PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hendrik Vermeulen (ranked 161 p4p, 24 weight class) and Mick Murphy (ranked 193 p4p, 29 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Vermeulen
vs
Murphy

187 cm
26
204 lbs
19 - 4 - 0

193 cm
26
206 lbs
19 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

BuriedAlive// Fight Gear

HELLBENT

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hendrik Vermeulen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mick Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Russell Pearce and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vermeulen with a nice cross.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vermeulen. Murphy does a little dance to reset his feet.
Murphy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vermeulen.
A little feinted left hand from Vermeulen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Murphy moves in looking to clinch but Vermeulen pushes him off.
We've been hearing reports that Vermeulen has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Vermeulen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Murphy defends well and Vermeulen ends up having to push Murphy into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Vermeulen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Vermeulen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Murphy.
Murphy fails with an attempt to clinch.
A combination from Murphy does no damage.
Murphy misses with an uppercut.
Vermeulen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy doesn't manage to clinch there - Vermeulen circles away.
Murphy fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Vermeulen swats away the attempt to clinch by Murphy.
Vermeulen appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Vermeulen.
Vermeulen looks to land a right hand but Murphy moved out of range.
Murphy moves out of range as Vermeulen strikes.
Vermeulen misses with a body shot.

Vermeulen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Murphy taking some punishment here, with Vermeulen in his half guard.
Vermeulen passes the guard and advances to mount!
Vermeulen is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Vermeulen lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Murphy hang on?
Vermeulen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vermeulen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Murphy wants to hold on but Vermeulen pushes him away.
Vermeulen landing shots from mount.
Vermeulen unloads with some shots from mount but Murphy bucks and avoids them well.
Murphy has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Vermeulen looking to control but Murphy is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Vermeulen looking to finish with strikes here!
Vermeulen looking to ground and pound but Murphy is blocking nicely.
Vermeulen lands a big elbow.
Vermeulen thowing shots but they're missing.
Vermeulen punching from mount but Murphy doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy tries to reverse the position but Vermeulen maintains control.
Vermeulen looking to finish Murphy with some ground and pound. This is bad for Murphy!
Vermeulen throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vermeulen throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Vermeulen lands a heavy elbow.
Vermeulen working Murphy over with strikes here.
Murphy is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Murphy holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Vermeulen tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Vermeulen throwing strikes but Murphy recovers to half guard. A much better position.
Vermeulen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Murphy keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vermeulen thows a huge punch but Murphy dodges it nicely.
Vermeulen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Murphy is looking to improve his position.
Vermeulen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Vermeulen lands strikes from half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Vermeulen connects with a nice short shot to Murphy's temple.
Murphy keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hendrik Vermeulen dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Murphy throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vermeulen throws out a loose jab but Murphy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Murphy wants to counter with a clinch but Vermeulen pushes him away.
Vermeulen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Vermeulen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Murphy misses with a hook. Vermeulen ducked under it nicely.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Vermeulen.
Murphy throws out a counter right but Vermeulen avoids it with no problem.
Murphy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vermeulen.
Vermeulen blocks a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy lands a jab to Vermeulen's midsection.

Murphy drives through and clinches with Vermeulen against the cage.
Vermeulen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Murphys head.
A short right from Vermeulen.

Vermeulen pulls guard effortlessly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vermeulen controlling the position.
Vermeulen looking for a sweep. Not yet Vermeulen, not yet.
Vermeulen trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Vermeulen is trying to control the position but Murphy postures up.
Murphy slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Vermeulen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Vermeulen tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Murphy's corner calls for a 1-2. Murphy obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Vermeulen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Murphy was well out of range. Poor timing from Vermeulen.
Vermeulen takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vermeulen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Murphy moves away.
Murphy looks to throw the jab but Vermeulen is out of range.
Vermeulen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Vermeulen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Vermeulen landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Vermeulen looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Murphy is avoiding damage well.
The strikes coming from Vermeulen are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murphy struggling a bit here.
Murphy is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Vermeulen lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vermeulen wants to control but Murphy is keeping him busy.
Murphy is looking for a sweep.
Vermeulen cracks Murphy with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Murphy prevents Vermeulen from improving position.
Vermeulen tries to score with some ground and pound. Murphy controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Vermeulen trying to control the action but Murphy is working from the bottom.
Vermeulen creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Vermeulen scores with a couple of short elbows.
Vermeulen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Murphy keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy prevents Vermeulen from moving into mount.
Vermeulen creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Murphy sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Vermeulen throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Vermeulen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Murphy keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hendrik Vermeulen 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.

