PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Faustino Watkins (ranked 8810 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cathail Murphy (ranked 5825 p4p, 0 weight class). Cathail Murphy will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Watkins
vs
Murphy

205 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Faustino Watkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cathail Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Darius Henderson and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Murphy instigates a clinch.

Murphy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Watkins really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Watkins drives through and clinches with Murphy against the cage.
Watkins is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Murphy is defending well.
Watkins blocks an elbow strike from Murphy.
Murphy throws a head punch that misses.

Murphy gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Watkins wants to get back to his feet but Murphy is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Watkins trying to keep a closed guard but Murphy is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watkins striking from the bottom.
Watkins looking for a sweep. Not yet Watkins, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Watkins is trying to control the position but Murphy postures up.
Watkins is really struggling to control Murphy but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Murphy controlling from the top position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Murphy takes the fight into the clinch.

Murphy breaks the clinch.

Murphy gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Murphy has hold of one of Watkins's legs. Watkins is fighting the takedown attempt but Murphy gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Watkins throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Murphy escapes and throws Watkins's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Watkins struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy trying to control the action but Watkins is working from the bottom.
Watkins tries to bench press Murphy off him but Murphy keeps the position.

Murphy is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Watkins has escaped the position, nice work there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Watkins wants to control but Murphy postures up.
Watkins is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Murphy is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Murphy controlling the position easily from mount.
Watkins tries to lock up and control but Murphy gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy wants to control the pace but Watkins is squirming around nicely.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Watkins taking shots to the head.
Watkins takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Watkins tries to control the position but Murphy now has his back.

Murphy is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Watkins has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Watkins trying to control the hands but Murphy won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is hanging on to Watkins's back as he tries to escape.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Murphy's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Watkins is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Murphy avoiding Watkins 's attempts to control his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Murphy decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Watkins is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Murphy pulls his head out easily.
Watkins is trying to control but can't.
Murphy tries to stand but can't do so whilst Watkins controls his leg.
Watkins wants to get back to his feet.
Murphy wants to pass the guard but Watkins is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watkins trying to hold on to Murphy's head to control him but Murphy postures up.
Watkins tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watkins is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Murphy scores with a couple of nice shots.
Still in half guard, Murphy seems content to control.
Watkins is concentrating on defense, preventing Murphy from advancing position.
Murphy tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Murphy keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Murphy working over Watkins with some ground and pound. Watkins looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Watkins wants to control but Murphy is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Cathail Murphy has got the better of the ground game so far.
Murphy blocks the strikes from Watkins.
Murphy is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Murphy closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Watkins's guard.
Watkins throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Watkins is controlling Murphy's posture.
Watkins working a defensive guard but Murphy manages to pass into side control anyway.
Watkins is looking to regain half guard here but Murphy keeps moving and retains side control.

Murphy is trying to get an arm triangle but Watkins is defending well.
Murphy creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murphy stands up.
Cathail Murphy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Murphy looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Murphy's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Watkins controlling Murphy's posture.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watkins is looking to stand up but Murphy isn't so interested in that idea.
Murphy is fighting to break Watkins's control of his arms but Watkins is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Watkins trying to keep a closed guard but Murphy is proving a slippery customer.
Watkins being controlled here, momentarily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Murphy tries to free his leg and advance position but Watkins is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cathail Murphy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Murphy throws a sloppy head kick and Watkins moves out of range easily.
Watkins lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Watkins tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Murphy counters with a left and a right that stings Watkins.

Watkins is rocked!

Murphy is looking for a takedown. Wow, that's a brutal slam - Watkins is in big trouble! Murphy is landing strikes from the mount and this one is all over! The ref jumps in to save a confused looking Watkins. Poor guy.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Slam). Cathail Murphy!