PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Link Copper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Murphy has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Murphy
vs
Copper

176 cm
20
155 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

170 cm
19
145 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Enjoys gardening

Sweet-Tooth Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, John Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Link Copper!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Yves DeLean and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Murphy shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Copper's guard.
Murphy is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Murphy drops back looking for a leg! Copper is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Copper manages to kick Murphy off! Murphy jumps back into Copper's guard.
Murphy is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Copper can do anything to dispel that myth.
Copper is trying to keep Murphy in close.
Murphy pushing down on Copper's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Copper makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Copper.
Murphy trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Murphy wants to control from the top but Copper keeps moving.
Copper looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy wants to control from the top but Copper keeps moving.
Murphy preventing the sweep.
Copper really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Murphy. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Murphy sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Copper's guard.
Murphy prevents Copper from improving his position.
Murphy keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Murphy is trying to work for a kimura but Copper is defending well.
Murphy is looking to advance position but Copper won't allow it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Copper manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Murphy not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Copper is trying to keep Murphy in close.
Murphy is stalling in the full guard.
Copper trying to keep a closed guard but Murphy is proving a slippery customer.
Murphy controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Murphy trying to control the position from guard on top but Copper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Murphy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Copper is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copper 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Murphy tries to keep at a distance but Copper has taken the fight into the clinch.
Copper stalling the fight.
Copper tries to pull guard but Murphy won't allow it.

Copper breaks from the clinch.
Copper throws a series of punches but Murphy moves out of range.
Copper gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Murphy counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Copper manages to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Copper not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Copper wants to sweep here but Murphy controlling him for the moment.
Murphy looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Copper tries to close the distance and clinch up but Murphy swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Murphy fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Copper sprawls well initially but Murphy persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Murphy prevents Copper from standing back up.
Murphy has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Copper wants to control but Murphy is having none of it.
Murphy with good strikes from the mount here!
Murphy raining down shots from the mount!
Murphy sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy looking to finish Copper with some ground and pound. This is bad for Copper!

Murphy is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Copper to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Copper shrugs it off.
Murphy looking to control and managing it successfully.
Copper tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Murphy controlling from mount.
Copper working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Murphy controlling his opponent.
Murphy prevents Copper from getting the reversal.
Murphy trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Copper is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Copper is working to get back to half guard.
Murphy tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copper is in all sorts of trouble here.
Murphy looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Copper tries to hold on but Murphy postures up.
Murphy looking to control and managing it successfully.
Copper is wriggling around trying to escape.
Murphy controlling from the full mount.
Copper is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Murphy looking to control and managing it successfully.
Copper wants to control but Murphy is having none of it.
Murphy trying to control but Copper is having none of it.

The referee stands the fighters back up. John Murphy just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Copper misses with a takedown

and Murphy holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Murphy jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Copper walks away with a smile on his face. Murphy gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Copper gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Murphy counters with a two punch combo.
Murphy wants to clinch but Copper slips to the side

and Copper moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Murphy dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Copper fails with the takedown

and Murphy counters with a shoot takedown. Copper fights it but they end up in guard.
Murphy trying to control the position from guard on top but Copper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Murphy tries to free his leg and advance position but Copper is retaining full guard.
Copper is looking to stand up but Murphy isn't so interested in that idea.
Copper trying to keep a closed guard but Murphy is proving a slippery customer.
Murphy is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Copper is trying to keep Murphy in close.
Murphy slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copper working a defensive guard here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Copper throws a combination that misses

and Murphy counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Copper's guard now.
Murphy is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Copper manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Copper tries a head kick but it misses.
Copper takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Murphy moves into the clinch.

Copper breaks from the clinch.

Murphy forces Copper back against the cage and clinches.
Copper avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Copper manages to pull guard.
Murphy not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Copper is trying to control the position but Murphy postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murphy stays in close to Copper's body and controls the position.
Copper keeping full guard, as Murphy tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copper trying to keep a closed guard but Murphy is proving a slippery customer.
Copper keeping moving, preventing Murphy from controlling successfully.

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

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Copper fails in his attempt to clinch.
Link Copper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Murphy shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Murphy showed some decent athleticism there.
Murphy thows a huge punch but Copper dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Copper trying to hold on to Murphy's head to control him but Murphy postures up.
Murphy is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Murphy thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Murphy works his way into side control.
John Murphy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
John Murphy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Copper is pushing Murphy's head away, looking to escape. Murphy manages to hold on to the position though.
Link Copper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Murphy passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Copper!

And that's the end of the fight!
John Murphy showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Murphy has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Murphy!