PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jacob Takalua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Murdock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Takalua
vs
Murdock

175 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

210 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jacob Takalua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Craig Murdock!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Seu Braga and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murdock shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Takalua sprawls well. Takalua wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Murdock gets slowly back to his feet.

Takalua gets a double leg takedown into Murdock's guard.

Murdock looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Takalua pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Murdock is keeping the position for now.
Murdock is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Murdock 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.
Takalua could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Takalua trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murdock is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murdock bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Takalua's guard.
Murdock pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Takalua is keeping the position for now.

Takalua is looking for a triangle but Murdock pushes his legs off easily.
Murdock throwing strikes but missing.
Takalua is looking to stand up but Murdock isn't so interested in that idea.
Murdock works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murdock prevents Takalua from improving his position.
Murdock wants to lay and pray for a moment but Takalua keeps working.
Takalua is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Murdock is looking to take a break and control but Takalua is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Takalua wants to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Craig Murdock was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Murdock circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takalua shoots and misses

and Murdock counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Takalua is breathing heavily.
Takalua is refusing to be controlled, as Murdock sits in half guard.
Murdock is controlling the pace.
Murdock trying to control from half guard but Takalua is working away.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Murdock stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Craig Murdock was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Takalua tries to clinch up

and Murdock moves into the clinch.
Takalua tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Murdock smiles and moves away.
Takalua circles away from the clinch attempt.
Murdock scores with a nice right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takalua leaves Murdock with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Takalua wants to clinch up but Murdock keeps it at a distance.
Murdock scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Murdock dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Murdock feints and as Takalua raises his hands in defense, Murdock changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

It looks like Jacob Takalua has been cut.
Murdock stopping the sweep attempt from Takalua.
Murdock trying to control the position from guard on top but Takalua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takalua 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.
Takalua looking to control.
Murdock won't allow Takalua to get back to his feet.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Takalua working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jacob Takalua has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Murdock dives in and grabs Takalua's left leg, looking for a takedown. Takalua pushes down on Murdock's head and hops out.
Takalua shoots for a takedown but Murdock saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Murdock shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Murdock was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Takalua is trying to reverse the position but instead Murdock has taken his back - oops!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Murdock's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Murdock just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Murdock trying to control momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murdock biding his time, looking for the opening.
Takalua is covering up but some of the strikes from Murdock are getting through and doing damage.
Will Murdock go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Takalua defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
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!

Murdock is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Takalua knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Takalua for a finish.
Takalua rolls, trying to escape but Murdock keeps control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takalua defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Murdock's arms.

Murdock looking for the choke from the back.

Murdock working from the back looking to end the fight with a rear naked choke. Takalua is doing well to defend. Murdock seems to have got his hand under the chin though and he's sunk the choke in! Takalua is forced to tap and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Craig Murdock!