Murphy swings for the body but Vermeulen moves out of range.
Mick Murphy seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vermeulen misses the body punch
and Vermeulen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The fighters circling - Murphy throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Murphy fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vermeulen manages to avoid it.
Murphy tries to clinch there but Vermeulen circles away.
Murphy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vermeulen moves away.
Murphy misses the jab.
Murphy throws a lazy right hand but Vermeulen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vermeulen moves out of range as Murphy strikes.
Murphy lands with an overhand left.
Murphy waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Vermeulen.
Murphy takes a swing at Vermeulen's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy tries to clinch
letting Vermeulen counter with a right hand.
Vermeulen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Murphy can do to turn this around?
Vermeulen misses with a takedown
and Murphy connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Murphy misses with a straight left.
Murphy throws a shot to the body.
Vermeulen looks to land a left hand but Murphy moved out of range nicely.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Murphy! But no joy.
Murphy misses with a left hand
and Vermeulen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Vermeulen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Vermeulen there as he acknowledges the shot.
Murphy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Vermeulen moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Murphy throws a lazy right hand but Vermeulen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Murphy throws out a loose jab but Vermeulen uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vermeulen looks to land a combination. Murphy sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vermeulen missing with a left hand there. Murphy was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Vermeulen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vermeulen needs to keep his hands up - Murphy had a free shot at his head there.
Murphy catches Vermeulen with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Murphy moves into range and clinches up with Vermeulen.
Murphy misses with a short punch on the inside.
Vermeulen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Vermeulen wants to take the fight to the mat but Murphy manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Murphy gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Vermeulen.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hendrik Vermeulen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vermeulen.
Vermeulen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Vermeulen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Murphy walks away with a smile on his face. Vermeulen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vermeulen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vermeulen misses with a combination
and Murphy counters with a stiff right hand.
Murphy is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Vermeulen looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A lazy left from Vermeulen finds it's target.
Vermeulen swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Murphy counters with a stiff right hand.
A jab lands there for Vermeulen.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vermeulen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Murphy scores with a jab to the head.
The fighters circling - Murphy throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vermeulen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Murphy finds it's way round the side to connect with Vermeulen's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vermeulen throws a jab when Murphy was well out of range.
Murphy throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vermeulen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Vermeulen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Murphy.
Murphy swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Vermeulen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Murphy.
Mick Murphy is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A slow jab from Murphy misses its intended target.
Vermeulen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Murphy.
Murphy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vermeulen moves away.
Murphy misses with a wild body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mick Murphy really dominated that round.
That's time! Vermeulen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Murphy misses with a wild body shot.
Vermeulen misses with a few strikes there.
Murphy throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Murphy jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Murphy throws out a loose jab but Vermeulen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Murphy throws an off balance right hand
and Vermeulen counters with a one-two to the body.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vermeulen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vermeulen misses with a looping left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy moves out of range as Vermeulen strikes.
Murphy misses with a looping left.
Murphy uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vermeulen.
Vermeulen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Vermeulen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murphy takes the fight into the clinch.
Murphy lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Vermeulen backwards.
Vermeulen misses with a body punch.
Murphy lands an uppercut.
Vermeulen misses with the head strike.
Vermeulen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Murphys head.
Good body shot from Murphy.
Murphy lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Murphy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vermeulen's elbow.
Vermeulen blocks a body shot from Murphy.
Vermeulen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Vermeulen has a couple of punches blocked by Murphy.
Murphy swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Murphy tries a body shot but Vermeulen blocks it.
Murphy misses with a hook to the ribs.
Murphy working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vermeulen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vermeulen misses with a hook from the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Vermeulen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Mick Murphy seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A head punch on the inside from Murphy fails to land.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Murphy misses with a body punch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Vermeulen.
Vermeulen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Murphys head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Vermeulen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Vermeulen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Vermeulen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Murphy swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Vermeulen lands a left hand.
Vermeulen tries to throw a body punch but Murphy avoids it by throwing Vermeulen back against the cage.
Murphy has a couple of punches blocked by Vermeulen.
Murphy working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Murphy blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Murphy lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Murphy misses with a hook to the ribs.
Murphy works on Vermeulen's body with a couple of short punches.

