PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Murray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takumi Naoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Murray
vs
Naoki

185 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, James Murray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Takumi Naoki!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Chris Edwards and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Murray scores with a takedown into Naoki's guard.

Murray gets to his feet. Naoki looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Murray closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Naoki did well to prevent Murray getting side control.
Murray tries to pass to full mount but Naoki defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Naoki is pressing down on Murray's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Murray working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Naoki's head.
Naoki is pulling down on Murray's head. It's preventing any offense from Murray, at least for the moment.
Murray trying to control the position from guard on top but Naoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Naoki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Murray is one step ahead there.
Murray trying to control but Naoki is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naoki is controlling Murray's posture.
Murray trying to control the position from guard on top but Naoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Murray is really struggling to control Naoki but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Murray has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Murray looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Naoki is fending him off so far but Murray persists. Nope, Naoki circles away and we're back to standing.
Murray looks for a takedown but Naoki sprawls well.

Naoki clinches with his opponent.

That's two 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.
Murray has had enough of the clinch but Naoki keeps him there for the moment.
Murray is trying to force a seperation but Naoki has the dominant position.
Murray using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Naoki has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Naoki breaks the clinch.
Murray is trying hard to land a takedown here. Naoki sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Murray. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Naoki shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Murray as he avoids it easily.
Naoki's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Naoki duly obliges.
Naoki throws a head kick that half lands.
Murray misses with a jab, cross combination.
Murray is breathing heavily.
Naoki slaps away a takedown attempt from Murray, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Naoki shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Naoki was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Naoki lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naoki controlling from mount.
A nice elbow there by Naoki.
Murray really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Naoki controlling from mount.
Murray holds on for dear life.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Naoki is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Murray is surviving well by controlling Naoki's body position as best he can.
Naoki controlling the position easily from mount.
Murray is squirming around, avoiding Naoki's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takumi Naoki dominated that 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.

Naoki darts in and clinches Murray up against the cage.

Naoki manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Murray trying to control but Naoki is working from the bottom.

Naoki has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Murray can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Naoki utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Naoki working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Naoki wants to stand and escape but Murray is having none of it.
Naoki keeping moving, preventing Murray from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Murray looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Naoki is fending him off so far but Murray persists. Nope, Naoki circles away and we're back to standing.
Murray looks for a takedown but Naoki sprawls well.

Naoki has closed the distance and engaged Murray in a clinch.

Naoki breaks the clinch.
Naoki dives in and grabs Murray's left leg, looking for a takedown. Murray pushes down on Naoki's head and hops out.
Naoki is breathing heavily.
Murray wants to clinch.
Murray gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Naoki moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Murray. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murray has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murray fails to pull guard.
Murray misses with a short punch on the inside.
Murray wants to get back to striking at distance but Naoki won't allow it.
A body shot lands from Naoki.
Stalling in the clinch from Murray.
Naoki tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Murray just stands there and leans against the cage.
Murray is looking to control Naoki's arms but Naoki gets an underhook and turns him. Now Murray has his back to the cage.
Murray is trying to break free.
Murray is trying to break the clinch but Naoki is controlling him.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Naoki takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Murray escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Naoki connects with a solid leg kick.
Murray circles away from the clinch attempt.

Naoki closes the distance and pushes Murray back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naoki tries for a takedown. No joy.
Naoki lands a good knee to the midsection. Murray won't want to take too many of those.
Naoki keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Murray's efforts to push away.
Murray jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Naoki walks away with a smile on his face. Murray gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Murray swinging wildly here.

Naoki scores with a takedown into Murray's guard.

Naoki decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Murray misses with a double jab
and Naoki makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Naoki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Murray counters with a one-two to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Naoki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Murray misses with a double jab

and Naoki counters by moving into the clinch.

Naoki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Murray misses with a wild combination.

Naoki darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Naoki slows the pace down in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takumi Naoki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Murray's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Naoki.
Murray throws a combination that misses
and Naoki counters with a head kick. That will keep Murray thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Naoki tries to clinch but Murray moves out of range.
Murray with a lazy takedown attempt

and Naoki counters with a shoot takedown. Murray fights it but they end up in guard.
Naoki wants to control from the top but Murray keeps moving.
Murray wants to get back to his feet but Naoki is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Naoki is looking to stand up but Murray won't let him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naoki distracts Murray with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Murray striking from the bottom.
Murray can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Naoki controls the pace.
Murray is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Murray keeping moving, preventing Naoki from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Murray avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Naoki uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Murray.
Murray shoots and misses

and Naoki decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Murray's guard.
Naoki stays in close to Murray's body and controls the position.
Naoki stopping the sweep attempt from Murray.
Murray thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murray wants to get back to his feet but Naoki is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Naoki advances position into side control!
Naoki works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
James Murray has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
You can see the frustration on Murray's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Naoki trying to control the position but Murray is working away.

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.
Murray seems a little lost for a moment, as Naoki dominates the positioning.
Murray is trying to improve his position.
Murray being controlled for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takumi Naoki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Naoki 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takumi Naoki!