PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kermit Earlandson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lee Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Earlandson comes to the cage accompanied by the theme from titanic. This should be fireworks!

Earlandson
vs
Murphy

185 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

189 cm
19
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kermit Earlandson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lee Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Earlandson tries to clinch but Murphy moves out of range.
Murphy displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Earlandson.
The fight stays on the outside here - Earlandson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Murphy misses with a series of wild punches.
Kermit Earlandson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Earlandson throws a series of punches but Murphy avoids them all with ease.

Murphy closes the distance and clinches.
Murphy is looking to take this one to the mat.
Murphy tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Earlandson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Murphy drops down looking for an ankle pick but Earlandson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kermit Earlandson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Murphy.
Murphy shoots for a takedown but Earlandson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Earlandson wants to clinch up but Murphy keeps it at a distance.
Earlandson tries to clinch there but Murphy circles away.
Earlandson scores with a nice body kick.
Earlandson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Murphy paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Earlandson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Murphy, pushing him back against the cage.
Murphy tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Murphy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Earlandson misses with a takedown attempt - Murphy sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
No luck for Earlandson with that takedown attempt.
No luck for Murphy with that takedown attempt.
Murphy looks gassed!
Earlandson tries to clinch there but Murphy circles away.
Earlandson tries to clinch there but Murphy circles away.
Earlandson tries to clinch there but Murphy circles away.
Earlandson shoots for a double leg takedown but Murphy sprawls well. He's pushed Earlandson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Murphy misses with a series of wild punches.

Earlandson pushes Murphy up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Earlandson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Murphy pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Earlandson stops a takedown attempt from Murphy.

Earlandson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Murphy uses from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Murphy sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Earlandson is looking to stand up but Murphy isn't so interested in that idea.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Murphy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Earlandson is keeping the position for now.

Earlandson working for a triangle but Murphy defends it easily.
Murphy must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Earlandson is working an open guard so Murphy takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Earlandson tries to clinch up

and Murphy counters by clinching up.
Murphy effectively controlling the action here.
Earlandson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A frustrated look appears on Murphy's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Earlandson pushes off an throws an elbow but Murphy leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Earlandson is looking to take this one to the mat.

Murphy pulls guard effortlessly.
Earlandson tries to stand but Murphy is controlling from the bottom.
Murphy looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Murphy keeping full guard, as Earlandson tries to pass.
Earlandson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Earlandson tries to stand but Murphy is controlling from the bottom.
Murphy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Earlandson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Earlandson trying to control but Murphy is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Earlandson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Murphy is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Murphy has escaped and now he's on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kermit Earlandson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Horrible takedown by Murphy or perhaps it was just good defense by Earlandson which made him look bad.
Earlandson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Murphy circles away.
Kermit Earlandson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Earlandson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Murphy tries for a takedown but Earlandson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Earlandson is defended easily by Murphy.

Murphy has closed the distance and engaged Earlandson in a clinch.
Earlandson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Earlandson misses with an elbow strike.
Earlandson throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kermit Earlandson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Earlandson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Murphy dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Earlandson stops a takedown attempt from Murphy.
Earlandson lands with a light punch inside.

Murphy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Murphy clinches with his opponent.

Murphy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Earlandson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Murphy paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Earlandson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Earlandson.
Murphy is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy sneaks back into half guard.

Earlandson wants to work for an arm triangle but Murphy is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murphy controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

Earlandson is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Murphy to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.

Earlandson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Murphy is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Earlandson, into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Earlandson working for a triangle but Murphy defends it easily.
Murphy is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Earlandson wants to stand up but Murphy is controlling him.
Murphy is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Murphy avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Earlandson is looking to sweep but instead, Murphy has passed into half guard.
Earlandson tries to get to full guard but Murphy has control of the leg.
Murphy performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Murphy missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lee Murphy will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Murphy closes this distance looking for a takedown but Earlandson circles away.
Earlandson tries to land a front kick but Murphy steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Earlandson throws a chopping leg kick but Murphy manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Murphy will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Earlandson with a poor takedown
and Murphy counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Murphy avoids the head kick by Earlandson.
Earlandson shoots in looking for a takedown but Murphy manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Earlandson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Murphy shoots for a double leg takedown but Earlandson sprawls well. He's pushed Murphy's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kermit Earlandson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Murphy.
Earlandson tries to clinch
and Earlandson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Earlandson is defended easily by Murphy.
Murphy looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Earlandson is fending him off so far but Murphy persists. Nope, Earlandson circles away and we're back to standing.
Murphy lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Earlandson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy slaps away a takedown attempt from Earlandson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kermit Earlandson is winning the standup battle so far.
Murphy with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Murphy closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Earlandson quickly recovers to half guard.
Murphy controlling the pace.
Earlandson is looking to get back to full guard here but Murphy has managed to pass to side control instead.
Earlandson is pushing Murphy's head away, looking to escape. Murphy manages to hold on to the position though.
Earlandson striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Murphy takes a little break here. Earlandson wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Earlandson misses with an elbow from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Earlandson throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Earlandson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Earlandson is trying to control but can't.

Murphy moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Earlandson.
Earlandson is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Murphy is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Earlandson holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Murphy tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Earlandson is looking to improve his position but Murphy isn't that keen on the idea.
Murphy throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Earlandson because Murphy loaded up on that one.

Earlandson defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Murphy.
Earlandson swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Poor strikes thrown by Murphy there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Earlandson is trying to stand.
Earlandson tries to improve his position but instead Murphy has taken his back!
Lee Murphy has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Earlandson avoids the strikes from Murphy.
Earlandson can't escape the position.

Earlandson is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Murphy gets his way!
Earlandson tries to break free.

Earlandson fending off the submission attempt from Murphy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murphy missing with strikes from the back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lee Murphy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Murphy has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29

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