PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tobias Murphy (ranked 5441 p4p, 626 weight class) and Artur Azaryan (ranked 5749 p4p, 650 weight class). Azaryan comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Notorious BIG - Mo Money Mo Problems kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Artur Azaryan was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Murphy
vs
Azaryan

179 cm
21
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
176 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Urban Fighter

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tobias Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Artur Azaryan!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Tiny Johnson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azaryan throws an overhand right that lands on Murphy's shoulder, as Murphy tries to avoid the shot.

Murphy clinches up with Azaryan and pushes him back against the cage.
Murphy working aggressively here.
Azaryan is trying to break free.
Murphy lands a nice shot to the body.
Murphy swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Murphy fails to land.
Murphy makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Murphy misses with some punches.

Azaryan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Murphy scores with a hook to the body. Azaryan takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Murphy misses with a looping right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azaryan avoids the head kick by Murphy.
Tobias Murphy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Murphy misses with a body punch
and Azaryan counters with a good, hard body kick but Murphy shrugs it off.
Murphy throws a looping overhand right but Azaryan ducks down to avoid it.
Azaryan thinks about the counter body kick.
A head kick by Murphy misses
and Murphy takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murphy clinches.
Azaryan's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Azaryan.
Azaryan tries to land a knee to the head but Murphy blocks with his arms.

Azaryan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice uppercut lands for Murphy. That snapped Azaryan's head back.
Murphy tries a head kick but it misses.
Murphy throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Azaryan counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Murphy thinking.
Murphy steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Azaryan.
Murphy misses the body punch
and Azaryan counters with a nice low kick that buckles Murphy's knee momentarily.
Murphy throws the kick towards the body but Azaryan avoids it.
Murphy throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Murphy misses
and Azaryan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Murphy misses with the combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Azaryan punishes Murphy's body with a nice straight punch.
Murphy blocks a head kick by Azaryan.
Tobias Murphy is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Azaryan ducks under a wild hook from Murphy.
Jab from Murphy.
Murphy bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Murphy misses with a jab to the body
and Azaryan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Azaryan blocks a head kick by Murphy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Murphy throws a shot from downtown. Azaryan moves away and avoids it.
Azaryan bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Murphy's head backwards.
We've been told by Murphy's head coaches at Ryōzanpaku Dojo that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Azaryan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Murphy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Azaryan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Azaryan ducks under a wild hook from Murphy.
Azaryan tries to counter by closing the distance.
Azaryan swats away the attempt to clinch by Murphy.
Murphy throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Azaryan stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy just misses with a punch to the body.
Murphy ducks under a wild hook from Azaryan.
Murphy misses with a wild body shot.
Azaryan appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Azaryan throws a hook to the side of Murphy's head but Murphy sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Murphy ducks right into an uppercut from Azaryan.
Azaryan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Murphy circles away quickly and effectively.
Murphy dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Murphy darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Azaryan looks to throw the jab but Murphy is out of range.
Murphy went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Azaryan uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Murphy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tobias Murphy dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Murphy misses with a looping right.
Azaryan shoots in looking for a takedown but Murphy manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Azaryan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Azaryan uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Murphy has time to react.
Azaryan throws a push kick but Murphy slaps the foot to one side.
A lazy body kick from Murphy
enabling Azaryan to counter with a crisp jab.
Murphy tries a head kick but it misses.

Murphy gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Murphy.
Murphy avoids a wild elbow strike from Azaryan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy has a couple of punches blocked by Azaryan.
Azaryan has had enough of the clinch but Murphy keeps him there for the moment.
Murphy blocks an uppercut.
Azaryan is trying to break the clinch but Murphy has him pressed against the cage.
Murphy lands a right hand.
Murphy takes an elbow to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy lands a left hand.
Murphy swings wildly with an uppercut but Azaryan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Azaryan creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Azaryan looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Nice body punch from Murphy - that landed with a thud.
A short right from Murphy on the inside.
Azaryan pushes off an throws an elbow but Murphy leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Murphy lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short body shot lands from Azaryan as the two fighters clinch.
Murphy doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Murphy gets underhooks to prevent Azaryan's takedown attempt.
Azaryan lands a body punch in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Murphy as Azaryan tries to tie him up.
Azaryan tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Murphy avoids it.
Murphy scores with a shot to the side of Azaryan's head.
Azaryan misses with an elbow over the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azaryan stalls.
Murphy is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Azaryan can do to turn this around?
A frustrated look appears on Azaryan's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Azaryan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Murphy fails to land with a series of punches.
A head kick by Murphy misses
and Azaryan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Azaryan swats away the attempt to clinch by Murphy.
Murphy tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Azaryan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Azaryan fails to land the takedown.
Tobias Murphy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Artur Azaryan.
Murphy swings away with a body shot that misses
and Azaryan counters with a low kick, right behind Murphy 's knee.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Azaryan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy just misses with a punch to the body.

Azaryan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Azaryan showed some decent athleticism there.
Azaryan thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Azaryan missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Azaryan wants to pass to mount but Murphy is defending the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Murphy blocking the ground and pound attempt from Azaryan.
Azaryan is looking to pass Murphy's guard but actually Murphy recovers to full guard.
Murphy working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azaryan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Murphy controlling Azaryan's posture.
Murphy keeping moving, preventing Azaryan from controlling successfully.
Azaryan has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Murphy keeping full guard, as Azaryan tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tobias Murphy will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Murphy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Murphy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Azaryan wants to counter the offense by Murphy and move into the clinch position.
Murphy throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Azaryan! But no joy.
Murphy throws a lazy uppercut
and Azaryan counters with a series of strikes. Murphy will be more careful next time no doubt.
Azaryan moves out of range of the body kick from Murphy.
Azaryan on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Azaryan walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Murphy throws a head kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azaryan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Murphy.
Murphy lands a nice looking body shot.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Murphy.
Nice jab there from Murphy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Azaryan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Murphy as he avoids it easily.
A slow jab from Murphy misses its intended target.
Murphy uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Azaryan.
Murphy lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Azaryan is rocked!
Murphy waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Azaryan.
Murphy thuds his right hand into Azaryan's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Azaryan is still on wobbly legs! Can Murphy finish him?
Murphy pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Murphy is looking to clinch but Azaryan is avoiding it.
Azaryan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Murphy.
Azaryan wants to counter with a clinch but Murphy pushes him away.
Murphy scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Murphy seems to be stalking Azaryan here. He circles momentarily and then unleashes a devastating head kick! Azaryan drops like a stone, out cold! WOW! Are you kidding me!? What a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Tobias Murphy!
The defeated Artur Azaryan had this to say: 'I have no idea... I mean, I'm 1-3. You can have all the talent in the world but unless you know how apply it, it means nothing. Congratulations to my opponent. I need to take a long break and think hard about my career in the game.'.