Vermeulen pulls Murphy into guard.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Murphy is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hendrik Vermeulen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vermeulen 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.
Murphy sitting in guard here, content to control.
Murphy is fighting to break Vermeulen's control of his arms but Vermeulen is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Vermeulen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Murphy controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Murphy won't allow Vermeulen to sweep him here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Murphy paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A telegraphed right hand from Murphy misses the target.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Vermeulen.
Murphy lands a nice shot that snaps Vermeulen's head back.
Vermeulen throws a shot from downtown. Murphy moves away and avoids it.
Murphy looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Murphy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vermeulen moves away.
Murphy throws a body shot but no joy.
Vermeulen throwing a counter right hand but Murphy manages to avoid it.
Murphy throws a shot from downtown. Vermeulen moves away and avoids it.
Vermeulen circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Mick Murphy will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Murphy lands a jab to Vermeulen's midsection.
Murphy throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Vermeulen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Vermeulen jabs Murphy to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Vermeulen catches Murphy with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A jab from Murphy misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Vermeulen is defended easily by Murphy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good standup being displayed there by Murphy as he connects with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy wants to clinch up but Vermeulen keeps it at a distance.
A jab from Vermeulen misses.
Murphy takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Vermeulen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Murphy on the side of the head.
Vermeulen throws a hook to the side of Murphy's head but Murphy sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Murphy walks into a straight right hand from Vermeulen.
Murphy throws a good cross that connects.
Vermeulen darts in looking for a takedown but Murphy gets double underhooks and turns Vermeulen into the cage.
Vermeulen throws a hook but Murphy blocks it.
Vermeulen ducks under a wild hook from Murphy.
Vermeulen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Murphy is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jab from Murphy.
Vermeulen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Murphy.
Murphy listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Vermeulen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Murphy sprawls well initially but Vermeulen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Vermeulen trying to control the action but Murphy is working from the bottom.
Vermeulen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Murphy is looking for a sweep. Vermeulen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vermeulen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Murphy has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Vermeulen is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vermeulen trying to mount his opponent but Murphy defends it.
Vermeulen is looking to take a break and control but Murphy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Vermeulen drops an elbow to the side of Murphy's head.
Vermeulen is keen to just control but Murphy is a slippery customer.
Vermeulen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Vermeulen trying to control the pace.
Vermeulen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

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.
Vermeulen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Murphy taking some punishment here, with Vermeulen in his half guard.
Still in half guard, Vermeulen seems content to control.
Vermeulen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Murphy keeps working.
Murphy is looking to improve his position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Murphy trying to hold on to Vermeulen's head to control him but Vermeulen postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Vermeulen throws a big shot that misses.
Murphy wants to clinch up but Vermeulen keeps it at a distance.
Vermeulen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A big left from Murphy misses.
Vermeulen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hendrik Vermeulen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Vermeulen 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 48:47
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 48:47
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 49:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hendrik Vermeulen!
Hendrik Vermeulen retains his light heavyweight title!
Hendrik Vermeulen bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.