PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Matt Murdock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Cartside (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matt Murdock has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Murdock
vs
Cartside

170 cm
23
145 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

170 cm
19
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Hell's Balls Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matt Murdock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rick Cartside!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Skip Squint and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cartside on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Murdock tries to close the distance and clinch but Cartside swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Murdock tries to clinch up.
Murdock throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cartside dodges the punch combination from Murdock.
Murdock misses with a double jab.
Murdock tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cartside avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cartside circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cartside looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Murdock fails with an attempt to clinch.
Murdock throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick from Murdock lands but Cartside takes it in his stride.
Cartside throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Murdock's waist but Murdock gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cartside off to one side.
Cartside shoots in but Murdock avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Matt Murdock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Cartside.
Murdock throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cartside.

Murdock moves into the clinch.

Murdock breaks the clinch.
Cartside shoots in looking for a takedown. Murdock tries to sprawl out of it but Cartside keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Murdock manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Murdock lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murdock tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Murdock lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Murdock throws a sloppy head kick and Cartside moves out of range easily.

Murdock gets a clinch.

Murdock manages to break the clinch.
Murdock tries to clinch but Cartside is having none of it.
Cartside fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cartside shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Murdock but Murdock pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cartside slips a jab and a cross from Murdock.
Cartside takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Cartside has a takedown stuffed.

Murdock moves into range and clinches up with Cartside.
Murdock connects with a nasty looking knee right to Cartside's face.
Murdock wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cartside has him pressed against the cage.
Murdock lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Murdock escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cartside scores with a takedown into Murdock's guard.
Cartside pushing down on Murdock's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Cartside uses his free foot to push down on Murdock's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Murdock.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murdock is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Murdock is breathing heavily.
Cartside landing strikes, looking to finish!
Cartside fails to take his opponent's back.
Murdock keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Cartside fails to advance to Murdock's back.
Cartside fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Cartside is working for a guillotine from mount but Murdock frees his head quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cartside lands a big elbow.
Cartside has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Murdock is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Murdock is looking to improve his position but Cartside isn't that keen on the idea.
Murdock sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Murdock manages to escape and get back to his feet!
A head kick misses from Murdock.
Cartside tries to clinch up.
Murdock closes the distance looking to clinch

and Cartside decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Murdock's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cartside trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Murdock pushes Cartside off and scrambles back to his feet.
Murdock tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Cartside holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Murdock comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Cartside wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Murdock breaks from the clinch.
Murdock stalks Cartside and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cartside's face. Cartside staggers backwards, shaken.
Murdock lands with a thumping leg kick.
Murdock tries to bum rush Cartside with a series of wild strikes but Cartside uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cartside takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
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!
Murdock tries to clinch but Cartside is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Murdock has closed the distance and engaged Cartside in a clinch.
Murdock lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Murdock scores with a knee to the head.

Cartside successfully pulls guard.

Murdock avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Matt Murdock will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cartside swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cartside shoots in and drives through. Murdock sprawls well.
Murdock avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A head kick misses from Murdock.
Cartside takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Murdock tries a head kick but it misses.
Cartside avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Murdock thows a body kick. Cartside tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Murdock connects with a high kick.
Matt Murdock is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Murdock doesn't manage to clinch there - Cartside circles away.
Murdock tries to clinch up.

Murdock closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Murdock escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Murdock tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cartside swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Murdock tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Murdock throws a one two combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cartside shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Murdock pinned against the cage. Murdock gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Murdock tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cartside paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Murdock closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Murdock lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Cartside or not.
Murdock lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cartside backwards.
Murdock misses with a knee to the head.
Cartside tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Matt Murdock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Cartside.
Murdock lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Cartside fails to pull guard.
A short right from Murdock on the inside.
Murdock softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Nice body punch from Murdock - that landed with a thud.
Cartside tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Murdock gets through Cartside's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Murdock gets underhooks to prevent Cartside's takedown attempt.
Cartside tries to pull guard but Murdock holds him up against the cage and eventually Cartside drops back down to his feet.
Murdock scores with a shot to the side of Cartside's head.
Murdock lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A short right from Murdock.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murdock throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cartsides head.
Murdock lands an elbow just above Cartside 's eye.

Cartside decides to pull guard.

Cartside working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Murdock doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Murdock manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Murdock decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cartside, up you get!
Murdock goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Murdock ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Murdock. Cartside shrugs it off though.
Murdock is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Murdock - that will leave a mark!
Murdock thuds his shin into the meat of Cartside's side.
Cartside shoots for a double leg takedown but Murdock sprawls well. He's pushed Cartside's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A right-left combo lands from Murdock.

Murdock moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murdock lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Cartside manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Murdock has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Murdock chips away with some ground and pound.

Cartside is looking for a triangle but Murdock pushes his legs off easily.

Murdock stands up from Cartside's guard - Murdock perhaps looking for a knockout.

Cartside gets a takedown into half guard.

Murdock actively working from the bottom here.
Murdock tries to kick Cartside off but Cartside keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Cartside is looking for a kimura but Murdock is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cartside to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murdock pushes Cartside off looking to stand but Cartside dives back in and keeps control.
Murdock trying to hold on to Cartside's head to control him but Cartside postures up.
Murdock pushes Cartside off looking to stand but Cartside dives back in and keeps control.
Murdock is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Murdock tries to clinch but Cartside moves away

and Cartside counters with a single leg into guard. Murdock didn't expect that.
Cartside stops Murdock from standing up.
Murdock wants to sweep but no luck.
Cartside postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cartside content to stall in guard here.
Murdock looking for a sweep. Not yet Murdock, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Murdock dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Murdock tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Cartside counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Murdock's guard now.
Cartside pushes down on Murdock's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Cartside tries to pass to full mount but Murdock defends it.
Cartside stops Murdock from getting back to his feet.
Murdock trying to control from the bottom.

Cartside is trying to work for a kimura but Murdock is defending well.
Murdock pushes Cartside off looking to stand but Cartside dives back in and keeps control.

Murdock kicks off Cartside and gets to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Cartside shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Cartside is looking to advance position but Murdock won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cartside prevents Murdock from standing back up.

Cartside seems to be looking for submissions.
Cartside is keen to just control but Murdock is a slippery customer.
Murdock moves into full guard.

Murdock is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Murdock wants to stand but Cartside is controlling the position.

That's two 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.
Murdock is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Murdock keeping moving, preventing Cartside from controlling successfully.
Murdock wants to stand but Cartside is controlling the position.
Cartside wants to control from the top but Murdock keeps moving.
Cartside distracts Murdock with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cartside won't allow Murdock to sweep him here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Murdock closes the distance looking to clinch

and Cartside holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Murdock breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murdock closes the distance looking to clinch

and Cartside counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Murdock wants to stand up but Cartside is controlling him.
Cartside wants to control from the top but Murdock keeps moving.
Murdock is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Murdock keeping moving, preventing Cartside from controlling successfully.
Murdock is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Murdock has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cartside can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murdock wants to stand and escape but Cartside is having none of it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cartside misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Murdock tries to clinch but Cartside is having none of it.
Murdock tries to close the distance and clinch but Cartside swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Murdock is looking to clinch but Cartside is avoiding it.
Murdock fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cartside shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Murdock fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cartside, pushing him back against the cage.
Murdock lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Murdock breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Murdock tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cartside paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rick Cartside has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Murdock scores with a three punch combo!

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Cartside comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Murdock has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Murdock!