PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lucas Pablo (ranked 23866 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Murphy (ranked 5827 p4p, 0 weight class). Lucas Pablo has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Pablo
vs
Murphy

190 cm
23
195 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

166 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lucas Pablo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Tiny Johnson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy misses with a straight left.

Murphy shoots in and gets a takedown into Pablo's guard.
Pablo has control of Murphy's left arm, preventing Murphy from doing any damage.
Murphy trying to control the position from guard on top but Pablo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Murphy advances position into side control!

Murphy tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
You can see the frustration on Pablo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Murphy wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Pablo, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Pablo!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murphy can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Pablo is looking to escape.

Pablo defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Murphy.
Pablo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Murphy on the ground.
Murphy is looking to take Pablo's back but instead Pablo gets back to half guard. Nice work.
Murphy should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Murphy is stalling here. Pablo is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Murphy seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Pablo has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Pablo looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy prevents Pablo from moving into mount.
Murphy is looking to regain half guard here but Pablo keeps moving and retains side control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Murphy is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Pablo stands up.
Pablo shoots in for a double leg but Murphy sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pablo tries for a takedown but Murphy sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Murphy has eaten all the pies!
Pablo tries to close the distance and clinch but Murphy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Murphy let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Murphy lands with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murphy drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murphy looking to pass the guard.
Murphy passes Pablo's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Pablo wants to control but Murphy is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Murphy wants to free his trapped foot but Pablo is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Pablo is not content to let Murphy control the position.
Murphy works his way into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pablo is trying to control Murphy's posture but Murphy avoids it.
Murphy trying to control the action but Pablo is working from the bottom.
Murphy happy to just control the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pablo manages to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Murphy dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Murphy swings for the body but Pablo moves out of range.
Murphy misses with a body shot.
Murphy misses with a wild body shot.
Pablo drops down looking for a counter takedown but Murphy sprawls and moves away.
Pablo fails to land the takedown.

Pablo gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Murphy is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy trying to control the position from guard on top but Pablo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Murphy drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Pablo manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Murphy has Pablo in his guard.

Pablo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Murphy is controlling Pablo's posture.
Pablo passes Murphy's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pablo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Murphy has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pablo is working away from the top position though.
Pablo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Murphy tries to get to full guard but Pablo has control of the leg.
Murphy has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Murphy moves into full guard.
Murphy controls Pablo momentarily but Pablo frees himself.
Pablo trying to control the position from guard on top but Murphy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Murphy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pablo is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy trying to keep a closed guard but Pablo is proving a slippery customer.
Pablo preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pablo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Murphy tries to avoid it but Pablo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Murphy to the ground. Murphy escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Murphy throws a body punch but Pablo moves out of range.

Murphy closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Pablo quickly recovers to half guard.
Murphy trying to mount his opponent but Pablo defends it.

Murphy is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pablo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Murphy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Murphy in particular looking to stall.
Murphy is thwarting Pablo's attempts to control the position.
Pablo gets full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Murphy's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Pablo keeping full guard, as Murphy tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Murphy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Pablo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Murphy is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Pablo enables Murphy to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Pablo manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Murphy's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Pablo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Murphy advances to half guard.
Murphy trying to control from half guard but Pablo is working away.
Murphy moves nicely into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy wants to control but Pablo is keeping him busy.

Murphy thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murphy looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Murphy looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Mark Murphy has got the better of the ground game so far.
Murphy laying and praying for a moment but Pablo takes advantage and regains half guard.

Murphy is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pablo is looking to improve his position.
Pablo is trying to stand.
Murphy trying to control from half guard but Pablo is working away.
Murphy moves into full mount! Pablo won't be happy about that!
Murphy tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murphy is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Pablo has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Pablo!
Pablo throwing strikes but missing.
Murphy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pablo is one step ahead there.
Pablo tries to stand but Murphy is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Murphy seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pablo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Murphy performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Murphy is trying to control. Pablo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Murphy might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Pablo haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Lucas Pablo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Murphy tries to pass the half guard into mount. Pablo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Murphy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Murphy has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Murphy!
Mark Murphy took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.
In defeat, Lucas Pablo stepped up to the mic, saying 'Puta!'.