murk is working away.
Murk manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Murk decides to return to a standing position.

Murk clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murk trying to stall but Bader improves his position.
Murk misses with a hook to the ribs.

Bader jumps guard.

Murk drops back, looking for a kneebar! Bader looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Bader looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Bader!
Bader working the head and body with strikes.
Bader moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
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!
Murk is looking for a sweep.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Murk is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Bader dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Murk clinches up with Bader and pushes him back against the ropes.
Bader stalling.

Bader pulls guard effortlessly.
Bader pulls Murk in close to prevent any damage.
Murk trying to control but Bader is working from the bottom.
Bader manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Murk manages to get himself to full guard.
Bader has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Murk manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Murk working for a submission but Bader is keeping him at bay.
Murk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bader working to try and regain half guard.
Bader tries to hold on but Murk postures up.

Murk is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Bader has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Bader is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Murk stands up from mount. Strange move.
Murk cracks a nice hook into Bader's ribs.

Murk shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Bader trying to control but Murk postures up.
Murk with the ground and pound but Bader uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Murk passes Bader's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Bader looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Murk thows a huge punch but Bader dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murk is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Murk is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bader has managed to free his arm - good work.

Murk is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Murk 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Bader has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Murk is working away from the top position though.
Murk prevents Bader from improving his position.
Thomas Bader overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Bader looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Murk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Murk has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight for Joe Murk!
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight for Joe Murk!
Judge John Mangel scores the fight for Joe Murk!

Joe Murk wins by unanimous decision!